Dutch Early Cinema

January 15th 2009

The Filmmuseum is currently working on the disclosure and contextualization of its collection of early Dutch films (Dutch Early Cinema). These are films from the first decennia of film history, roughly from the period 1896 – 1933.

To ensure consistency and coherence, only so-called silent films from this period of time have been chosen. At the end of the roaring twenties a few sound films were made, but they have been kept out of this overview. In this case, disclosure and contextualization mean that the most important data from just about all the films that were made in the first decennia and that were publicly displayed, is assembled in one database. This database will be made accessible through a website later this year. Besides the metadata, all kinds of context material is being added to the website, such as newspaper reports, reviews, program folders, photos and posters from that initial period, and also texts which explain the most important developments and events from the pioneering years of film.

And last but not least, the website is expected to make more than 300 films digitally available! The material that will become available is exceptional and often unique and can only be found in the Filmmuseum depot.  

A great part of this early film collection has already been digitized at consultation level. The metadata are nearly in order and a lot of context material has been sorted out and digitized. Nevertheless, the arrangement of the rights to this early material will still take a good amount of time and research. The fact that it’s old material does not mean that the copyrights on it have expired. The website can go online when the rights have been arranged. Then the Netherlands will have obtained a web domain with unique images of the Netherlands from the beginning of the 20th century and with the first Dutch made comedies, dramas and tragedies.

(Image: Annie Bos in 'Carmen van het Noorden')