FIAF and the Development of International Archival Standards
The history and operational role of the International Federation of Film Archives, founded in 1938.
To preserve the world's cinematic heritage, archives must collaborate across international borders. The guiding force behind this global network is FIAF.
Founding in 1938
The International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) was founded in Paris in 1938 by the Cinémathèque française, the British Film Institute, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Reichsfilmarchiv. It has grown to include over 180 member institutions across 80 countries.
Establishing Standards for Storage and Cataloging
FIAF establishes the rigorous technical standards that define modern archiving. These include storage temperature/humidity profiles, chemical safety tests for nitrate film, metadata schema designs, and ethical codes for digital restoration.