Biennial Audio-Visual Archival Summer School (BAVASS) 2027

8-16 May 2027

Thai Film Archive, Bangkok, Thailand

The 4th edition of the Biennial Audio-Visual Archival Summer School (BAVASS) will be held from 8 to 16 May 2027 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event is organized by FIAF and the Thai Film Archive (Public Organization), in collaboration with SEAPAVAA.

Audiovisual preservation takes place simultaneously across the globe, providing endless inspiration for developing our collective knowledge as a global community of archivists. This edition will draw on preservation experiences from Southeast Asia as a starting point for reflecting on the knowledge and practices that have developed over the decades, particularly in the Northern hemisphere.

The eight-day summer school will cover the full preservation workflow, including collection management, audiovisual conservation, restoration, programming and analogue projection. International experts in the field will share their knowledge and experiences with the participants. The learning materials will be enriched with examples of collaborative work in audiovisual archiving involving diverse entities, such as institutional archives, community organizations, individuals, and international organizations.

The summer school will include lectures, case studies, and hands-on workshops on film, video, digital audiovisual formats, sound, programming and film-related materials. In addition to classroom activities, participants will have access to restored film screenings and preservation facility tours. The courses and additional activities will be conducted in English.

BAVASS is open to applicants from around the world. The courses are designed for film preservationists, archivists, restoration technicians and students with a particular interest in learning from global audiovisual preservation practices. Applicants may be considered for one of several scholarships supporting course fee and partial travel cost.

The details about the courses, scholarship and application form will be available in January 2027.

Course fees

Employees of FIAF affiliates / SEPAVAA Members
6,500 THB (approximately 200 USD / 170 EUR)

General applicants
10,000 THB (approximately 300 USD / 260 EUR)

This includes the tuition fee, lunch and two tea/coffee breaks during the school days.  

Travel and accommodation

Participants are expected to make their own arrangements regarding travel and accommodation.  The Thai Film Archive will provide a list of recommended accommodation offering discounted rates. The costs are expected to range between 40 USD / 35 EUR and 100 USD / 90 EUR per night. The participants may search for various hotels and serviced apartments in the Salaya area or compare the given rate through online platforms such as Agoda, Booking.com, or Expedia.

Financial Assistance

We are offering financial assistance to a limited number of BAVASS participants to offset the cost of registration, travel, and accommodation. More information regarding financial assistance will be announced in January 2027.

Contact

Any further questions about the course? Please contact us at training@fiafnet.org. If you would like to know more about accommodation options, please email bavass2027@fapot.or.th.