Academy Film Archive
Encyclopedia
The 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. Although the current incarnation of the Academy Film Archive began in 1991, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences acquired its first film in 1929. Located in Hollywood, California at the Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study
, the Archive has a diverse range of moving image material. The Archive's collection comprises 60,000 titles and 150,000 separate items, including early American cinema, a vast collection of documentary films, filmed and taped interviews, amateur and private home movies of Hollywood legends, makeup and sound test reels, and a wide selection of experimental film
, as well as Academy Award-winning films, Academy Award-nominated films, and a complete collection of every Academy Awards show since 1949. The Archive is also concerned with the preservation and restoration of films, as well as new technologies and methods of preservation, restoring over 300 titleshttp://www.oscars.org/filmarchive/projects/index.html of historical and artistic importance.
(1950); many Stan Brakhage
films from the original elements; and with support from the Film Foundation, Curtis Harrington's Night Tide
(1961), and 18 films by Satyajit Ray
.
The Archive's restoration of Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon
(1950), in conjunction with the National Film Center of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo and Kadokawa Pictures, Inc., won the 2009 National Society of Film Critics
's Heritage Award http://www.indiewire.com/article/locker_tops_national_society_of_film_critics/. Funding for "Rashomon" provided by Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation and The Film Foundation
.http://www.film-foundation.org/common/11004/default.cfm?clientID=11004&homepage=1
In some circumstances, the Archive may be able to make collection materials available for licensing.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
’ educational and cultural activities, including the preservation of motion picture history. Although the current incarnation of the Academy Film Archive began in 1991, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences acquired its first film in 1929. Located in Hollywood, California at the Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study
Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study
The Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study is one of three Los Angeles-area facilities of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, located at 1313 Vine Street, in central Hollywood....
, the Archive has a diverse range of moving image material. The Archive's collection comprises 60,000 titles and 150,000 separate items, including early American cinema, a vast collection of documentary films, filmed and taped interviews, amateur and private home movies of Hollywood legends, makeup and sound test reels, and a wide selection of experimental film
Experimental film
Experimental film or experimental cinema is a type of cinema. Experimental film is an artistic practice relieving both of visual arts and cinema. Its origins can be found in European avant-garde movements of the twenties. Experimental cinema has built its history through the texts of theoreticians...
, as well as Academy Award-winning films, Academy Award-nominated films, and a complete collection of every Academy Awards show since 1949. The Archive is also concerned with the preservation and restoration of films, as well as new technologies and methods of preservation, restoring over 300 titleshttp://www.oscars.org/filmarchive/projects/index.html of historical and artistic importance.
Preservation
The Academy Film Archive features an extensive preservation program, safeguarding films across all genres. Notable preservation projects include Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s All About EveAll About Eve
All About Eve is a 1950 American drama film written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, based on the 1946 short story "The Wisdom of Eve", by Mary Orr.The film stars Bette Davis as Margo Channing, a highly regarded but aging Broadway star...
(1950); many Stan Brakhage
Stan Brakhage
James Stanley Brakhage , better known as Stan Brakhage, was an American non-narrative filmmaker who is considered to be one of the most important figures in 20th century experimental film....
films from the original elements; and with support from the Film Foundation, Curtis Harrington's Night Tide
Night Tide
Night Tide is a 1961 thriller film, written and directed by Curtis Harrington and starring Dennis Hopper. It premiered in 1961, but was held up from general release until 1963...
(1961), and 18 films by Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
.
The Archive's restoration of Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon
Rashomon
Rashomon may refer to:* Rashōmon, the former main city gate in two Japanese capital cities, Heijokyō and Heiankyō * Rashōmon , a short story by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa first published in 1915...
(1950), in conjunction with the National Film Center of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo and Kadokawa Pictures, Inc., won the 2009 National Society of Film Critics
National Society of Film Critics
The National Society of Film Critics is an American film critic organization. As of December 2007 the NSFC had approximately 60 members who wrote for a variety of weekly and daily newspapers.-History:...
's Heritage Award http://www.indiewire.com/article/locker_tops_national_society_of_film_critics/. Funding for "Rashomon" provided by Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation and The Film Foundation
The Film Foundation
The Film Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to film preservation founded by director Martin Scorsese in 1990.-External links:*...
.http://www.film-foundation.org/common/11004/default.cfm?clientID=11004&homepage=1
Access
The Archive offers access to its collections to researchers and scholars. Based on availability, preservation status and condition of the materials, visitors may visit the Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study to arrange appointments through the Access Center http://www.oscars.org/filmarchive/using/rules.html. Additionally, the Academy Film Archive lends prints to non-profit institutions for screenings http://www.oscars.org/filmarchive/using/loanpolicies.html.In some circumstances, the Archive may be able to make collection materials available for licensing.