Over four decades
of collaboration
OUR HISTORY
The history of FIAT/IFTA began in 1976 when the leaders of a small group of television archives established the need for collaboration and pooling expertise in their specific domain.
In 1977 eighteen representatives of television archives came together in Paris to establish FIAT/IFTA officially as a foundation under French law. Among them are major European broadcasters such as BBC, RAI, ARD and RTVE, and smaller ones, such as ORF and RTP, the French national audiovisual archive INA and non-European broadcasters such as CBS. The objective is to promote cooperation in the conservation techniques and tools, documentation and documentation systems, and more to promote the appreciation and dissemination of the collections.
Within a few years, the annual meeting grows into a conference, including a statutory General Assembly every other year. This assembly elects the Executive Council, which meets twice annually. A strong sense of solidarity grows among the core group of members, allowing exchanging and sharing of experiences and solutions for classic archival challenges such as storage rights or cataloguing. Gradually working groups on these subfields develop; it is the birth of the committees as we know them today.
The membership of FIAT/IFTA keeps on growing, and the annual conference travels along cities around the world, organised under the leadership of the local FIAT/IFTA member. In the nineties, even two joint conferences are organised, one with IASA in Berlin and one with AMIA (Association of Moving Image Archivists) in Washington. More regional seminars, such as in South America or the Middle East, are also organised. In 2000, driven by UNESCO, FIAT/IFTA was among the founding members of CCAAA, the ‘Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations’.
Over the years, FIAT/IFTA has started a broad range of initiatives, specially developed to remain relevant in audiovisual archiving: standards and norms, research and surveys, training, support programs such as ‘Save your Archive’, lobbying and more informal support. But most of all, FIAT/IFTA remains a membership organisation where professionals from over 250 member organisations meet, learn, and exchange information to keep preserving and unlocking audiovisual content in the 21st century.
FIAT/IFTA MILESTONES
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2022
First World Conference in Africa
The World Conference is organised in Cape Town, South Africa, hosted by SACIA & SABC. This is FIAT/IFTA’s first conference in Africa.
Brecht Declercq is re-elected for his second two-year term as FIAT/IFTA President.
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2021
Second Online World Conference
FIAT/IFTA holds its second online World Conference.
The Network & Communications Coordinator role is created to maintain a consistent online presence.
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2020
FIAT/IFTA & IASA Joint Online World Conference
FIAT/IFTA and IASA organise a joint online conference responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brecht Declercq of meemoo is elected the eleventh President of FIAT/IFTA.
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2018
Venice World Conference & VUC Creation
FIAT/IFTA has a highly successful conference in Venice, Italy, hosted by RAI.
Bríd Dooley of RTÉ is re-elected for her second two-year term as FIAT/IFTA President.
The Value Use and Copyright Commission (VUC) is created.
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2017
FIAT/IFTA’s 40th Anniversary
FIAT/IFTA celebrates its 40th anniversary during the World Conference in Mexico City.
Anne Hanford, one of the federation’s founders and second president, receives the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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2016
FIAT/IFTA’s 10th President is Elected
During the World Conference in Warsaw, Poland, Bríd Dooley of RTÉ is elected as the tenth president of FIAT/IFTA.
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2015
The FIAT/IFTA Office is Created
The FIAT/IFTA Office is created to support the Executive Council.
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2013
First World Conference in the Middle East
The World Conference is organised in Dubai and hosted by Al Arabiya. This is FIAT/IFTA’s first conference in the Middle East.
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2012
Save Your Archive Initiative is Created
At the World Conference in London, FIAT/IFTA’s ‘Archives at Risk’ programme is renamed ‘Save Your Archive’.
Jan Müller of the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision is elected the ninth President of FIAT/IFTA.
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2008
FIAT/IFTA’s 8th President is Elected
Herbert Hayduck of ORF is elected the eighth President of FIAT/IFTA by the General Assembly held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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2007
FIAT/IFTA’s 30th Anniversary
FIAT/IFTA celebrates its 30th anniversary during the World Conference in Lisbon, Portugal
On October 27th, UNESCO’s ‘World Day for Audiovisual Heritage’ is celebrated for the first time, with the participation of FIAT/IFTA members.
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2006
FIAT/IFTA’s 7th President is Elected
Edwin van Huis, director of the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, is elected the seventh President of FIAT/IFTA.
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2002
FIAT/IFTA’s 6th President is Elected
Emmanuel Hoog, director of INA, is elected as the sixth president by FIAT/IFTA members in Antalya, Turkey.
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2000
The CCAAA is Founded
FIAT/IFTA is among the founders of the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA).
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1998
FIAT/IFTA’s First Seminar Takes Place
Peter Dusek of ORF is elected the fifth President of FIAT/IFTA during the General Assembly in Florence, Italy.
The MMC organises its first Seminar in London.
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1997
FIAT/IFTA’s 20th Anniversary
FIAT/IFTA celebrates its 20th anniversary.
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1995
FIAT/IFTA Launches its First Website
In Washington, USA, a second joint conference is organised with AMIA.
FIAT/IFTA launched its first website, hosted by the National Library of Norway.
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1994
FIAT/IFTA Sends its First Email Newsletter
FIAT/IFTA organises its first joint conference with IASA in Berlin-Bogensee. Tedd Johansen of NRK is elected the fourth President of FIAT/IFTA.
FIAT/IFTA sends out its first e-mail-based newsletter.
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1992
The Basis of the FIAT/IFTA Cataloguing Guidelines are Published
FIAT/IFTA publishes a minimum list of 22 fields for cataloguing broadcast materials, the basis of the FIAT/IFTA Cataloguing Guidelines.
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1990
First General Assembly in Asia
During the General Assembly in Tokyo, Japan, the first one in Asia, Vittorio Sette of RAI, is elected the third President of FIAT/IFTA.
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1987
FIAT/IFTA’s 10th Anniversary
FIAT/IFTA celebrates its 10th anniversary.
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1986
FIAT/IFTA First Joint Technical Meeting
FIAT/IFTA and IASA organise a first joint technical meeting in Montreal, Canada.
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1983
FIAT/IFTA Takes Part in the first Joint Technical Symposium
FIAT/IFTA takes part in the Roundtable of Audiovisual Records’ first Joint Technical Symposium in Stockholm, Sweden.
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1982
First General Assembly in South America
The General Assembly is held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the first time in South America.
Anne Hanford of BBC is elected the second President of FIAT/IFTA.
FIAT/IFTA takes part in the Roundtable of Audiovisual Records.
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1980
First Meeting Overseas
FIAT/IFTA holds its first overseas meeting in Ottawa, Canada, hosted by CBC.
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1978
FIAT/IFTA 1st President is Elected
Otto Sprenger, Head of Archives at ARD, becomes the first President of FIAT/IFTA.
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1977
FIAT/IFTA is Founded
FIAT/IFTA is established as a foundation under French law; the first annual meeting is held in Paris, France.
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1976
The Idea of FIAT/IFTA is Born
TV archive managers from Europe and the US establish the need for a specific organisation focusing on television archives.