Identity Statement
| Title | National Film Institute Document Collection |
| Archive Reference | IE IFA/7 |
| Web Link to this Entry | https://iar.ie/archive/national-film-institute-document-collection |
| Creation Dates | 1943-1989 |
| Extent Medium | 8 boxes |
Context
Creator(s): National Film Institute
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Administrative History ↴
The National Film Institute of Ireland founded in 1943 and officially incorporated on June 2nd 1945. Its creation was partly an acknowledgement of the 1936 Papal Encyclical, “Vigilanti Cura – On the Motion Picture” in which Pope Pius X expressed concern about the growing influence of cinema and its threat to Christian morality. The National Film Insitute was initially founded under the patronage of Dr John Charles McQuaid, Archbishop of Dublin. As well as providing an outlet for the screening of films, the Institute aimed to use film as an educational tool and was also involved in film production. The films produced were generally educational and information films for state agencies and Departments of Local Government, on topics including health and hygiene, fire, road and water safety, athletics, agriculture, horticulture and science. From 1948 to the late 1970s the Institute also filmed football and hurling finals for the GAA [Gaelic Athletic Association]. The Institute housed a Library of more than 2,500 film titles which were distributed to cinemas around the country. By the 1980s the Institute’s Board included filmmakers and academics, and had become more secular. Arts Council funding in 1982 also encouraged a change in the functions of the Institute. With Arts Council and lottery funding a new premises for the Institute was purchased in 1987, at the Quaker Meeting House on Eustace Street. The refurbished premises were opened by Albert Reynolds in September 1992 and the National Film Institute was renamed the Irish Film Centre, and later the Irish Film Institute. -
Archival History ↴
Irish Film Institute collection -
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Official Transfer
Content & Structure
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Scope & Content: National Film Institute ↴
The collection can be divided into three categories: administrative documents relating to running of the National Film Institute; documents relating to the National Film Institute’s film production work; and documents relating to the work and administration of the Association of Independent Producers Ireland. Also present are copies of the Film Acts 1950, 1957, 1960 and 1970.
Material relating to the general administration of the NFI consists mainly of ledgers containing minutes from various committee meetings from the 1940s-1980s. These include minutes from AGMs, Finance Committee meetings, Teachers’ Training Committee meetings and Executive Committee and Council meetings. Financial statements and accounts are also present from the 1950s, 1970s and 1980s. Correspondence consists of letters from 1980s regarding the Institute’s campaign for an Irish film archive, including a draft chapter of the Irish Film Archive report by Paddy Woodworth.
Material relating to the NFI’s film production and distribution activities is made up of correspondence regarding the administration of film screenings and the distribution of films. Also present is a large volume of material related to the production of the films, including road safety films for the Department of Local Government, and films made for the Irish Water Safety Association, and Fire Safety Department of the Department of Local Government/Fire Prevention Council. The documents include correspondence, scripts and tenders, receipts, distribution agreements and transcripts in Irish.
Films mentioned include “Game of Chance”, “Places for People”, “Water Wisdom”, “To Save a Life”, “The Kiss of Life”, “Emergency Resuscitation”, “Mr. Jenkins Pays His Rates”, “A Matter of Manners”, “Snámh Sábhála”, “But How?”, “Over the Fire”, “Fire Hazards in the Home”, “Overtaking”, “Animal Traffic”, “Traffic Lanes”, “Game of Chance” and “Places for People”.
The third tranche of material relates to the Association of Independent Film-makers Ireland [later Producers Ireland]. These include reports from Society of Independent Film-makers of Ireland/Association Of Independent Producers Ireland, contracts for completion of films, minutes of meetings, the Association of Independent Producers Ireland Constitution, press releases, correspondence regarding Irish Film Board appointments and policies and correspondence with Government departments regarding the Irish film industry and legislation.
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Appraisal Destruction ↴
Permanent Retention -
Arrangement ↴
The collection can be divided into three categories: administrative documents relating to running of the National Film Institute; documents relating to the National Film Institute’s film production work; and documents relating to the work and administration of the Association of Independent Producers Ireland. Also present are copies of the Film Acts 1950, 1957, 1960 and 1970.
Material relating to the general administration of the NFI consists mainly of ledgers containing minutes from various committee meetings from the 1940s-1980s. These include minutes from AGMs, Finance Committee meetings, Teachers’ Training Committee meetings and Executive Committee and Council meetings. Financial statements and accounts are also present from the 1950s, 1970s and 1980s. Correspondence consists of letters from 1980s regarding the Institute’s campaign for an Irish film archive, including a draft chapter of the Irish Film Archive report by Paddy Woodworth.
Material relating to the NFI’s film production and distribution activities is made up of correspondence regarding the administration of film screenings and the distribution of films. Also present is a large volume of material related to the production of the films, including road safety films for the Department of Local Government, and films made for the Irish Water Safety Association, and Fire Safety Department of the Department of Local Government/Fire Prevention Council. The documents include correspondence, scripts and tenders, receipts, distribution agreements and transcripts in Irish.
Films mentioned include “Game of Chance”, “Places for People”, “Water Wisdom”, “To Save a Life”, “The Kiss of Life”, “Emergency Resuscitation”, “Mr. Jenkins Pays His Rates”, “A Matter of Manners”, “Snámh Sábhála”, “But How?”, “Over the Fire”, “Fire Hazards in the Home”, “Overtaking”, “Animal Traffic”, “Traffic Lanes”, “Game of Chance” and “Places for People”.
The third tranche of material relates to the Association of Independent Film-makers Ireland [later Producers Ireland]. These include reports from Society of Independent Film-makers of Ireland/Association Of Independent Producers Ireland, contracts for completion of films, minutes of meetings, the Association of Independent Producers Ireland Constitution, press releases, correspondence regarding Irish Film Board appointments and policies and correspondence with Government departments regarding the Irish film industry and legislation.
Conditions of Access & Use
| Access Conditions | Accessible at the Irish Film Archive with an appointment. |
| Conditions Governing Reproduction | Copyright and other restrictions may apply. |
| Creation Dates | 1943-1989 |
| Extent Medium | 8 boxes |
| Finding Aids | Electronic catalogue Archive Web Link → |
Allied Materials
There are no Allied Materials
Descriptive Control Area
| Archivist Note | Irish Film Archive Archivist |
| Rules/Conventions | ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000. |
| Date of Descriptions | 2000-2001, Revised 2010 |