Portuguese Cinematheque

The Portuguese Cinematheque (in portuguese, Cinemateca Portuguesa) was created in 1948 with the meeting of a documentary collection alluding to the arts of Portuguese cinema. Its director was Manuel Félix Ribeiro, that at the time, He played roles in the Secretariado Nacional de Informação¹. In the year 1954 the film deposits are built. In 1956, the Portuguese Cinematheque became part of the International Federation of Archives and Films. However, the first public session of a movie only happens on the September 29^th, 1958, at the Palácio Foz², Praça dos Restauradores³. This milestone was of the utmost importance for the body designed to ensure the film heritage of Portugal.

In 1980, the institution reaches another historic milestone by becoming fully autonomous and independent from the State.

Currently, the Portuguese Cinematheque has available for the public a permanent exhibition divided into three centers:

• The Sala dos Carvalhos⁴, is the place where are displayed diverse technical devices inherent to the activity of cinema.
• At the Palácio Foz² we are invited to go back in time to the period between the 18^th and 20^th centuries with the Exposição Interativa de Pré-Cinema⁵.
• The Sala dos Cupidos⁶ houses an exhibition of magic lanterns with which shows are also conducted.

Translation references

1. National Information Secretariat
2. Foz Palace
3. Restauradores Square
4. Oaks Room
5. Interactive Exhibition of Pre-Cinema
6. Cupids Room