The materials in this collection are open to the public.
In summer 2015 University of Connecticut Professor Emeritus Josef Gugler donated his collection of research materials related to African and Middle Eastern film to the BFC/A. Much of Gugler's research and the resulting publications have focused on issues arising from the urbanization of developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since 1961 he has performed research or served as a visiting lecturer/professor in Nigeria, Tanzania, the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Senegal.
In 1991 Gugler began teaching a course called "Modern Africa: Re-Imaging Africa through Films and Novels" at the University of Connecticut. The posters, films, videos, and other promotional materials donated to the BFC/A served to support his research and coursework on African film and led to the publication of his African Film: Re-Imaging a Continent (Indiana University Press 1993, reprinted 2003). Later, Gugler's research interests in international film expanded to North Africa and the Middle East. Additional publications related to Gugler's work on African film and his more recent exploration of Middle Eastern film are listed below.
Gugler's awards and honors include and a senior fellowship from the American Institute of Indian Studies (1980-1981), a Choice Outstanding Academic Book award for
This collection is arranged into the following three series:
Title on item = Translated title on item [Original title ; English title] (Date of earliest known release, publication date of item)
The Josef Gugler collection consists of promotional materials for films produced in or directed by filmmakers from Africa and the Middle East. Over 500 unique films by approximately 350 film directors are represented. Formats include film posters, pressbooks, chirashi flyers, lobby and storefront cards, handbills, photographs, slides, and audiovisual recordings. Also represented in the collection are promotional materials for films treating Middle Eastern and African diasporic communities in Europe and films by American and Western European directors depicting the Middle East and Africa such as
The posters in the collection range from 14 x 10 inches to a 78 x 54.75-inch poster of
A similar distribution of countries, languages, and dates exists for the pressbooks, chirashi flyers, handbills, press kits, lobby cards, and photographic materials, although the variety is somewhat less due to the smaller number of items for each format.
The photographic materials include 41 prints of African filmmakers Moussa Sene Absa, Flora Gomes, Dani Koyaté, Sarah Maldoror, Isrissa Ouédraogo, Ousmane Sembène, Ingrid Sinclair, and Cheik Oumar Sissoko. These mostly appear to be candid shots and include photos of Sissoko and Ouédraogo receiving awards for their films at FESPACO. The remaining items are prints and slides of film and production stills for approximately sixty different films.
Most notable among the audiovisual materials are 16 mm prints of three of Ousmane Sembène's films:
The material in this collection was donated by
Materials may be used in-house at the BFCA; duplication permitted only with permission of the Archivist. Use of audiovisual materials may require the creation of a reference copy. If you wish to preview a VHS recording in this collection, please contact the BFCA staff well in advance of your visit.
[item], Josef Gugler African and Middle Eastern Film Collection, Special Collection COL 12, Black Film Center & Archive, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Processed by Ronda L. Sewald.
Completed in
In 2022, the Black Film Center/Archive (BFC/A) transitioned to its current name, the Black Film Center & Archive (BFCA). This finding aid was created under the organizational name Black Film Center/Archive. Upon this organizational name change, all previous references to the BFC/A were updated in this finding aid to match the current name, Black Film Center & Archive.