Crowdfunding launched by National Film Archive of Japan after grant cut a 'cry for help'
TOKYO -- A crowdfunding project launched by the National Film Archive of Japan after its operating grant was sharply cut has raised more than 98 milli
On June 25, the National Film Archive of Japan initiated a crowdfunding campaign following a significant reduction in its operating grant. The archive, Japan's sole national film institution, is concerned about its financial health and aims to raise 100 million yen (about $627,000) by September 23. As of now, the campaign has already raised over 98 million yen (around $615,000).
The archive, part of the Independent Administrative Institution National Museum of Art, preserves and researches film and related materials. It holds approximately 90,000 films and over 1.1 million related items dating back to the early days of cinema. The archive's self-generated income, primarily from exhibition and screening fees, accounts for a small fraction of its budget, leaving a considerable gap in funding.
Despite measures such as reducing its budget for collecting and preserving materials and increasing the budget for self-generated income, the archive anticipates a shortfall of 180 million yen (about $1.13 million). The National Museum of Art, which distributes grants to seven institutions, including the archive, has not provided a specific reason for the grant cut.
Japanese filmmaker Koji Fukada criticized the archive's situation, stating that the crowdfunding appeal is a cry for help from the archive. He emphasized the need to support culture with focus on areas with low commercial viability. Director Akira Tochigi of the archive expressed the hope that the campaign would raise awareness about the archive's role in preserving film as a memory of humanity for the future. The crowdfunding campaign will continue until September 23.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
