In 2009, over 850 canisters of film were discovered in Amman, Jordan. We are asking for help translating the labels of each canister so we can determine the contents of the collection.

Fusing cutting-edge preservation techniques with Do-It-Yourself inspired crowd-sourcing, this project aims to create a collaborative community of experts, enthusiasts and general public who believe this collection of films is of significant value to Jordan, the region, and the international community.

Thus far, we have only been able to digitize 10 of these reels. In this small sample, significant discoveries were made, including:

• A documentary confirmed to be part of the PLO film archive, lost in 1985.
• Footage of HM King Hussein in 1968 addressing the United Nations in the aftermath of the Six Day War.
• Documentary footage of Jerusalem in 1968 and its aftermath.
• Unidentified propaganda films from Vietnam made to highlight relations between Vietnam, Russia, and political struggles in the Middle East in the 1960s and 70s.
• Russian feature films sent as part of a cultural exchange between Russian and Arab partners, ranging from the 1920s to the 1980s. 
  

‘A Film Archive’ Project