Children dressed as Chaplin celebrate 50th anniversary of Bolivia's largest audiovisual archive

Children and adolescents, transformed into the iconic Tramp character with hats, suits, and mustaches, filled the Bolivian Cinematheque in La Paz. They gathered to celebrate the institution's 50th anniversary, marking half a century of safeguarding Bolivia's audiovisual memory.

The event saw the young participants entering screening rooms in groups. There, a theater troupe presented a piece commemorating Charlie Chaplin, followed by screenings of his classic short films. Before entering, each child received a chocolate bar with a wrapper featuring an illustration of Bolivian cinema.

Cultural journalist Mabel Franco explained that the initiative aimed to pay homage to cinema, with Chaplin as a symbol, and to honor the institution's key figures. These include film critic Pedro Susz, Father Renzo Cotta, cultural manager Amalia de Gallardo, former La Paz mayor Mario Mercado, and actress Norma Merlo. Franco recalled Merlo's own use of Chaplin's persona to advocate for a national film law and raise funds for the Cinematheque's own building.

Founded in July 1976, the Cinematheque initially operated from various locations before acquiring its own building in 2007. Officially recognized as the National Archive of Moving Images in 1978, it now holds approximately 8,000 reels of Bolivian films and 33,000 international films. Alfonso Gumucio, president of the Cinematheque's board, highlighted the 50th anniversary as a significant milestone, especially with the recent restructuring and cataloging of the archive under executive director Mela Márquez. The collection includes nitrate films, stored in a special vault due to their flammability, and notably, a copy of Chaplin's 'The Gold Rush'.

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