Overview

The ‘Research and Rescue’ initiative is part of a wider family of projects within the Palestinian Film Foundation in London. The initiative is designed to locate, restore and safeguard valuable or vulnerable film or video work related to Palestine. The project aims to allow the Foundation to accommodate a far greater emphasis on research and audio-visual archiving. At the time of March Meeting, the initiative was seeking to secure a research centre to be housed at a UK university, which would include a digitised film archive and reading library, a space for exhibitions, events and seminars, and an administration hub for research outcomes (online and print publications, and DVD releases and re-releases).

Presentation Proposal

The Palestine Film Foundation (PFF) was formed in 2004 by directors of the London Palestine Film Festival, itself founded in 1998. Based in London, the PFF exhibits, promotes and archives film and video related to Palestine, with a focus on work produced in Palestine or the wider region. Alongside its flagship annual festival, the PFF operates a library of audiovisual material on Palestine covering all genres and historic periods. The PFF is now launching a five-year ‘Research and Rescue’ programme to expand, secure, and enrich this unique research asset while increasing its accessibility for scholars, film practitioners and exhibitors. A key project aim is to identify, restore and distribute vulnerable or lost work by Palestinians and/or on the subject of Palestine. Other attributes of the programme include regular symposia and research publications. During 2011, the PFF expects to secure housing and core funding partners; programme operations will commence in early 2012.