Filmoteca UNAM Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

History and Founding

The Filmoteca UNAM was founded in 1960 when Mexican film producer Manuel Barbachano donated two 16mm prints to the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), creating the archive's initial collection. The Filmoteca's official name is Dirección General de Actividades Cinematográficas and it operates under the University's cultural affairs coordination. From its origins in Coyoacán, Mexico City, it grew into one of the most important film archives in Latin America. UNAM joined FIAF (International Federation of Film Archives) as an observer in 1970 and became a full member in 1977.

Collections and Holdings

The Filmoteca holds one of the largest film and cinema-related material collections in the world. Its online catalogue gives access to more than 12,000 records of moving images documenting Mexican social, political, cultural, and historical life from 1896 to the late twentieth century. Among its most significant holdings is the Cinema Reporter magazine (1943–1965), Cine Mundial (1951–1955), rare issues of El Cine Gráfico (1935), and the personal scrapbook of director Fernando de Fuentes. The archive also preserves lobby cards, posters, and other ephemera from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The Filmoteca holds extensive film periodicals from Mexico's Golden Age of cinema, including key trade and fan publications that constitute a primary source record of the Mexican film industry. The archive also preserves documentary footage of major twentieth-century events, including footage of the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre filmed by UNAM students.

Access and Usage

The Filmoteca operates several cinema venues across Mexico City, including the Salas Julio Bracho, José Revueltas, and Carlos Monsiváis at the Centro Cultural Universitario, the Cinematógrafo del Chopo, and the Sala Lumière at Casa del Lago. It also offers an online film-viewing service, a film library, and specialist workshops. Researchers may consult the archive by appointment.