The Coronation of King Peter I, in Belgrade 1904, and travel through Serbia, Montenegro and Dalmatia

Part of 'Achives Present' at IDFA 1996
The Jugoslovenska Kinoteka - Yugoslav Film Archive, was founded in 1949 as the central federal institution in Yugoslavia at that time. In course of reorganizations that followed it was transformed into an autonomous and independent film institution largely subsidized by the state. Later the Yugoslav Film Archive offered its help and advice in founding film archives in some of the republics of former Yugoslavia, such as the archives in Slovenia (1968), Macedonia (1974) and Croatia (1979), but it has nevertheless remained the most important Yugoslav film Archive.The basic tasks of the Yugoslav Film Archive are to collect, preserve and safeguard all those films which were made in Yugoslavia or which are screened in Yugoslavia, as well as to collect and preserve all other data relevant to cinematography, such as written documents, photos, posters and artifacts. The Yugoslav Film Archive puts a particular stress upon study and research in the history of national film. The archive holds 80.000 copies of films (nearly 125 million meters) of which 4.000 titles are documentaries shot on Yugoslavian soil. Nearly all the films have their protection prints (two prints per title). The collection is still growing. The main problem is the storing. Their not enough room any longer.A portion of the collection is still on nitrate stock and many films are in a technically poor state, so that one of the primary tasks has become preservation. For this purpose services of laboratories abroad are used, although the needs by far exceed the means at the disposal.The archive is working on a computerized catalogue and hopes to finish this huge job within a few years.Close to 200.000 photographs are available to all clients. There is a collection of 10.000 filmposters, pamphlets, flyers etc. from all periods. The library is well equipped with more then 19.000 international books on film, all national film periodicals as well as copies of many film periodicals published abroad to which the Yugoslav Film Archive subscribed. Also scripts of all Yugoslav feature films and newspaper clippings are assembled. Researchers and students have free access to all collections. There are close connections with the faculty of Dramatic Arts of the University of Arts in Belgrade and the Academy of Arts of the University of Novi Sad.The Museum of Jugoslovenska Kinoteka in Belgrade is a specialized cinema theatre where films, both national ad foreign, from the collection of the archive are shown. The films are screened daily. There are special programs assigned to certain periods of film history, to outstanding film artists - directors, actors, cinematographers and countries. In the course of the past years the capacity of this cinema theatre was the most used in Belgrade. The screenings are frequently accompanied by lectures of film or by visits of special guests.In addition to screenings of the Museum, films from the collection are also screened in the country, accompanied by exhibitions on film art and film history. An important component of the public program is the collaboration with national TV networks where select films are often broadcasted.In spite of problems of the last few years, the archive succeeds in maintaining its connections with other archives. Also on the occasion of its 45th anniversary in December 1995 the institute was allotted new premises by the Community of Belgrade.