Thomson Foundation to take up old Indian films' restoration

Panaji, Nov 24 (UNI) The Thomson Foundation for Film and TV Heritage, which is into restoration of films, today said they would soon be taking up restoration and reconstruction of Indian movies of yesteryears.

''We have not restored any Indian film yet. But, we are thinking about it,'' Thomson Foundation Managing Director Severine Wemaere told reporters here.

She said they hope to partner with the National Archives of India for restoration of old flicks.

Hoping that this project would come up soon, she said film makers from India were quite supportive. Film makers of today were getting more interested in film heritage, she added.

Through restoring the movies, the Thomson Foundation was trying to promote awareness among the people in the film industry about restoring and preserving film heritage, said Ms Wemaere, whose foundation has an exclusive section ''Film Heritage'' at the International Film Festival of India 2008.

On the budget of restoring the films, she said it depended on their damage. ''Sometimes a huge amount of money was needed, she said.

The Film Heritage section, which is dedicated to the worldwide film heritage, begins today with the restored version of ''Lola Montes'', made in the 1955. Lola Montes, directed by Max Ophuls was also the opening film at the Cannes Classical section at the 61st International Film Festival of Cannes this year.

Stating that Lola Montes was key to restoration of films, Ms Wemaere said the Thomas Foundation's contribution in restoring this 1955 masterpiece underscored its efforts to promote original masterpieces to convey their importance in cinema history.

It had taken almost two years for the reconstruction of ''Lola Montes'', she added.

''The Film Heritage section with Women'' as theme has seven women centric films. Apart from Lola Montes, the other films that would be screened are The Women (1939), Cluny Brown (1946), Floating clouds (1955), Imitation of Life (1959), My Life to Live (1962), Subarnarekha (1965), and Loulou (1980).

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