How can this rich cinematic heritage be celebrated and passed on to future generations? The "Living Archives" program seeks to address this challenge by fostering a dialogue between the past and the present, connecting iconic works of African cinema with contemporary creators.

To introduce the Cinémathèque Afrique’s emblematic works to a new audience, contemporary artists and creators are invited to engage in an original creative exercise inspired by this cultural and artistic heritage.

Through this program, contemporary creations and the fresh perspectives they bring to seminal works aim to revitalize these films, shed light on their history, and amplify their resonance within today’s artistic landscape.

Starting point : the films

The complete list of films in the Cinémathèque Afrique collection is available on the IFcinéma platform.

Among these, some films have already received preliminary approval from their rights holders to be included in the "Living Archives" program, forming an initial corpus of accessible films. This list is at the end of the document. Subsequent discussions will have to be carried out by the French Institute with the rights holders to specify the possibilities offered by each of these films and right holders. To obtain viewing links, you may send a request via email.

End goal : the works

Up to five artistic projects may receive production support. A scene, a soundtrack, a line of dialogue, a memorable quote, a costume, an overarching aesthetic, or even fragments of film reels… these are just some of the elements that can form the basis of the artistic projects supported by the program.

Visual arts, digital and audiovisual creation, music, live performance, fashion, design, and literary creation: all creative sectors will be considered. Bridges and crossovers between disciplines are welcome and encouraged.

Who can apply ?

The call is open to artists and creators with a recognized background in eligible sectors. By "artist," we mean individuals, duos, or established collectives.

When ?

The call for applications will close upon receiving 50 submissions or, at the latest, on January 30, 2025. We strongly recommend not waiting until the deadline to submit your application.

How to apply ?

Each candidate must send by email :

• A CV detailing their background and experience.
• A portfolio or a link to their works and projects.
• A letter of intent presenting their vision for this program, their interest in African cinema, or a specific film from the Cinémathèque Afrique, along with their artistic intentions.

Selection criteria

The jury will evaluate applications based on several factors:

• The artist's visibility and recognition in prominent venues or platforms in France and abroad.
• The artist’s level of maturity and professional structure.
• Their ability to leverage a network of professional partners (producers, distributors, publishers, agents) to support their project and maximize the visibility of their work afterward.
• The potential to engage partners or sponsors and generate interest.
• The artist's ability to propose a project that aligns with the program’s objectives.
• The originality of the project.

To contribute to the renewed visibility of historical films from the Cinémathèque Afrique, candidates are encouraged to prioritize heritage films from this collection, specifically those produced before 2005.

The Artistic Committee

The Artistic Committee is composed of French and foreign personalities, professionals, artists, entrepreneurs, and representatives from cultural institutions, all possessing a strong expertise in the fields of artistic creation and cultural industries, particularly in France and on the African continent.

The program is organized into several phases, with the Artistic Committee playing a central role.

The Cinémathèque Afrique brings together one of the world's largest collections of films from the African continent, spanning from the 1950s to the present, with more than 1,800 references from 45 countries. It consists mainly of pioneering works by Francophone African filmmakers, often accompanied by rare documentary resources that have been digitized. The collection also includes films by French filmmakers shot in Africa, such as ethnologists and development workers.

During the colonial era, the Laval Decree of 1934 regulated cinematic activity in Francophone Africa, granting French authorities the right to approve or deny film productions and screenings on the continent.

Created in 1961 within the cinema department of the Ministry of Cooperation, under the initiative of filmmaker and ethnologist Jean Rouch and Jean-René Debrix, a filmmaker and deputy director of IDHEC (now La Fémis), the Cinémathèque Afrique supported hundreds of African film productions by providing technical assistance in production and post-production. It played a significant role in the emergence of a first generation of pioneering Francophone African filmmakers.

Initially a physical space in Paris where professionals could access its collection and the public could visit, the Cinémathèque Afrique was integrated into the Institut Français upon its creation in 2011.

The Cinémathèque Afrique contains a significant portion of the pioneering works of African filmmakers and holds a rare collection of documentary resources, including written correspondence between filmmakers and French institutions, behind-the-scenes photographs, period posters, and more. These materials offer exceptional documentation of the emergence of a generation of filmmakers.

All cinematic genres are represented: 640 fiction films, 750 documentaries, 75 animated films, and 10 TV series, available in various formats depending on the work (DCP, digital DCP, Blu-ray, DVD, 35mm, 16mm, Digital Beta, or SP).

With 1,100 short films and 600 feature films, shot both on the African continent and in France, as well as approximately 600 films by ethnologists and French development workers, the Cinémathèque Afrique holds the largest collection of its kind, representing over 1,000 directors. It is an exceptionally rich and diverse source of images and references, whose cultural, historical, and political value makes it an invaluable resource for understanding the shared history of Africa and France over the past 64 years.

Approximately 80% of the Cinémathèque Afrique catalog is in French, 7% in Arabic, 6% in English, and 3% in Portuguese.

In the spring of 2024, the Institut Français received funding from the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) to further develop initiatives aimed at promoting the Cinémathèque Afrique.

The Cinémathèque is a living archive that continues to acquire and distribute contemporary films while collaborating with organizations on the continent to support the emergence of future film professionals.

To ensure that younger generations—African, Afro-descendant, and global—can engage with this collection, it has become essential to work alongside rights holders, heirs of the filmmakers, and authors of the works within the collection to promote and transmit these films to new generations of creators and viewers.

The "Living Archives" program aims to breathe new life into these works from the past through original creations.