FILM HERITAGE FOUNDATION, THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE AND THE FRENCH INSTITUTE IN INDIA AND THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE IN SRI LANKA AND THE MALDIVES ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE A PIONEERING INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION: FISCH – FRANCE-INDIA-SRI LANKA CINE HERITAGE – SAVING FILM ACROSS BORDERS
A pioneering collaboration between three countries, FISCH is an international endeavour dedicated to training in film preservation, restoring and preserving cinematic heritage and to safeguarding the legacy of cinema. Led by Film Heritage Foundation, supported by the French Embassy and the French Institute in India, alongside the French Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the project spans over two years with a focus on training, film restoration, preservation and outreach. France’s involvement highlights its unwavering commitment to preserving cultural heritage and ensuring that the stories captured on film endure for future generations.
The project’s first initiative is the 9th edition of the Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop India (FPRWI 2024), taking place from 7th to 14th November, 2024, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Organised in association with the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), this prestigious workshop will welcome 67 participants, and aims to equip them with skills in restoring and preserving audiovisual works, addressing the pressing challenges of restoring aging classic film collections and the shift to digital formats.
FPRWI 2024 will bring together an esteemed global faculty to lead intensive training sessions, covering topics such as disaster recovery, cataloguing, and digitization, while offering hands-on learning experiences. The program will also feature screenings of restored films from around the world, offering an immersive look at film preservation in practice. As part of the goals of FISCH, the workshop will welcome 11 Sri Lankan participants and restore the classic Sinhala film Gehenu Lamai (1978) by Sumitra Peries in association with the Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation.
In addition to the training workshops, the project will place significant emphasis on public outreach with a specialized workshop focused on broadcasting and raising awareness about the importance of film preservation as part of the project. This initiative will include curated screenings of heritage films, aimed at engaging and educating diverse audiences.
Looking ahead, the project will also support the creation of a permanent training center in Mumbai, designed to cultivate future generations of film preservationists. This center will offer an annual program to train young professionals. As a key hub for film restoration and distribution, the center will play a crucial role in advancing the project’s mission to safeguard cinematic heritage across borders.
The project emphasises the vital role of preserving cinema’s cultural and historical significance across borders. Through hands-on workshops, participants gain expertise in safeguarding cinematic works, while public outreach efforts highlight the importance of these efforts to wider audiences. By ensuring that films of the past remain accessible and appreciated, the project aims to inspire future generations and foster a deeper appreciation for the rich legacy of global cinema.
MARIE-NOËLLE DURIS, Chargée d’Affaires, Embassy of France in Sri Lanka and the Maldives
“France and Sri Lanka share a common passion for cinema and the preservation of film heritage through generations. The French Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, with the support of the Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation, is proud to collaborate with the French Embassy in India, the French Institute in India and the Film Heritage Foundation in Mumbai to restore Gehenu Lamai (1978), a cinematographic gem by Mrs Sumitra Peries. This promising project will pay tribute to the immense talent of the director, a long-standing friend of France, as well as to the invaluable contribution of Sri Lanka cinema to the world, highlighting the need for preservation of this heritage.”
SHIVENDRA SINGH DUNGARPUR, Director, Film Heritage Foundation
FISCH – France-India-Sri Lanka Cine Heritage – Saving Film Across Borders – is a historic international initiative dedicated the crucial goal of saving film heritage not just in India but in Sri Lanka through vital training programmes, restoring a landmark Sinhalese film and investing in public outreach and the creation of permanent training centre in Mumbai. Film Heritage Foundation is so proud that our organization has been chosen to lead this visionary project and I would like to thank the French Embassy and the French Institute in India and the French Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Maldives for their generous support that has made this unique collaboration possible. I had a close relationship with Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries and she had sent me notes on the films she would have liked to restore. I am so glad that we will be able to restore her film “Gehenu Lamai” under the aegis of FISCH and also thanks to the cooperation and support of the Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation.
PHOTO GALLERY:
Sri Lankan participants at the FPRWI 2024 and Inspection of the film elements of ‘Gehenu Lamai(1978)’:
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