The Bulgarian National Film Archive is going through the hardest times since its foundation. The physical surviving of our collection is endangered. The main problem is the new strorehouse for acetate stock where we were forcefully evacuated in the summer of 1992. It still needs plenty of construction work. For two years we have been trying desperately to accommodate it for film handling with our own efforts. A good project for rebuilding, redesigning and climatisation of this site is in development since 1993, but the chronic lack of funds has almost stopped it. Besides, we are facing legal problems with the property of this former sound stage pavilion, which attracts powerful outside interests. The limited financial support from the Ministry of Culture (3.200.000 Leva, ca. 55.000USD for 1994) hardly covers our overhead costs and staff salaries.
The nitrate problem also emerged. The transferring programme was interrupted in 1989 due to the financial collapse of the archive. Now approximately 900 000 metres of highly flammable nitrate film is kept at a non-specially equipped site, a further 100 miles away in a northern town. At the moment we are trying to secure the financing of a special nitrate preservation project with an estimated budget of 12.000.000 Leva, but the prospects are not good on account of the whole economical situation in this country.
In addition to these objective difficulties we do not dispose of sufficient technical equipment to carry the necessary daily work on conservation and restoration. We are standing in great need of inspection desks, viewing tables, cleaning machines, even if they are second hand of use. For years we are looking for a film/video transferring machine, which would prevent the surplus usage of our viewing copies.
A possibility to expose all our current problems was the very fruitful visit in June/July 1994 of Mr Wolfgang Klaue - in his capacity as UNESCO expert. During his detailed inspection Mr Klaue showed great concern and understanding of the actual situation and gave us hopes that some foreign help is possible.
The good news occurred in June when, with a Governmental Decree, our archive was finally acknowledged as one of the eight institutions with national cultural importance, side by side with The National Library, Theatre, Gallery etc. This new status will be effective from the beginning of 1995 and will guarantee at least some direct subsiding from the state.
Vassil Zhivkov