2015 Edition
A new association for a dynamic outlook on the Festival's development
After eight successful editions, the need arose for the Roman Museum to clarify and facilitate the operation of the Festival, while maintaining its close historical ties. The need to provide it with a structure specifically dedicated to its organization, and with resources specifically earmarked for its management and development, led to the creation of a new Association under the name of "Festival International du film d'archéologie de Nyon" (F.I.F.A.N.). Initially limited to members of a steering committee, this structure is set to expand with the active recruitment of new members for the next edition of the festival.
The 9th Festival, March 24-28, 2015
Still biennial, the festival took place from March 24 to 28, 2015. Some forty films were offered free of charge to the public over 5 days and 9 sessions, including the closing evening at which award-winning films were shown.
An ideal place for film to inform the public about recent archaeological discoveries, it is also a place for archaeologists and the public to meet and share ideas. For example, the film "Secrets in the Land of the Black Eagles", about recent excavations by the University of Geneva in Albania, was followed by a presentation by the excavation team.
The festival tackles periods and themes that broaden the perspectives found at the Roman Museum. Prehistory, for example, was featured in at least two sessions dedicated to this period. The Khmer civilization, little known to the public in our regions, was also addressed during the week.
As for the problem of looting and the various dangers that increasingly threaten archaeological sites, this was once again on the festival's agenda, and was dealt with in 2 sessions. The looting of sites, fuelled by the existence of a flourishing trade in archaeological artefacts in which all data relating to the context of discovery is lost, is a catastrophe well known to archaeology professionals. However, this problem remains poorly understood by the general public.
A film on the Mayan civilization drew a parallel between what we learn from ceramics acquired by private collectors and those discovered by the Mayans. in situ. Better than an academic discourse, the film allows everyone to understand the seriousness of the problem.
To understand what motivates people to collect objects that are part of the human heritage, we went to meet a collector who reveals his motivations in a film.
The depredations committed on historic monuments were tackled through an Iranian film which showed that, whatever the culture in which we live, the problems linked to safeguarding heritage are posed in identical terms.
In short, whatever the precise subject of the film and the importance given to the archaeological context, the works selected for the festival are all concerned with archaeological approaches that focus on knowledge and heritage.
All videos
