Asia lost its cinema once to war and heat. It is determined not to lose it again to indifference. But for every restored classic on a streaming service, there are a thousand reels turning to dust in a forgotten warehouse. The race is far from over.
Based in Sagamihara, this is one of the oldest and richest archives in Asia. They are the custodians of everything from silent saimono (short comedies) to the works of Akira Kurosawa. Their recent digitization of the "Mitsuzo" collection has allowed scholars to view pre-WWII propaganda films that were previously banned and thought destroyed.
Experts evaluate the damage and clean the film physically and chemically.
The Asian Film Archive has amassed an impressive collection of over 3,000 films from across Asia, representing a wide range of genres, styles, and eras. AFA's collection includes: asian film archive
Founded in 2005, the AFA is a unique non-governmental organization based in Singapore. Its ambitious vision was to set up a Pan-Asian repository for films that many countries had failed to archive themselves. Starting with a small team and a network of volunteers, the AFA has grown into a key player in the region. It is the first and only transnational archive of its kind, curating not just films but also collections, programmes, and papers to promote its mission.
: The archive addresses "digital complacency" among modern filmmakers who mistakenly believe digital files are permanent. It actively educates the film community on long-term data management to prevent the loss of "born-digital" works.
Preserving the Soul of Cinema: The Role of the Asian Film Archive (AFA) Asia lost its cinema once to war and heat
The landscape of Asian film preservation is composed of a diverse network of public and private institutions, each with a unique history and focus.
As highlighted in the 2024 Annual Report , the AFA’s work serves a diverse range of stakeholders, including:
The Asian Film Archive faces ongoing challenges, including: The race is far from over
Protecting physical film reels from humidity and heat.
In 2014, the AFA formed a landmark partnership with the National Library Board of Singapore. This collaboration permanently housed the AFA's physical collection within the National Library, providing state-of-the-art vault conditions required to halt the degradation of fragile film stock. Preservation and Restoration: Saving Moving Images
While traditional archives focused solely on 35mm or 16mm film, the AFA actively preserves independent video art, documentary formats, and contemporary digital-born cinema, recognizing that modern filmmaking mediums are also vulnerable to data loss. Notable Collections and Restored Masterpieces
To explore the specific types of films, such as independent or classic cinema, that interest you most, or to learn how you can support their restoration projects, let me know what you'd like to dive into next.