Preserving film heritage means balancing the old with the new, says Rainer Rother of Deutsche Kinemathek

"Films are submitted to us and we select a number for the programme. We try to cover a range as wide as possible in terms of time, geography and style. The films in this section are world premieres or international premieres and are always new digitalizations."

- MURTAZA ALI KHAN

Dr. Rainer Rother, the Artistic Director of the Deutsche Kinemathek - Museum für Film und Fernsehen in Berlin, has played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting film heritage for decades.

Under his leadership, the institution has navigated the complex challenges of archiving, digitization, and public engagement, all while expanding its global reach through collaborations and exhibitions.

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian, Dr. Rother discusses the future of the Deutsche Kinemathek as it moves to a new temporary building, the evolving role of film archives in a digital age, and his vision for ensuring the legacy of cinema remains relevant for future generations.

He also shares insights into his work with the Berlinale, the Werner Herzog Foundation, and the broader context of global film preservation efforts. Excerpts

Q. With the upcoming move to a new building, what long-term goals do you have for Deutsche Kinemathek? How do you see the institution evolving in the next decade?

A. The new temporary building, a former transformer station, with its 600m2 hall, offers the opportunity to try out a variety of formats and presentations in view of the planned new museum building. A new museum will only be feasible in a few years' time.

The demands placed on museums as well as expectations of visitors are constantly changing. The work in our interim quarters therefore gives us a chance to test appropriate offers for our visitors.

Educational work will also be intensified. As before, we will provide many inclusion programmes; we will provide offers for people of different age groups, different levels of education and social backgrounds.

This will also give us a lot of positive ideas in order to prepare for the new museum.