PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Dear fellow members of FIAT/IFTA,

Here is a short report of my different activities during the last months. The main event was the FIAF Conference in Cartagena, Colombia, where I represented FIAT/IFTA. The main subject for the conference was the problems with amateur films stored in Film Institutes all over the world. A very interesting issue not only for FIAF members but also for you, my fellow members. TV productions in the field of documentary may profit by using the private and non-professional films. We were shown many interesting shots - amateur films - dealing with different subjects. FIAF's approach to the problems and FIAF's actions in this direction will make the association a challenge to future conferences of FIAT/IFTA too.

FIAF is not a club for some dedicated movie lovers only; FIAF is working for those who have understood that there is a life after nitrate film and that film/movie is not a movie any more. The past is the past and the future is the future. A silent majority of the participants at the FIAF Conference in Cartagena is willing to look into new media and new ways of making a movie.

My advice to FIAF's members was simple and clear: drop one or two film festivals and focus on computerising your card catalogues - and take action to make it possible to get access to culture values of great importance - the opposite policy will prevent us from making use of the cultural heritage stored in film institutes all over the world. That was my personal message to the participants of the Conference.

What else on my agenda to report to you? We are now planning on holding a local conference in South-America. The venue is Santiago de Chile. We wish to make it possible for you who speak Spanish to communicate in your own language. FIAT has had contacts with TELEVISION NACIONAL de CHILE. On my way to Colombia I paid FIAT/IFTA's member in Chile a visit to talk about the matters. I have made attempts to get more members from South-America by contacting TV companies in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At least we may try and I hope we make some progress in the field - so Spanish speaking TV members - wake up and let me know the names of your friends - companies that should be members of FIAT/IFTA.

The last part of the agenda for this chat is to tell you that the P&P Commission and the Documentation Commission held meetings in Oslo last week, hosted by NRK. So you see, I have been busy doing FIAT/IFTA work. Last message: If you feel that we are not paying attention to your problems, my dear fellow member - please let me know - I will contact the chairmen who might have forgotten to let you know what you should know. We do not hide away secret reports to be published in some years; The board meetings and the agendas and decisions made by the Board are not a secret matter.

Have a nice summer. Tedd Johansen

CONTACTING THE PRESIDENT

The President's address and phone details have changed slightly and are now as follows:

Tedd Johansen
NRK. FADA
N-0340 Oslo
Norway

Tel: +47 23 04 91 35
Fax: +47 23 04 93 20
E-mail: tedd.johansen@nrk.no