Preservation

June 1, 2010 - The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is pleased to announce that it will continue the film and television-related programming of the Audio-Visual Preservation Trust, including the Astral Restoration Program. Dedicated to protecting and promoting Canada’s audiovisual heritage, the AV Trust was founded in 1996. No longer able to carry out its activities as a result of recent funding cuts, the Trust folded in the fall of 2009.

“As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, it is particularly fitting that we have been provided this unique opportunity to broaden the scope of our work to include the restoration and preservation of Canadian film and television,” says Sara Morton, CEO, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. “Understanding and honouring our artistic heritage enhances our appreciation for the works we recognize annually through our Awards shows. We are proud to continue the efforts of the AV Trust and look forward to preserving and promoting our country’s rich and dynamic film and television history.”

Introduced in 2000, the Astral Restoration Program has restored and re-released a number of films including Loyalties (1986, dir. Anne Wheeler), Les bons débarras (1980, dir. Francis Mankiewicz), and Seul ou avec d’autres (1962, dir. Denys Arcand, Denis Héroux, and Stéphane Venne).

Astral “As the largest operator of English- and French-language specialty, pay and pay-per-view television services in Canada, Astral Media is the country’s largest private investor in Canadian content from story optioning and script development to pre-licensing and promotion,” said John Riley, President, Astral Television Networks. “This commitment to Canadian content extends to the restoration and preservation of Canadian films. We are therefore thrilled that the activities of the AV Preservation Trust will continue with the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and look forward to continuing the Astral Restoration Program.”

The Academy will work with many of the Trust’s founding partners including Telefilm Canada, the NFB, and Library and Archives Canada.

“Ensuring the preservation of Canada’s cultural products for the enjoyment of future generations is very important,” says Carolle Brabant, Executive Director, Telefilm Canada. “We are pleased to see the program continue as Telefilm shares the Academy’s dedication to the promotion of the Canadian audiovisual sector,” she concluded.

“The Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada has played a key role in preserving our finest audio-visual works. I’m extremely pleased that this work will now continue, thanks to the renewed support of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. As Canada’s public film producer, the National Film Board of Canada is committed to digitizing, maintaining and sharing our rich collection with all Canadians. I look forward to us continuing to work alongside the Academy towards our common goal: preserving this nation’s priceless cinematic legacy. Congratulations to the Academy on today’s announcement,” said Tom Perlmutter, Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson.

“Library and Archives Canada is pleased that the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television ensures the continuity of the important work done by the AV Trust, and reiterates its own commitment to the preservation of Canada’s audiovisual heritage”, says Daniel J. Caron, Librarian and Archivist of Canada. “Library and Archives Canada plans to work collaboratively with other institutions and organizations to further the preservation of the documentary heritage of Canada, including the migration of over 530,000 hours of audio and video recordings from obsolete analogue formats to digital files, for the benefit of present and future generations”.

Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks - updates related to the Academy’s Preservation activities will be posted here.

For information about the AV Trust – its history, past programs and resources – please visit www.avtrust.ca