Swiss Film Archive
{{Short description|Swiss film archives and cinematheque}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Cinémathèque suisse
| former name = Archives cinématographiques suisses
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| image = Casino Montbenon.jpg
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| size = 250px
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| type = NPO
| status = Private foundation
| purpose = Cinematheque
Cinematography study centre
National museum
| headquarters = Casino de Montbenon
| location = Lausanne, Switzerland
| coords = {{coord|46|31|14|N|06|37|30|E|region:CH}}
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| leader_title = Chief Executive
| leader_name = Frédéric Maire
| leader_title2 = Chairman
| leader_name2 = Jean Studer
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| affiliations = International Federation of Film Archives
| budget = CHF5 million
| num_staff = 100 (total)
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| website = {{URL|cinematheque.ch/en}}
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}}
The Cinémathèque suisse (Swiss Cinematheque), formerly the Archives cinématographiques suisses (Swiss Film Archive), is a Swiss state-approved non-profit foundation headquartered in Lausanne. It aims to collect, protect, study and present film archives.{{cite news |last=della Pietra |first=Nicole |date=13 August 2011 |title=De la cave de la paroisse à la Cinémathèque suisse |trans-title=From the parish cellar to the Swiss Cinematheque |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/culture/de-la-cave-de-la-paroisse-à-la-cinémathèque-suisse/30891956 |url-status=live |language=fr |work=Swissinfo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801111713/https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/culture/de-la-cave-de-la-paroisse-à-la-cinémathèque-suisse/30891956 |archive-date=1 August 2023 |access-date=1 August 2023 |quote=Bottom of page > scrolling table > Cinematheque suisse}}{{cite news |date=21 September 2019 |title=André Chevailler, Monsieur Cinéma Suisse |trans-title=André Chevailler, Mr Swiss Cinema |url=https://www.estrepublicain.fr/culture-loisirs/2019/09/21/andre-chevailler-monsieur-cinema-suisse |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=L'Est Républicain |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230802111337/https://www.estrepublicain.fr/culture-loisirs/2019/09/21/andre-chevailler-monsieur-cinema-suisse |archive-date=2 August 2023 |access-date=2 August 2023}} The Swiss Cinematheque has its archives in Penthaz and a branch office in Zürich.
History
=Timeline=
With the support of the Kunstmuseum Basel, a group of admirers of independent films{{cite news |last1=Simantob |first1=Eduardo |last2=Pisani |first2=Carlo |date=28 July 2023 |title=The Cinémathèque Suisse turns 75, and film lovers can rejoice |url= https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/the-cinémathèque-suisse-turns-75--and-film-lovers-can-rejoice/48669812 |url-status=live |work=Swissinfo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801134744/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/the-cinémathèque-suisse-turns-75--and-film-lovers-can-rejoice/48669812 |archive-date=1 August 2023 |access-date=1 August 2023}} founded the Archives cinématographiques suisses (Swiss Film Archive) in Basel in 1943.{{cite news |last=Gobbo |first=Stéphane |date=30 May 2019 |title=Freddy Buache, disparition d'un passeur |trans-title=Freddy Buache, the disappearance of a ferryman |url=https://www.letemps.ch/culture/ecrans/freddy-buache-disparition-dun-passeur-0 |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Le Temps |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230730182212/https://www.letemps.ch/culture/ecrans/freddy-buache-disparition-dun-passeur-0 |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=1 August 2023}}{{cite news |last=Marcorelles |first=Louis |date=5 November 1981 |title=L'inauguration de la Cinémathèque de Lausanne. Les enfants de Freddy Buache |trans-title=The inauguration of the Cinematheque of Lausanne. The children of Freddy Buache |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1981/11/05/l-inauguration-de-la-cinematheque-de-lausanne-les-enfants-de-freddy-buache_3043645_1819218.html |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Le Monde |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230730182845/https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1981/11/05/l-inauguration-de-la-cinematheque-de-lausanne-les-enfants-de-freddy-buache_3043645_1819218.html |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=30 July 2023}}
Subsequently, the Association cinémathèque suisse (Swiss Cinematheque Association) was created.{{cite magazine |last=Dumont |first=Etienne |date=28 September 2018 |title=Pully/Le Musée d'art présente des affiches de la Cinémathèque suisse |trans-title=Pully/The Art Museum presents film posters from the Swiss Cinematheque |url=https://www.bilan.ch/opinions/etienne-dumont/pully_le_musee_d_art_presente_des_affiches_de_la_cinematheque_suisse |url-status=live |language=fr |magazine=Bilan |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230801132037/https://www.bilan.ch/opinions/etienne-dumont/pully_le_musee_d_art_presente_des_affiches_de_la_cinematheque_suisse |archive-date=1 August 2023 |access-date=1 August 2023}} The archives were transferred to Lausanne to the Cinémathèque suisse (Swiss Cinematheque), co-founded by Freddy Buache in 1948 and inaugurated by Erich von Stroheim in 1950.{{cite news |last=Mandelbaum |first=Jacques |date=4 June 2019 |title=Mort de Freddy Buache, ancien directeur de la Cinémathèque Suisse |trans-title=Death of Freddy Buache, former director of the Swiss Cinematheque |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2019/06/04/freddy-buache-ancien-directeur-de-la-cinematheque-suisse-est-mort_5471331_3246.html |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Le Monde |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230730150156/https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2019/06/04/freddy-buache-ancien-directeur-de-la-cinematheque-suisse-est-mort_5471331_3246.html |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=1 August 2023 |url-access=subscription}} In precarious condition, the Swiss Cinematheque was located on {{ill|Place de la Cathédrale (Lausanne)|lt=Place de la Cathédrale|fr}} in Lausanne. At the time, it had no projection room.
The Swiss Cinematheque was one of the first members of the International Federation of Film Archives.
Claude Emery was the Swiss Cinematheque's first director until Buache held this position from 1951 to 1996.
In 1981, the Cinematheque acquired and moved to the former Casino of Montbenon in Lausanne to establish itself in a better environment.
In 1992, the Swiss Cinematheque began to store archives in a Penthaz building.
The Swiss Cinematheque has been considered "one of the ten most important cinematheques in the world" by the International Federation of Film Archives.{{cite news |date=27 August 2019 |title=Les archives de la Cinémathèque se dévoilent |trans-title=The archives of the Cinematheque are unveiled |url=https://www.tdg.ch/les-archives-de-la-cinematheque-se-devoilent-419787852571 |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Tribune de Genève |agency=Swiss Telegraphic Agency |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230802152228/https://www.tdg.ch/les-archives-de-la-cinematheque-se-devoilent-419787852571 |archive-date=2 August 2023 |access-date=2 August 2023}}{{cite news |date=22 September 2022 |title=Ouverture exceptionnelle de la Cinémathèque suisse à Penthaz |trans-title=Exceptional opening of the Swiss Cinematheque at Penthaz |url=https://www.rts.ch/info/culture/cinema/13403334-ouverture-exceptionnelle-de-la-cinematheque-suisse-a-penthaz.html |url-status=live |language=fr |work=Radio Télévision Suisse |agency=Swiss Telegraphic Agency |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230730151842/https://www.rts.ch/info/culture/cinema/13403334-ouverture-exceptionnelle-de-la-cinematheque-suisse-a-penthaz.html |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=30 July 2023}}
In 1995, the collection of the Swiss Cinematheque ranked sixth among the "most important in the world" after those of Bois d'Arcy {{bracket|National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image}}, Brussels {{bracket|Cinematek}}, London {{bracket|BFI National Archive}}, Moscow {{bracket|Gosfilmofond}}, and Washington {{bracket|Library of Congress}}.{{cite news |last=Salvadé |first=Christine |date=22 September 2007 |title=Cinémathèque: L'heure des choix |trans-title=Cinematheque: Time to choose |url=https://www.letemps.ch/culture/cinematheque-lheure-choix |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Le Temps |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230730155835/https://www.letemps.ch/culture/cinematheque-lheure-choix |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=20 January 2024}}
The Swiss Federal Office of Culture has been the foundation's primary funder with the City of Lausanne and the canton of Vaud.{{cite news |last=Rocchi |first=Ludovic |date=28 April 2015 |title=La Confédération resserre son étau sur la Cinémathèque suisse |trans-title=The Confederation tightens its grip on the Swiss Cinematheque |url=https://www.rts.ch/info/culture/6738919-la-confederation-resserre-son-etau-sur-la-cinematheque-suisse.html |url-status=live |language=fr |work=Radio Télévision Suisse |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731221409/https://www.rts.ch/info/culture/6738919-la-confederation-resserre-son-etau-sur-la-cinematheque-suisse.html |archive-date=31 July 2023 |access-date=31 July 2023}}{{cite news |last=Danesi |first=Marco |date=8 December 2007 |title=La Cinémathèque cachée sous terre |trans-title=The Cinematheque hidden underground |url=https://www.letemps.ch/culture/cinematheque-cachee-terre |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Le Temps |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230731222337/https://www.letemps.ch/culture/cinematheque-cachee-terre |archive-date=31 July 2023 |access-date=31 July 2023}}
{{ill|Hervé Dumont|fr|Hervé Dumont|de}} was its director from 1996 to 2008.{{cite news |date=21 January 2008 |title=Cinémathèque: un successeur à Hervé Dumont |trans-title=Cinematheque: a successor to Hervé Dumont |url=https://www.rts.ch/info/culture/1152997-cinematheque-un-successeur-a-herve-dumont.html |url-status=live |language=fr |work=Radio Télévision Suisse |agency=Swiss Telegraphic Agency |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230730135406/https://www.rts.ch/info/culture/1152997-cinematheque-un-successeur-a-herve-dumont.html |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=30 July 2023}}{{cite news |last=Duplan |first=Antoine |date=3 February 2021 |title=Hervé Dumont, gentleman cinéphile et 'Diderot du Léman' |trans-title=Hervé Dumont, gentleman cinephile and 'Diderot du Léman' |url=https://www.letemps.ch/culture/ecrans/herve-dumont-gentleman-cinephile-diderot-leman |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Le Temps |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230730135853/https://www.letemps.ch/culture/ecrans/herve-dumont-gentleman-cinephile-diderot-leman |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=30 July 2023}}
In the early 2000s, a project was initiated to make the Penthaz site the first federal building dedicated to cinema.
Dumont was succeeded by {{ill|Vinzenz Hediger|de}} in 2008.{{cite news |last=Salvadé |first=Christine |date=22 January 2008 |title=La valse-hésitation d'un directeur |trans-title=The waltz-hesitation of a director |url=https://www.letemps.ch/culture/valsehesitation-dun-directeur |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Le Temps |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230730140934/https://www.letemps.ch/culture/valsehesitation-dun-directeur |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=30 July 2023}}
{{ill|Frédéric Maire|fr}} was appointed director in 2009.{{cite news |last=Duplan |first=Antoine |date=6 September 2019 |title=Frédéric Maire: 'Dans une cinémathèque, on réfléchit en années plutôt qu'en mois' |trans-title=Frédéric Maire: 'In a cinematheque, we think in years rather than months' |url=https://www.letemps.ch/culture/ecrans/frederic-maire-une-cinematheque-on-reflechit-annees-plutot-quen-mois |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Le Temps |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230730143834/https://www.letemps.ch/culture/ecrans/frederic-maire-une-cinematheque-on-reflechit-annees-plutot-quen-mois |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=30 July 2023}}
In 2010, renovation and expansion work on the Penthaz building began.
Jean Studer, chairman of the Bank Council of the Swiss National Bank and lawyer, became chairman of the Foundation Board of the Swiss Cinematheque on 1 July 2016, thus succeeding Marc Wehrlin.{{cite news |date=9 March 2016 |title=Jean Studer présidera la Cinémathèque suisse |trans-title=Jean Studer will chair the Swiss Cinematheque |url=https://www.tdg.ch/jean-studer-presidera-la-cinematheque-suisse-879490934437 |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Tribune de Genève |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230731193713/https://www.tdg.ch/jean-studer-presidera-la-cinematheque-suisse-879490934437 |archive-date=31 July 2023 |access-date=31 July 2023}}
=Activities=
Filmmakers Jean-Luc Godard and Jean-Marie Straub were affiliated with the Swiss Cinematheque and maintained close relations with the foundation's members throughout their careers.{{cite news |last=Senff |first=Boris |date=30 May 2009 |title=La lettre à Freddy de Jean-Luc Godard |trans-title=Letter to Freddy by Jean-Luc Godard |url=https://www.tdg.ch/la-lettre-a-freddy-de-jean-luc-godard-583754843232 |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Tribune de Genève |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230801150037/https://www.tdg.ch/la-lettre-a-freddy-de-jean-luc-godard-583754843232 |archive-date=1 August 2023 |access-date=1 August 2023}}{{cite news |date=20 November 2022 |title=Le cinéaste Jean-Marie Straub est mort |trans-title=Filmmaker Jean-Marie Straub is dead |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/le-cineaste-jean-marie-straub-est-mort-20221120 |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Le Figaro |agency=Agence France-Presse |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230801150405/https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/le-cineaste-jean-marie-straub-est-mort-20221120 |archive-date=1 August 2023 |access-date=1 August 2023}}
The premises in Penthaz became the Swiss Cinematheque Research and Archiving Centre. It was inaugurated on 6 September 2019 in the presence of Federal Councillor Alain Berset and Vaud State Councillor Cesla Amarelle. The total cost was 50.6 million Swiss francs. Located near Lausanne, in the canton of Vaud, the {{convert|13,000|m2|sqft}} building properly stores hundreds of thousands of film reels and posters.{{cite news |date=10 September 2019 |title=Suisse: la Cinémathèque s'offre un nouveau centre de recherche et d'archivage |trans-title=Switzerland: the Cinematheque has a new research and archiving centre |url=https://www.estrepublicain.fr/edition-haut-doubs/2019/09/10/suisse-la-cinematheque-s-offre-un-nouveau-centre-de-recherche-et-d-archivage |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=L'Est Républicain |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230730163024/https://www.estrepublicain.fr/edition-haut-doubs/2019/09/10/suisse-la-cinematheque-s-offre-un-nouveau-centre-de-recherche-et-d-archivage |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=30 July 2023}} The archives are grouped on three levels in the basement of the Penthaz centre on an area of {{convert|5300|m2|sqft}}.
On average, 400 films are donated annually to the Swiss Cinematheque by filmmakers, distributors and collectors. Around 15 to 20 films are restored annually by the involvement of the Swiss Cinematheque's staff, which includes 100 professionals, 75 of whom work full-time, as of 2023. The 100 people working for the foundation are spread over three sites: Lausanne, Penthaz and Zürich. About 50 people work at Penthaz, while the branch office is in Zürich and the seat is in Lausanne.
Holdings
As of 2019, the Swiss Cinematheque holds 700,000 reels, 85,000 films, 10,000 scripts, 26,000 books, 500,000 posters, 2,000 old cameras, 3 million photos and 1 million posters.{{cite news |date=31 May 2019 |title='Ame de la Cinémathèque suisse', Freddy Buache est décédé à l'âge de 94 ans |trans-title='Soul of the Swiss Cinematheque', Freddy Buache died at the age of 94 |url=https://www.rts.ch/info/culture/cinema/10472297-ame-de-la-cinematheque-suisse-freddy-buache-est-decede-a-lage-de-94-ans.html |url-status=live |language=fr |work=Radio Télévision Suisse |agency=Swiss Telegraphic Agency |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230802112538/https://www.rts.ch/info/culture/cinema/10472297-ame-de-la-cinematheque-suisse-freddy-buache-est-decede-a-lage-de-94-ans.html |archive-date=2 August 2023 |access-date=2 August 2023}} It also includes quantities of documents and other Swiss and foreign cinema objects.
Gallery
Hervé Dumont.jpg|Hervé Dumont was director of the Swiss Cinematheque from 1996 to 2008
FredericMaire CarineRoth-Cinemathequesuisse HD-07.jpg|Frédéric Maire, director since 2009
Jean Studer.jpg|Jean Studer, chairman of the Foundation Board of the Swiss Cinematheque since 2016
Centre de recherche et d'archivage de la Cinémathèque suisse à Penthaz.jpg|The Swiss Cinematheque Research and Archiving Centre in Penthaz
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons category|Swiss Film Archive}}
- {{Official website|https://www.cinematheque.ch/en}}
{{Lausanne}}
{{Portal bar|Film|Switzerland}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Film organisations in Switzerland