France Télévision Distribution signs with Path&eacute

France Télévision Distribution (FTD), the commercial subsidiary of France 2 and France 3, has inked a distribution agreement with the archive department of Pathé T&eacutelévision. FTD’s news and current-affairs sales department will now distribute Pathé’s library worldwide, excluding France and the U.K. FTD will be offering thematic compilations of both France 2 news coverage and Path&eacute footage.

Orphans get big cheque

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has made a US$250,000 pledge to the National Film Preservation Foundation to help it save ‘orphan’ films from the trash heap. Orphaned films have no company or group to keep them from degrading. The foundation’s efforts have attracted some big names – like Disney and Martin Scorsese – but it hopes to accrue more contributions from studios and related industries.

Burrud Productions meets DTG Entertainment

John Burrud, ceo of Orange County’s Burrud Productions, is joining forces with Art Newberger of Encino’s DTG Entertainment to form a new distribution company called Burrud Newberger Entertainment. The new company will distribute both libraries, and is planning a new 26 x 30 childrens series, as well as a new 78 x 30 doc series, both in association with Canadian producer/distributor K.E.I.

Library of Congress

The U.S. Library of Congress has, for the first time, made space for newsreels on its hallowed shelves. The reels are of the 1937 Hindenberg disaster and the strike at Republic Steel, and represent a significant step in archival film preservation for more than commercial exploitation.