Films and videos

Composition and scope of the collection

The collection comprises around 500 16 and 35 mm. films, and the same number of video cassettes using different formats and media (U-Matic, VHS, Betacam).  The oldest films date from the years 1940 – 1950. The most recent productions are recorded on Betacam SP.

Content

• Documentary films made and/or produced by the WCC about its activities and programmes and on issues and events around the world
• Films produced by other agencies (e.g. television services in different countries) on WCC Assemblies and activities
• Films produced by outside agencies on other topics

Conservation and access

More effective measures of preservation are being sought.  Given the fragile condition of some of the films, there are plans to digitize part of the collection.

In 2005, two students of the "Haute Ecole de Gestion", department of Information and Documentation of Geneva, carried out their work of diploma on the film and video collection of the WCC: : "Vinaigrées ou obsolètes, quel avenir pour les archives film et vidéo d'une institution?: le cas du Conseil oecuménique des églises".