Filmoteca vasca

• Introduction
• History
• Services
• Location
• Staff

History

The Basque Film Library (Euskadiko Filmategia/La Filmoteca Vasca) was founded on the 1st of May, 1978, becoming the first so-called “Autonomous Community Film Library” anywhere in Spain. Its founders, Peio Aldazabal, Juan José Almuedo, José Luis Basoco, Nestor Basterretxea and José Manuel Gorospe, perceived the need to conserve materials representing Euskal Herria’s audiovisual memory.

On the 20th of May, 1997 the Basque Government commended the Basque Film Library for excellence in public service on account of its work in the preservation of Euskal Herria’s audiovisual memory. As of 1994 the Library is an Associate Member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF). As the only Basque film archive, it plays a fundamental role in serving researchers, production companies, distributors, television stations and students alike. The Basque Film Library became a foundation in November, 2004, with the Basque Government and the Gipuzkoa Provincial Government as its chief patrons.

The commemoration in 2003 of the 25th anniversary of its founding marked yet another turning point in the development of the Basque Film Library, which now aspires to international recognition.

The non-profit entity, which began life with a total of 600 metres of film, currently possesses five million metres of film and 17 million metres of videotape. The Library serves as a deposit for the San Sebastian International Film Festival and for Euskal Telebista (Basque television).

The Basque Film Library will soon be transferring its headquarters to a building equipped with all the technology necessary to fulfil its ambitious aims. The place chosen for this new locale is Donostia’s former Tabacalera premises, now refurbished and transformed into the International Centre for Contemporary Culture, which will contain the Library’s facilities and projection rooms in the future.

The new headquarters will include:

• archives.
• reception, attention to the public, administration, technical services.
• library and document centre.