Founded in 1950, American Cinema Editors (ACE) is an honorary society of film editors that are voted in based on the qualities of professional achievements, their education of others, and their dedication to editing itself. The society is not to be confused with an industry union

Trade union

A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...

, such as the I.A.T.S.E.

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, or I.A.T.S.E., is a labor union representing technicians, artisans and craftspersons in the entertainment industry, including live theatre, motion...

 (specifically the Motion Picture Editors Guild

Motion Picture Editors Guild

The Motion Picture Editors Guild is the guild that represents freelance and staff motion picture film and television editors and other post-production professionals and story analysts throughout the United States...

 or MPEG) to which an editor might belong. The current President of ACE is Randy Roberts.
Eligibility for active membership can be obtained by the following prerequisites:

• Desire to be a member
• Sponsorship by at least two active members
• Minimum of 60 months (5 years) of editing experience on Features or Television
• Approval by the Board of Directors
• Acceptance by the general membership

Members are entitled to include the designation "A.C.E." as part of their signatures; thus the president of the Society in August 2007 was Alan Heim, A.C.E.