Purpose of the Federation

Members of the Federation

Organs of the Federation IV Financial matters

V Change of statutes

Purpose of the Federation

Article 1

The organizations of professional film critics and film journalists established in different countries for the promotion and development of film culture and for the safeguarding of professional interests, constitute the International Federation of the Cinematographic Press (Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique - FIPRESCI) - an institution founded on the 6th of June 1930.

Article 2

The purpose of the Federation is to develop, on an international scale, the activities of its members, as they are described in article 1, and particularly:

To safeguard the freedom and ethics of film criticism and film journalism and of information.

To promote and expand the idea of the cinema as a means of artistic expression and of cultural education.

To discuss, define and confirm the specific rights and obligations of film criticism and journalism.

To encourage the exchange of ideas and experience among film critics and film journalists of all countries and thereby create, outside all ideological and political distinctions, a new foundation for a permanent dialogue.

To be opposed in the frame of its purpose to any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination based on gender identity, disability, race or ethnicity, skin color, age, language, religion or belief, membership of a national minority, body size and/or body weight, socio-economic and/or socio-cultural background.

To publish and distribute by any communication means all the documents which accord with its purpose.

Article 3

The official languages of the Federation are English and French.

Members of the Federation Article 4

The Federation is constituted of national organizations. All such national organizations have the same rights and the same obligations.

By this means each national organization is considered to be the National Section of the FIPRESCI. Each National Section has one vote at the meetings and manifestations of the Federation.

As a rule, National Sections should be made up by one organization only, satisfying the terms stipulated in the present statute.

In exceptional cases, a maximum of two organizations can be affiliated to FIPRESCI within a National Section. They will be organized as specified in article 7.

Article 5

The Federation is constituted and organized for professional film journalists and film critics.

The affiliated organizations are obliged to write into their respective statutes a minimum definition of film journalism as for example the following: "Every person contributing regularly film journalism or film criticism to daily papers or periodicals, to cultural magazines, specialized or not, to radio or television, or to electronic publications, in as far as they are published regularly and the contributors have the status of critics or journalists in their country".

The affiliated institutions are obliged to write into their respective statutes that critics or journalists being involved, directly or indirectly, with publicity activities for companies of the film industry, or having their main professional activity in the film industry, cannot be accepted as members.

Article 6

The National Sections have to register those members who wish to take part in the activities of the Federation.

This registration must be supported by evidence confirming the qualifications defined by articles 2, 3 and 5 and by all necessary professional data.

Only registered members can participate at assemblies and other manifestations of the Federation.

Registration cannot be accepted if the persons wishing to take part in the activities of the Federation have a permanent or part-time connection with production, distribution or advertising companies or institutions, or in films shot in recent years. Registration can be accepted conditionally if they have connections with film festivals where the Federation establishes a jury; in this case, they cannot be part of the Federation's activities in those festivals.

Article 7

In countries where two organizations exist, satisfying the terms stipulated in the present statute and who ask for membership of the Federation, the affiliation of these organizations has to be effected by means of a National Section, joining together the two organizations of the country.

In this case, the respective National Section is equally made up of the two organizations concerned and being equally entitled. They are obliged to discuss and decide together every subject regarding FIPRESCI. In case this coordination is not possible, for what reason ever, the Board is authorized to decide the National Section's representation in all manifestations of the Federation.

The two organizations concerned have to agree on only one vote for all items being discussed at the Federation and its meetings. Should they not obtain any agreement, their vote will be considered as null and void. In the absence of one of them, the organization present will have the only right to vote.

Article 8

Film critics and film journalists in countries where does not exist a National Section of FIPRESCI may join the organization on an individual basis. Their membership has to conform to all the relevant articles of this statute.

Whenever a qualified film critic or film journalist is prevented, for reasons that will appear legitimate to the Board of FIPRESCI, from joining a national section, they may join FIPRESCI as an individual member. Their membership has to conform to all relevant articles of this statute.

A qualified film critic or film journalist, who is not a member of FIPRESCI, who offers to help for a precise task of FIPRESCI can be accepted by the Board as a temporary individual member for the length of the task, which should not be longer than six months. A person cannot be accepted more than once as a temporary individual member and should join FIPRESCI, through a national section or as a regular individual member in order to participate again in FIPRESCI activities.

The individual members of the Federation make up the "Section of the individual members", which is considered as one National Section The section of individual members is administered by one or several coordinators appointed by the Board.

Article 9

The Board of FIPRESCI decides on every application for membership. Candidates unanimously accepted immediately receive the benefits of membership. Candidates not having been accepted unanimously are presented by the Board, with due objections, to the General Assembly which makes the final decision.

Article 10

Each National Section must provide the Federation every four years at the most with updated information on its members and its national board, on changes of its statutes and other essential items. In particular, each National Section must inform the Federation biannually on its main activities.

Individual members have to substantiate their professional activities every four years at the most.

Organs of the Federation Article 11

The Federation is defined as consisting of:

The Board

The General Assembly

Article 12

The Board constitutes the management body of the Federation. It develops the program of activity within the Federation and regulates its implementation.

The Board is made up by the President and three Vice-Presidents, with the addition as consultative members of the Treasurer and of the Head of Legal Affairs

In case of equality of votes, the President has the casting vote.

Article 13

The President represents FIPRESCI in all matters, supported by its Vice-Presidents.

The President and the Vice-Presidents are elected for four years by the General Assembly, and may be reelected immediately only once in a row. They cannot be of the same nationality nor represent the same Section.

The candidatures for the Presidency and the Vice-Presidency, must be given, in writing, by a date published in the circular of the Federation, and they are made known to the members a month before the General Assembly by the Board.

In case of a vacancy of these positions, the Board may coopt a replacement until the next General Assembly where elections for the vacant positions will take place under their usual specifics. The replacing member may candidate to the vacant position without any restriction other than above.

The Federation is registered in France and its Head Office is based in the town where the President resides.

Article 14

1. The main tasks of the Board are

a. to carry out all the actual work of the Federation

b. to prepare the bulletin of information and the circulars addressed to members

c. to ensure that the statutes and the regulations are being respected

2 . At each General Assembly the Board presents a report on the activities of the Federation joined by an individual report of each member.

Article 15

The main tasks of the Federation are

Organization of the International Critics Jurys

Membership