He served as the head of the Lausanne-based institution from 1951 until 1996. In 1998, he received an Honorary Leopard at the Locarno Film FestivalExternal link, which he co-directed from 1966 to 1972.
Buache, who wrote numerous books on Swiss cinema, died on Tuesday. The National Film ArchiveExternal link announced his death on Twitter, writing, “A great figure in cinema and the soul of the National Film Archive, the man who was director of the institution for nearly half a century passed away peacefully on May 28.”
External Content
Nous avons l’immense tristesse d’annoncer le décès de Freddy Buache, à l’âge de 94 ans. Grande figure du cinéma et âme de la Cinémathèque suisse, celui qui fût directeur de notre institution pendant près d’un demi-siècle s’est éteint paisiblement le 28 mai dernier. pic.twitter.com/cjQHIf4joQExternal link
Born on December 29, 1924, the film enthusiast got his start as a film critic for the Nouvelle Revue de Lausanne (1952-1959). He then wrote for the Tribune de Lausanne, which later became Le Matin.
Buache is credited with leaving his mark in Switzerland and also abroad as a writer, poet, art critic, author, publisher, programmer, teacher, and passionate defender of new Swiss cinema and heritage preservation.
More
More
Locarno’s new director unveils plans for the next festival
This content was published on
The Locarno Film Festival has a new director. Lili Hinstin, 42, has big ideas for running Switzerland’s largest cinematic celebration.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss film producer honoured at Berlin Film Festival
This content was published on
Arthur Cohn was recently recognised for his career achievements with the Cinema for Peace award at the Berlin Film Festival.
This content was published on
The Federal Council wants to spend around CHF943 million ($937 million) on culture over a four-year period. The lion’s share is earmarked for cinema.
Locarno’s new director unveils plans for the next festival
This content was published on
The Locarno Film Festival has a new director. Lili Hinstin, 42, has big ideas for running Switzerland's largest cinematic celebration.
This content was published on
Researchers have found unique historical film footage of Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler - one of Switzerland's best-known artists.
This content was published on
Before television, Swiss cinemas showed weekly news reels. They were commissioned by the cabinet in 1940 to counter Nazi propaganda.
This content was published on
Hervé Dumont, head of the Lausanne-based library, says Dietrich was a cinema icon and a 20th century emblem. “She was one of the most beautiful women in European cinema.” At the same time, “Marlene Dietrich is a completely artificial creation,” Dumont explained. “She never denied it, saying she owed everything to Josef von Sternberg, a…
This content was published on
On Wednesday opponents of the SFr68 million ($65.8 million) new museum, planned to be built on the shores of Lake Geneva, handed in almost 18,000 signatures to force a local ballot on November 30. The current cantonal fine arts museum is housed alongside other cultural institutions in the cramped Renaissance-style Palais de Rumine building in…
This content was published on
The programme opens as the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council is holding its seventh session, addressing rights violations and attempting to overcome its north-south divide. Remaining faithful to its concept of “a film, a subject, a debate”, in which each screening is accompanied by public debate, the organisers hope to strengthen the festival’s role…
Swiss Film Archives bring long-forgotten films back to life
This content was published on
The screening of nitro films was prohibited in the 1950s for safety reasons – nitrate film bursts into flames at high temperatures. The film also becomes more unstable with age, increasing the risk of fire, which is why the National Film Archives – the “Cinematheque” – keeps its reels in cold storage bunkers. Many of…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.