The International Federation of Film Archives
Encyclopedia
The International Federation of Film Archives was founded in Paris
in 1938 by the British Film Institute
, the Museum of Modern Art
in New York City
, the Cinémathèque Française
and the Reichsfilmarchiv
in Berlin
.
FIAF brings together the world's leading institutions in the field of moving picture heritage.
Its affiliates are the defenders of the Twentieth Century's own art form. They are dedicated to the rescue, collection, preservation and screening of moving images, which are valued both as works of art and culture and as historical documents. Today it comprises more than 150 institutions in over 77 countries - a reflection of the extent to which preservation of moving image heritage has become a world-wide concern.
- to promote the creation of moving image archives in countries which lack them
- to seek the improvement of the legal context within which film archives carry out their work
- to promote film culture and facilitate historical research on both a national and international level
- to foster training and expertise in preservation and other archive techniques
- to ensure the permanent availability of material from the collections for study and research by the wider community
- to encourage the collection and preservation of documents and materials relating to the cinema
- to develop cooperation between members and "to ensure the international availability of films and documents".
FIAF's Associates are non-profit institutions that support the goals of the Federation but are not involved in film preservation per se. In this way, FIAF is joined by moving image museums, videotheques, documentation centres, and so on.
The Annual Congress
FIAF meets every year in a different country. The Congress combines a General Assembly at which the formal business of the Federation is transacted with a programme of symposia and workshops on technical or legal aspects of film archive work and on aspects of film history and culture.
The Commissions
The Commissions are groups of individual experts from affiliated archives who meet regularly to pursue work programmes that promote and assist in the development and maintenance of standards at both the theoretical and the practical level.
FIAF around the world
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1938 by the British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
, the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the Cinémathèque Française
Cinémathèque Française
The Cinémathèque Française holds one of the largest archives of films, movie documents and film-related objects in the world. Located in Paris, the Cinémathèque holds daily screenings of films from around the world.-History:...
and the Reichsfilmarchiv
Reichsfilmarchiv
The Reichsfilmarchiv was the state film archive of the Germany of the Third Reich. The first German national film archive, it was opened in 1935, and based in Berlin...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
FIAF brings together the world's leading institutions in the field of moving picture heritage.
Its affiliates are the defenders of the Twentieth Century's own art form. They are dedicated to the rescue, collection, preservation and screening of moving images, which are valued both as works of art and culture and as historical documents. Today it comprises more than 150 institutions in over 77 countries - a reflection of the extent to which preservation of moving image heritage has become a world-wide concern.
FIAF Aims
- to uphold a code of ethics for film preservation and practical standards for all areas of film archive work- to promote the creation of moving image archives in countries which lack them
- to seek the improvement of the legal context within which film archives carry out their work
- to promote film culture and facilitate historical research on both a national and international level
- to foster training and expertise in preservation and other archive techniques
- to ensure the permanent availability of material from the collections for study and research by the wider community
- to encourage the collection and preservation of documents and materials relating to the cinema
- to develop cooperation between members and "to ensure the international availability of films and documents".
FIAF Affiliates
FIAF's members are archives that are actively engaged in the activities and fully committed to the ideals described earlier. Current members reflect a wide range of non-profit institutions, including government archives, independent foundations and trusts, self-contained cinematheques, and museum or university departments.FIAF's Associates are non-profit institutions that support the goals of the Federation but are not involved in film preservation per se. In this way, FIAF is joined by moving image museums, videotheques, documentation centres, and so on.
FIAF Activities
Much of the work of FIAF takes the form of active cooperation between members on projects of mutual benefit or interest - for example, the careful restoration of a particular film, or the compilation of a national or international filmography. The more visible activities include the annual congress, publications and the work of the specialist commissions.The Annual Congress
FIAF meets every year in a different country. The Congress combines a General Assembly at which the formal business of the Federation is transacted with a programme of symposia and workshops on technical or legal aspects of film archive work and on aspects of film history and culture.
The Commissions
The Commissions are groups of individual experts from affiliated archives who meet regularly to pursue work programmes that promote and assist in the development and maintenance of standards at both the theoretical and the practical level.
FIAF around the world
FIAF Publications
FIAF publishes a regular Journal of Film Preservation. A special office compiles and publishes the International Index to Film Periodicals and the FIAF International FilmArchive Database. Publications also include an annual bibliography of members' publications, the proceedings of symposia or workshops, the results of surveys and reports, manuals and discussion papers prepared by the specialist Commissions and the results of other FIAF projects.- Journal of Film Preservation
- FIAF Directory
- International Index to Film Periodicals
- FIAF Databases Online
Relations with international organisations
FIAF has always had an active international profile. It was closely involved in the preparatory work for the UNESCO Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images, approved in Belgrade in 1980. In pursuit of the goals of the Recommendation, the Federation facilitates contacts between developing archives and older archives to make sure that experience is passed on.Education
Training of archive personnel takes place at FIAF Summer Schools and Technical Symposia that have been held several times in various countries. Their aim is to introduce participants to the necessary skills of preservation, cataloguing, documentation and even administration.See also
- CinemathequeCinemathequeA cinémathèque is a French word used to refer to a film archive with small cinemas that screens particularly classic and art-house films.- History :...
- List of film archives
- Cinémathèque FrançaiseCinémathèque FrançaiseThe Cinémathèque Française holds one of the largest archives of films, movie documents and film-related objects in the world. Located in Paris, the Cinémathèque holds daily screenings of films from around the world.-History:...
- Academy Film ArchiveAcademy Film ArchiveThe Academy Film Archive is part of the Academy Foundation, established in 1944 with the purpose of organizing and overseeing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ educational and cultural activities, including the preservation of motion picture history...
- Korean Film ArchiveKorean Film ArchiveThe Korean Film Archive or called Korean Federation of Film Archives and KOFA is the sole film archive in South Korea with nationwide coverage. It was founded in Seoul in 1974 as a non-profit organization...