Documentary News Letter (1947-1949)

DOCUMENTARY Ml \1 \ I \VS 89 Klos information was laid on the table bj all the delegates present. Finally, the Constitution of the World Union was fulls discussed and accepted in principle. A committee to put it into more legal language was set up. consisting of Toeplitz (Poland). Vernaillen (Belgium), and Langlois (France). Monday was a heavy day. The British delegation had been sampling the night life of \larianske (a town which consists almost exclusively of restaurants and night clubs) and Wright was moved unwillingly into the chair. National Sections were discussed and the importance of the provision in the Constitution that representatives in the World Union should be by properly organized National Sections. was stressed. A discussion on the right of the film-maker not to have his films tampered with was interrupted by the arrival of a delegation of Russians, including Romm, Piriev and the actor. Cherkasov. Romm promised to give a report on behalf of the Soviet Union the following day. A committee to draw up the constitution of the National and International Courts of Honour was elected, consisting of Ivens (Holland), Bossak (Poland) and Alexander (Britain). The Polish delegation suggested that the work of the Congress could be speeded up if there were also committees on Production and Distribution, to prepare matter for discussion in full meeting. Two committees were elected: Production. Kertesz (Hungary), Bech (Switzerland) and Scliar (Brazil); Production. Klos (Czechoslovakia), Painleve (France) and Toeplitz (Poland). The full meeting dissolved at midday, much to the relief of the chairman. and the committees worked in the afternoon, interrupted only by a newsreel session, during which the delegates were filmed entering (he ( asino, which, lest there be any misunderstanding, was the principal theatre of the Film I estiva! proper. On the fourth day Congress with very little difficulty decided on the basic categories of Documentary, as follows: Documentai\ films fall into one of foul categories, according to their purpose: 1. Social. 2. Scientific. 3. Cultural and I ducational. 4. Fxperimental. According to their audience they fall into three categories: 1. General Public. 2. Specialist. 3. Scholastic. Romm of the Soviet Union then gave a long. detailed and interesting report on the structure of the documentary system in his country, and THE BRUSSELS DECLARATION i Adopted at a meeting of documentary film makers held in Brussels, June l')47.) True to their tradition of service to the peoples of the world, in the fields of economic, social and educational progress, documentary film workers continue to take an active viewpoint towards the many problems confronting the world today . The indispensable role of documentary in the fields of information and education and in the communication of ideas, makes ii necessary for the documentary workers, not only to state the problems exactly , but also to guide the public towards the solution of these problems. In this task, it is the responsibility of every documentary worker to master the technique and artistic potentialities of the documentary film, so that art and technique are fused with the social purpose of documentary . The documentary film has established itself as a form of film art. .It has a profound influence on feature films in all countries. This influence will certainly continue. In particular, documentary film workers should engage in all activities designed to secure the full and unfettered expression of social, economic and cultural life through the medium of film. The principal tasks confronting documentary workers are as follows: the fight against the enemies of peace and democracy; national, racial and economic oppression and religious intolerance; poverty and disease, illiteracy, ignorance and other social evils; and the fight for peace and reconstruction; independence of subject peoples; free intellectual and cultural expression; dissemination of knowledge, not at present available to all. Documentary film workers will collaborate with all international organizations working for the principles enumerated above. -*s -C Balk Amado By •Documentary'' is meant the business of recording on celluloid any aspects of reality, interpreted either by factual shooting or by sincere and justifiable reconstruction, so as to appeal either to reason or emotion, for the purposes of Stimulating the desire for and the widening of human knowledge and understanding, and of truthfully posing problems and their solutions in the sphere ot economics, culture and human relations. Toeplitz also expressed full support of the Brussels Declaration. After this Congress dealt with the reports of the committees on Production and Distribution. As regards Production, an important resolution was passed: 'Newsrecls are nol necessarily documentaries, but as actuality films fall into th< gory of informational films. The World Union has decided that it is the duly of documentary film workers to encourage newsreels to be better planned and more progressive: further, the World Union denounces the danger inherent in the extension to documentary films of the superficiality common to most newsreels.' In addition, decisions were arrived at regarding joint production by documentary groups in various nations, with special references to the exchange of technicians and the exchange oi material and information. The Distribution Committee made eleven important recommendations on non-theatrical distribution. Late in the day. but with unabated energy, the Congress conducted a final discussion on the Constitution and followed this a prolonged. technical and vigorous discussion on the terms of reference of the Court of Honour. That same evening the French texts were agreed and the English texts were prepared. On the fifth day Mrs Mustacza spoke for Rumania and George Stoney. very effectively. for the USA. The rest of the day was spent in elections and tidying up. All the officers appointed: Executive: President, Basil Wright (Great Britain); vicepresidents, Joris Ivens (Holland). Elmar Klo (Czechoslovakia); secretary. Georges Toeplitz (or nominee) (Poland), treasurer. Ruis Santos (or nominee) (Brazil). Court of Honour: Presiding, Jean Painleve (France). Henri Storck (Belgium). Ik-la Bali LS2 (Hungary). It was unanimously agreed that the next ( on gress should be held al 1 dinburgh. Subscriptions were agreed upon, with due reference to the problems o\' international exchange. I he I rench and I nglisb icxts o\ the i onstitution and the rules of the (ouii o( Honour were signed by all the delegates, and altei a PrCSS conference, al which the new secretary distinguished himself by making the same speech it. three different languages consecutively. ( on gress formally came to an end It should be added that in addition to Us general labours the ( ongress attended projections of document tries from nearly all the countries represented, every evening from 10 10 p.m. until ail hOl