The Stichting Amateurfilm was founded with several goals in mind. Firstly, the Foundation wants to stimulate the collection, preservation and re(use) of amateur film material. Secondly, we support the research of amateur film, both through funding and through our own research. Lastly, the Foundation aims to arouse public interest in both historical and modern day forms of amateur film production. The Foundation consists of a small team of five board members. We organise and support various activities concerning amateur film in all its varied forms.

Amateur films are films (film, video, digital media) that are not made by professionals. These films, particularly home movies, are often recognizable because of their familiar activities, locations and events. Through the years, amateur film has gained recognition as an important form of cultural heritage. Amateur film material offers a unique look into the history of everyday life, and sometimes it can even show important historical events through the eyes of the average spectator. More and more programme- and film makers incorporate amateur film material in their new, contemporary productions.

Amateur film should not, however, be seen as only a historical film form. With the rapid development and improvements of mobile phone cameras and online video platforms, a whole new form of amateur film is gaining popularity. The Foundation gladly supports these new forms of filmmaking and tries to incorporate them as much as possible in it’s activities.

Starting in 2004, the Foundation organises an annual Day of the Amateur Film. This ‘Day’ was started to increase interest in amateur films and related projects and to allow the audience to view the results of these projects. From 2007 onwards, the Day has been part of the Netherlands Film Festival in Utrecht.

The 2012 edition of the Day of the Amateur Film will take place on Friday September 28th at the Louis Hartlooper Complex. For full programme details please visit the website of the Day of the Amateur Film. Here you can also watch trailers for previous editions of the Day.

Along with the annual Day of the Amateur Film, the Foundation also publishes a Newsletter three times a year. In this newsletter we focus on recent projects related to amateur film. The Newsletter is written in Dutch: for past issues please see the section ‘Nieuwsbrief’.

The Amateur Film Foundation has a close working relationship with the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, where the vast collection of films, archival material and objects belonging to the former ‘Stichting Smalfilmmuseum’ (the predecessor of the current Amateur Film Foundation) has been looked after since May 2006. This collection is truly unique in The Netherlands and is therefore very valuable and of national importance. The home movies in particular give an immediate, tangible and personal look into everyday life throughout history.

If you have any questions about the Foundation, the Day of the Amateur Film or the Newsletter, please email us at info@stichtingamateurfilm.nl.

You can also become a supporter of the Foundation by donating a (minimal) amount of €15, - annually. If you would like to support us, please send an email containing your full name, postal address and phone number. You can send the donation to account holder ‘Stichting Amateurfilm’, account number 4280168, reference ‘donatie 2010’. With your donation you will support all the Foundation’s activities and you will receive the Newsletter three times a year.