In an effort to strengthen the preservation of films across borders, the Film Heritage Foundation of India (FHF), in collaboration with French overseas missions in India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, has created a new project named FISCH (French-India-Sri Lanka Film Heritage). I am working on a two year project.
The project will run over two years and will focus on training, film restoration, conservation and support activities, with support from the French Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, as well as the French Embassy in India and the French Institute.
The partnership began with a film conservation workshop that will run until November 14 in Thiruvananthapuram, southern India’s state of Kerala. The workshop, co-organized with the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), provided 67 participants with intensive training in film restoration and preservation techniques. The initiative involves faculty from France’s prestigious educational institutions, including the Toulouse Cinémathèque, the Jérôme Seydoux-Pate Foundation, and the National Audiovisual Institute (INA).
Among the project’s first efforts is the restoration of Gehenu Lamai, a 1978 Sinhala youth drama film directed by Sumitra Peries and produced by Lester James Peries. Eleven Sri Lankan participants will take part in restoration efforts in collaboration with the Lester James Perrys Foundation and the Sumitra Perrys Foundation.
The project also includes plans to build a permanent training center in Mumbai, with the aim of training a new generation of film preservationists through an annual training program.
Marie-Noël Duris, Chargé d’Affaires of the French Embassy in the Maldives, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in preserving Sri Lankan films, praising Gehenu Lamai in particular as a “cinematic gem.” “This promising project pays homage to the immense talent of the director, a long-time friend of France, and his invaluable contribution to the world of Sri Lankan cinema, and highlights the need to preserve this heritage.” Coach Duris added. .
Thierry Mattou, Ambassador of France to India, emphasized the importance of preserving India’s film heritage. Preserving, restoring and making Indian and Sri Lankan films available to audiences is a way to preserve part of the world’s cultural heritage for future generations. ”
FHF Director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur calls FISCH a “historic international initiative” and says he has a personal stake in the project through his relationship with filmmakers Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries. He mentioned that they had a great connection and that Sumitra Peries had sent him a note about a film she wanted to restore.
Girish Kasaravalli’s Ghatashraddha (1977) and Shyam Benegal’s Manthan (1976) were both restored by FHF and bowed in Venice and Cannes, respectively, earlier this year.
FHF has previously worked with Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project to restore Aravindan Govindan’s groundbreaking Malayalam films Kumati (1979) and Thampu (1978). be. The restored “Tham̄” was selected for Cannes Classic 2022. FHF also restored Alibam Shyam Sharma’s Manipuri film ‘Ishanow’ (1990), which was screened at Cannes Classic 2023. FHF is currently working on restoring some of India’s greatest classical works of all time, including: Ramesh Sippy’s ‘Sholai’ (1975), Shyam Benegal’s ‘Manthan’ (1976) and Nirad Mahapatra’s ‘Maya Miliga’ (1984).
