The collection comprises a series of films and newsreels shot and edited over a 15-year period, between 1955-1970, at the ‘Kibbutz Hameuchad’ film studios that were based in Kibbutz Na’an, just under the open-air theatre stage. The films and reels were shot both in black and white and technicolour, and were predominantly focused on capturing kibbutz life, and the growth and development of Jewish communities in the land, including agricultural work, culture and art events, holidays and festivities, trips and youth camps, United Kibbutz conferences and council meetings, the kibbutz’s children society, and lots more.
Hakibbutz Hameuchad’s trailblazing filmmaking operations were launched and helmed by Kibbutz Na’an’s Gideon Ucko – one of the kibbutz movement’s theatre and film pioneers. In the early years, it truly was a one-man show, with Ucko singlehandedly running the whole thing. Then, in 1962, he was joined by Kibbutz Givat Brenner’s Micha Avni and later, also by Yehuda Algranati, and his own son – Ilan Ucko. Na’an residents and members of other Kibbutzim also took part in the making and production of these films – writing, narrating, illustrating, composing, playing, and so forth.
The collection was kindly entrusted to the care of the Israel Film Archive that is now responsible for its ongoing maintenance, scientific preservation, and accessibility to the general public.
For all rights and authorised footage usage queries, please email archion.naan@gmail.com.
