Film Heritage Foundation
Dedicates to preserving and promoting cinematic heritage through training, archiving, and education
About
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Headquarters
Mumbai, Maharashtra
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Since
2014
Film Heritage Foundation, known as FHF, is a not-for-profit organisation established in 2014 by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur. Its primary focus is on the Read more conservation, preservation, and restoration of the moving image. Additionally, it is committed to developing interdisciplinary programmes aimed at raising awareness about the language of cinema. As a member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) since 2015, FHF holds a unique position as the sole non-governmental organisation in the country dedicated to the field of film preservation. One of FHF's significant endeavours is training future film archivists, addressing the challenge of a shortage of qualified professionals in the field. In collaboration with FIAF, FHF has been conducting annual film preservation and restoration workshops across various Indian cities since 2015. These workshops, open not only to India but also to neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Malaysia, aim to bridge the gap in trained personnel to preserve their audiovisual heritage. FHF also maintains an impressive film collection, housing works of renowned artists like Amitabh Bachchan, Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, Kumar Shahani, Vishal Bharadwaj, and Mani Ratnam, among others. Furthermore, FHF curates non-film archives, preserving the legacies of individuals such as JBH Wadia, A.R. Kardar, Kidar Sharma, Saeed Mirza, Pran, Kundan Shah, and P K Nair. These archives encompass a wide array of paper and photographic materials, including scripts, posters, lobby cards, song booklets, film magazines, and photographs, representing the diverse regional film industries in India. Lastly, FHF has developed a comprehensive module titled "Do You Speak Cinema?" designed to educate children about various aspects of cinema, from its historical evolution to the appreciation of its visual language, catering to different age groups and preparing them to be discerning audiences in today's image-saturated world. Additionally, FHF has published two notable books: "From Darkness Into Light – Perspectives on Film Preservation & Restoration," edited by Rajesh Devraj, and "Yesterday’s Films For Tomorrow" by P K Nair.
Cause Area
Programs
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Archiving & Preservation Programme
Film Heritage Foundation is dedicated to preserving film heritage. Its activities encompass collecting, cataloguing, and digitizing films and related materials to ensure their timeless quality endures. This involves acquiring and documenting films, conserving them in their original format with optimal storage methods, and digitizing the material for improved public access. Additionally, the Foundation is committed to the ongoing quest for India's lost films, working on their recovery, preservation, and restoration. Currently, it safeguards the founder's personal collection of Indian and foreign films, along with film-related memorabilia, in a controlled vault. Furthermore, the Film Heritage Foundation offers support and technical guidance to studios, archives, and copyright holders to enhance film preservation and restoration practices.
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Restoration Programme
Film Heritage Foundation acknowledges film's fragility and the urgent need for restoration. The film, susceptible to scratches and deterioration, requires meticulous restoration, preserving the creator's intent and artistic integrity. Presently, restoration in India falls short, often limited to digital scans. Film Heritage Foundation's future plans involve international collaboration, advanced technology, workshops, and seminars to establish a cutting-edge film restoration facility, safeguarding India's cinematic heritage from potential loss.
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Education Programme
Film Heritage Foundation is committed to enhancing education through the power of the moving image. Recognizing its potential for communication, comprehension, and fostering literacy, as well as its role in analyzing social and cultural history, the organisation aims to create educational modules and raise awareness about cinema's language. Its objectives include developing modules to teach the history and evolution of cinema, conducting film appreciation courses nationwide, hosting workshops on conservation, preservation, and restoration, using film in interdisciplinary programmes for enhanced learning, advocating for film history and archiving in university curricula, and establishing a systematic programme for educating film preservation professionals, ensuring ongoing skill development in this evolving field.
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Training Programme
Film Heritage Foundation places significant emphasis on training future film archivists due to the critical shortage of skilled individuals in the field of film preservation. In collaboration with FIAF, it has been organising annual film preservation and restoration workshops across various Indian cities since 2015, with upcoming sessions planned. These workshops extend their reach to neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Malaysia, where the shortage of trained personnel for preserving audiovisual heritage is also a concern. This concerted effort aims to address the pressing need for well-trained professionals in the field.
Leadership Team
M&E
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Internal, External Assessors
No
Policies
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Ethics and Transparency Policies
No
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Formal CEO Oversight & Compensation Policy
No
Political & Religious Declarations
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On Affiliation if any
No
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On Deployment Bias if any
No
Registration Details
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Registration ID
U92412MH2014NPL251737
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VO ID / Darpan ID
MH/2017/0179316
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FCRA
Not Available
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CSR Registration Number
Not Available
Location
Other Details
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Type & Sub Type
Non-profit
Section 8 (formerly Section 25)