Madagascar and Italy boost film heritage ties
Minister Gascar Fenosoa visited Bologna to discuss preserving and digitizing Malagasy cinema archives.
Madagascar is strengthening its cultural cooperation with Italy to safeguard, restore, and digitize its film and audiovisual heritage. Minister of Communication and Culture Gascar Fenosoa traveled to Bologna, Italy, to meet with the Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna and its laboratory, L’Immagine Ritrovata. The discussions focused on conserving archives, digitizing films, restoring old movies, upgrading equipment, and training Malagasy professionals.
The initiative aims to improve the preservation of audiovisual materials held at the Auditorium Andohibe, making them more accessible to the public. Minister Fenosoa stated that understanding history and protecting its documentation are essential for consolidating Malagasy identity and preparing the country's future. This vision links heritage preservation with education, creation, and cinema development.
The collaboration builds on existing economic and technical cooperation between Madagascar and Italy, established by an agreement on July 1, 1964. This new focus on audiovisual heritage seeks to deepen these bilateral relations. Officials from the Cineteca di Bologna, including Director Gian Luca Farinelli and Deputy Director Davide Pietrantoni, participated in the meetings.
Why it mattersMalagasy citizens will benefit from better preservation and access to their country's historical films and audiovisual records.