FIAT/IFTA was proud to take part in the annual EUscreen Symposium, held on 8–9 April in Warsaw, Poland and co-hosted by EUscreen and the Filmoteka Narodowa – Instytut Audiowizualny (FINA).

This year’s edition, titled “Reframing Openness: Empowering Authenticity and Reuse in Audiovisual Heritage”, brought together professionals, scholars, rights experts, technologists, and community practitioners. The symposium created a space for critical dialogue on how audiovisual heritage institutions can preserve the authenticity and integrity of their collections while embracing openness, innovation, and reuse in a rapidly evolving social and technological landscape.

Discussions explored the shifting meaning of “openness” in the context of copyright constraints, AI-generated content, and co-creation practices. Participants also examined how reuse strategies must be reimagined to balance legal, ethical, and cultural responsibilities, while addressing the transformative potential—and risks—of artificial intelligence in archival description, access, and interpretation. Particular emphasis was placed on inclusive, community-driven approaches that foster plural narratives and empower users as active participants in the stewardship of audiovisual heritage.

FIAT/IFTA’s contribution to international dialogue

FIAT/IFTA was represented by Virginia Bazán-Gil, FIAT/IFTA President, who participated in the panel “Upskilling the Archives”, alongside Marco Rendina (Cinecittà) and Agata Krawczyk (Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage). The panel was moderated by Maria Drabczyk.

As the digital landscape evolves, the role of the archivist is shifting from traditional stewardship to technology supported dynamic data management, digital preservation and ethical access and reuse. This session tackled the “skills gap” head-on. Diverse perspectives were bridged —from large-scale international associations, national policymakers and institutions to specialised collections—to discuss how we can realistically evolve our professional toolkits ensuring that the core archival mission is intact.