Luanda:The National Cinematheque in Luanda has reopened, marking a significant step in preserving Angola's film heritage. The reopening ceremony, held on Monday, was attended by the minister of Culture, Filipe Zau, who highlighted the institution's role in bringing the nation's cinematic history back to the Angolan people.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the minister described the Cinematheque as a vital archive for Angola's audiovisual identity. It aims to serve as a space for preserving, studying, and screening films, thus paying homage to the filmmakers and professionals who have significantly contributed to the country's national cinema.
The facility is set to function as a training center, imparting technical and technological knowledge. Filipe Zau announced plans for a center dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and digitization of the film collection within the National Archive of Angola.
In addition to the Cinematheque's reopening, other cultural venues such as the São Paulo and Tropical cinemas, the Natural History Museum, and the Dundo Museum are expected to reopen later this year. Asdrúbal Rebelo, director of the National Agency for Cultural and Creative Industries, revealed efforts to upgrade the institution's conservation chambers to international standards, aiming to reinstate Angola's membership in the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF).
The National Cinematheque will also launch a "Junior Cinematheque" to engage students and cinema enthusiasts in film research and viewing. Furthermore, a regional project with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is underway to recover and digitize the national film collection, including training for Angolan technicians in film restoration and digitization. Established in 1981, the Cinematheque is housed in the former "Alfa 1" and "Alfa 2" cinema complex, featuring four screening halls of various capacities.
