Preservation of Tunisian Cinematographic Heritage: Assessment and Proposal for a Preservation Strategy

The Tunisian cinematographic heritage, rich in historical, artistic, and cultural value, is currently weakened by institutional fragmentation, the absence of coordinated policy, and often inadequate preservation conditions. In this article, we present an overview of the state of film archives in Tunisia with the aim of proposing strategic directions for their preservation and enhancement. Between July and October 2020, we conducted a field survey involving ten institutions holding cinematographic collections. Using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, we analyzed the entire archival life cycle, from acquisition to preservation. Our findings reveal significant shortcomings: inadequate infrastructure, lack of technical equipment, insufficient archival expertise, and weak coordination among stakeholders. Only a few initiatives, such as those led by the Gammarth film archives and the National Center for Cinema and Image, have attempted to address these issues. However, since 2022, we have observed the emergence of positive developments indicating a growing willingness toward structural organization. In this context, we propose a Preservation and Digitization Plan, inspired by the professional framework of the National Audiovisual Institute (INA-France) developed within the MedMem project. This plan is based on institutional networking, the professionalization of archival practices, and the establishment of a unified technical framework. Keywords: Cinematographic archives; audiovisual heritage; National Center for Cinema and Image; Tunisian Cinematheque; National strategy; Tunisia.