Jerusalem Videotheque: A Multi-Media Approach

For millennia, Jerusalem has been a source of fascination and inspiration for writers, artists and musicians and even more so for filmmakers. Ever since the first "moving pictures" of the Lumière Brothers in the late 1890s, there have been films focusing on the individual interpretations of reality and myth in Jerusalem. These attempts to capture personal visions of Jerusalem as seen on film, will be the focus of a new project of the Israel Film Archive - The Jerusalem Videotheque.

The Videotheque will include a comprehensive international multimedia centre, expandable database of audio-visual material, and a film and videotape collection. The Archive collection already includes more than 160 films and 600 videotapes which relate to the subject of Jerusalem - newsreels, documentaries, dramas and television programs. The research on film documentation for the expansion of this collection and the establishment of the database has already begun.

Literally thousands of films have been produced which focus on the city of Jerusalem, and its importance for the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities. Many dramatic films have been shot on the backdrop of Jerusalem - beginning with the 1913 silent film. From the Manger to the Cross, directed by Sidney Olcott, to numerous historical dramas over the last 50 years. Perhaps even more important has been the ever-present eye of the documentary cameraman in Jerusalem - from the British army cameraman shooting Allenby entering Jerusalem in 1917 to the modern-day photojournalists documenting the dramatic developments of the Middle East peace process for television stations around the world.

In preparation for the Videotheque, the Archive is actively seeking films on Jerusalem. We would be happy to receive film and videotape deposits - including quality home movies. We would like to request of all our friends in FIAF to research their collections for films and/or videotapes on the subject of Jerusalem and to be in touch if there is anything that might be valuable to us!

In addition to the establishment of the Jerusalem Videotheque, the Israel Film Archive is planning major renovations and revisions in order to better face the challenge of a second century of filmmaking. The first stage includes the upgrading of video facilities, expansion of the archive vaults and renovations in the information library to better service the public. Plans include the acquisition of state-of-the-art technology including CD-ROM, scanning equipment, multi-media work stations and video viewing booths. In addition, all of the private collections of journals, film posters, stills and correspondence are being computerised.

Amy Kronish

Celle-ci comprendra un centre multi-media international, avec une base de données évolutive contenant du matériel audio-visuel et une collection de video-cassettes.

La collection comprend d'ores et déjà plus de 160 films et 600 cassettes sur Jérusalem (actualités, documentaires, fictions et programmes de télévision).

Des milliers de films traîtent de l'importance de Jérusalem pour les communautés juives, chrétiennes et musulmanes depuis 1913. Puis, il y a eu l'opérateur britanique Allenby entrant à Jérusalem en 1917.

Parallèlement à la création de la Vidéothèque de Jérusalem, les Archives du Film Israéliennes se préparent à faire face aux défis du 2ème siècle du cinéma: 1) par l'actualisation des installations video, 2) par l'élargissement des dépôts de films, 3) par des transformations du Centre de Documentation, en vue de mieux servir le public et 4) par l'acquisition d'installations techniques actualisées telles que CD-ROM ainsi que l'équipemment multi-media nécessaire à la mise à disposition de collections de photos, journaux, correspondance, etc.

Los Archivos del film de Israel: una nueva concepción multimedia

Durante miles de años, Jerusalén inspiró a poetas, escritores, artistas, músicos y, desde hace un siglo, a directores de cine.

La visión personal y artística que ofrece la ciudad es el tema principal del nuevo proyecto de los Archivos de Film de Israël: la Videoteca de Jerusalén. Esta, comprende un centro de documentación multimedia internacional, material audiovisual, una base de datos evolutiva, material audiovisual y una colección de videocassettes. Esta ya consta de más de 160 películas y 600 cassettes sobre el tema (noticiosos, documentales, obras dramáticas y programas de televisión).

Desde 1913, miles de películas muestran la Ciudad y su importancia para las comunidades judías, cristianas y musulmanas.

Paralelamente a la creación de la Videoteca de Jerusalén, los Archivos del Film Israelies se preparan para abordar el IIo Siglo del Cine: 1) actualizando sus instalaciones video, 2) ampliando sus depósitos de películas, 3) transformando al centro de documentación en vistas de mejorar el servicio al público y 4) adquiriendo nuevos equipos CD-ROM y tecnologías multimedia para proveer mejor acceso a las colecciones de fotos, periódicos, documentación, escritos originales, etc.