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In the News
The National Film Preservation Act
Legislation to reauthorize the National Film Preservation Act of 1 996 for ten years is expected to be taken up soon by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"This legislation is critically important to the field," said Steve Leggett, staff coordinator of die National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) at die Library of Congress. "The Librarian of Congress has noted this is the library's number-one legislative priority for this Congress."
The bill, die National Film Preservation Act of 2003, reauthorizes die NFPB and its charitable affiliate, the National Film Preservation Foundation (NFPF). Both were established in 1 996 widi bipartisan Congressional support to help save Americas film heritage.
A key amendment increases funds for die NFPF. Under the current legislation, the NFPF is authorized for $250,000 per year. The proposed legislation seeks a gradual increase in coming years to a total of $2 million per year.
The bill was introduced simultaneously in the House of Representatives (H.R. 3569) and the Senate (S.I 923). The Senate bill, introduced by Senator
NHF Statement of Purpose
The purpose of Northeast Historic Film is to collect, preserve, and make available to the public, film and videotape of interest to the people of northern New England.
Activities include but are not limited to a survey of moving pictures of northern New England; Preserving and safeguarding film and videotape through restoration, duplication, providing of technical guidance and climate-controlled storage; Creation of educational programs through screenings and exhibitions on-site and in touring programs; Assistance to members of the public, scholars and students at all levels, and members of the film and video production community, through providing a study center, technical services and facilities.
Patrick Leahy of Vermont and cosponsored by Maine Senator Susan Collins, is the likely legislative vehicle, Leggett said.
NHF co-founder Karan Sheldon worked with members of Senator Collins's staff to make them aware of the merits of the legislation and request they co-sponsor S.I 923. "She and David Weiss did a great job," Leggett said.
A new publication of the National Film Preservation Foundation. To order or to access online, unuw.filmpreservation. org/sm_index. html
Northeast Historic Film appreciates the support from Leahy and Collins on S.I 923 and help to die archives in die past. This bill must pass before Congress adjourns diis year, or die process will have to be restarted widi a new Congress.
Cooperative Initiatives
Since its creation, die NFPF has worked with more dian 80 organizations to preserve nearly 600 films for future generations and improve film access for education and exhibition. Modeled on odier similar foundations created by Congress, it raises private funds (bodi cash and in-kind contributions), matches these with limited federal funds, and provides grants to nonprofit film
archives, historical societies and odier nonprofit institutions widi film collections throughout die nation.
The legislation increases appropriations for die NFPF from $500,000 in fiscal year 2004 and 2005 up to $ 1 million in fiscal years 2006 through 2013.
It also authorizes an additional $ 1 million per year to support specific national film preservation and access initiatives from 2006 to 2013. Such cooperative initiatives might include die repatriation of American films, die exhibition and broadcast of orphan films, the production of an archival DVD series for education, multi-archives efforts designed and administered by the NFPF, and significant unfunded film preservation and access needs in American archives.
National Film Registry
Under provisions of die legislation, the Librarian of Congress will continue to name up to 25 "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" films each year to the National Film Registry. From Stump to Ship, the 1930 logging film whose preservation led to the founding of Northeast Historic Film, was added to die registry last year.
In addition to advising on registry selections, the NFPB counsels the Librarian of Congress on implementation of the national Redefining Film Preservation plan, published in 1994.
"We cannot allow the important work of these organizations to lapse," said California Representative Howard Berman when he and Michigan Congressman John Conyers introduced the bill in the House of Representatives. "Over 50% of the films made before 1950 have disintegrated, and only 10% of the movies produced in the United States before 1929 still exist. We must act to stem further losses of this rich cultural heritage. No an form is more uniquely American than film, but unfortunately, few art forms are more susceptible to degradation through passage of time and poor preservation."
The Internet home page of the National Film Preservation Board is lcweb.loc.gov/film/. H