Asian Film Archive Jun 2026

The Asian Film Archive faces ongoing challenges, including:

The AFA’s primary mission is to . Its significance lies in its focus on culturally important works by independent filmmakers that might otherwise be lost to neglect or decay. In 2014, the AFA became a subsidiary of the National Library Board (NLB) of Singapore.

Our collection spans over 50 countries and regions, including:

In 2014, the AFA hit a significant milestone by becoming a subsidiary of the National Library Board (NLB) of Singapore. This institutional backing provided the archive with robust infrastructure, enhanced funding, and a permanent home. Today, the AFA operates out of the state-of-the-art Oldham Theatre, located within the restored National Archives of Singapore building. This venue serves as both a literal vault for physical preservation and a cultural sanctuary where audiences can experience restored films as they were meant to be seen: projected on a large screen in a communal setting. The Core Pillars: Preservation and Restoration

The archive manages thousands of items, including feature films, documentaries, and shorts. A significant part of their collection is digitized to make it easier for researchers to study. In 2019, the AFA opened the Oldham Theatre at the National Archives of Singapore. This specialized cinema features 4K digital projection and 35mm film capabilities. It serves as the primary venue for their curated screenings. These programs often highlight specific directors, genres, or forgotten eras of regional cinema. Collaboration and Outreach asian film archive

Access: They provide a space for people to watch these films, ensuring they remain part of a living culture. The Collection and the Oldham Theatre

In the basement of a crumbling cinema in Phnom Penh, reels of nitrate film are melting into a toxic, vinegar-scented sludge. In a temperature-controlled vault in Tokyo, a 1920s print of a lost silent film—featuring a Japanese adaptation of Hamlet —sits awaiting digital resurrection. These are the two extremes of the vast, fragile ecosystem known as the "Asian film archive."

Ironically, some of the best Asian film archives are in Europe and the US. The Asian Film Archive faces ongoing challenges, including:

You might not speak Cantonese, Tagalog, or Malay, but the loss of these films is a loss to world history.

As cinema transitions entirely into the digital realm, the AFA is evolving to meet new challenges. Digital preservation brings its own complexities, including rapidly changing file formats and the need for massive, secure server infrastructure. The AFA remains at the forefront of this shift, establishing protocols to archive "born-digital" films so that today's independent masterpieces are safe for the next century.

But the archive does not hoard these treasures in darkness. Its mission is two-fold: preservation and dissemination.

If you'd like to explore their collection or support their mission, Learn how to their preservation work? Find out about upcoming screenings at the Oldham Theatre ? Our collection spans over 50 countries and regions,

The Asian Film Archive safeguards the rich and diverse cinematic heritage of Asia. We collect, restore, and provide access to films that might otherwise be lost to time—from classic masterpieces and independent documentaries to experimental works and digital-born media.

Rescuing deteriorated films and bringing them back to their original quality 0.5.2.

Nurtures a community of film lovers through curated screenings, discussions, and educational programs. ASEF culture360 Significant Collections

Asian Film Archive (AFA) is a critical cultural institution dedicated to preserving the rich and diverse cinematic heritage of Asia. For film enthusiasts, researchers, and casual viewers alike, it serves as more than just a storage house; it is a vibrant hub for discovering unique narratives that often fall outside the mainstream Hollywood lens. Why It Is Highly Regarded Unique Collection