Lumiton is nearing the completion of the digitization process for one of the most extensive donations in our Archive, the Tadeo Bortnowski Collection.This collection can be viewed in the Film Library section, where our digitized film archive is accessible to the community.
Tadeo Bortnowski served as a cameraman and later as the artistic director of the Sucesos Argentinos newsreel from 1951 to 1972. After concluding his work with the newsreel, he founded his own production company, Notrus Film, which produced, among other works, institutional films and documentaries. This film collection captures Argentina in the latter half of the 20th century.
The donation consists of numerous film cans containing 35mm and 16mm film materials, including positives, negatives, and soundtracks, including both final cuts and discarded footage. Additionally, it includes open audio reels, U-matic tapes, and still photographs from various film shoots. These records offer a glimpse into everything from institutional films and advertisements to documentaries and family home movies.
Tadeo Bortnowski was born in Poland on May 25, 1924. At the age of 15, his country was first invaded by Nazi Germany and later by the Soviet Union. His resistance to the Soviet regime led to his imprisonment as a political prisoner, and in the following years, he moved between prisons, forced labor camps, and hospitals with no supplies, often believing he would not survive.
Against all odds, Tadeo survived and continued his journey as part of propaganda teams that filmed on the battlefields during World War II for the Allied forces and in the surroundings of the Nuremberg Trials. He received awards for his work and gained a significant reputation within the film community. However, discrimination and a lack of opportunities for advancement due to his nationality led him to decide to emigrate, and almost by chance, he arrived in Argentina on July 9, 1948.
Tadeo, or Tadeusz in Polish, started his family and spent the rest of his life in Argentina. He traveled throughout our country, filming its diverse landscapes and people, and he passed away on November 21, 2015. His legacy constitutes one of the most important documentary sources for the history of 20th-century Argentina.