A short introduction to: THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FILM CRITICS (FIPRESCI) FIPRESCI, the International Federation of Film Critics, has been in existence for more than 60 years. As early as 1925, some French and Belgian critics founded a "Professional Association of Cinematografic Press", and during a Cinema Congress in Paris the following year, the first steps were taken to form FIPRESCI. This was definitively established at the Cinema Congress in Brussels in 1930 - the name itself being decided upon a year later. The basic purpose of the organisation, which now has >national sections in over 40 countries all over the world >(including the U.S.), is to encourage new and young cinema >and to promote national cinema wherever it is to be found. With this aim in mind, FIPRESCI organises International Critic's Juries at many festivals, including Cannes, and the citations given are of considerable value to the film-makers concerned. These juries are completely independent of the festival organisations which assist them, and the awards are thus much respected within the film community. FIPRESCI also organises conferences and seminars all over the world and is increasingly playing a part in a number of cultural activities designed to protect and encourage independent film-making and national cinema. It is also a member of the International Commission for Cinema and Television, part of UNESCO. Finally, FIPRESCI defends the rights and interests of professional film critics and writers on film, and makes efforts to improve their working conditions whenever possible. President: Derek Malcolm (Great Britain). Vice-presidents: Nenad Dukic (Yugoslavia), Dan Fainaru (Israel), Umberto Rossi (Italy), Jean Roy (France). General Secretary: Klaus Eder, Munich. For further information please contact Klaus Eder: [log in to unmask] Klaus Eder Munich [log in to unmask]