Archives françaises du film AFF Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC)

Overview

The Archives françaises du film (AFF) is France's national film archive, operated by the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC), the French government body responsible for the regulation and support of the cinema, audiovisual, and multimedia industries. Located in Bois d'Arcy in the Île-de-France region, the AFF is the primary repository for the preservation and conservation of France's cinematic heritage.

History and Founding

The Archives françaises du film was established in 1969 as the official national film archive under the CNC. France has a long tradition of cinema, and the establishment of a dedicated national archive reflected both the cultural importance of French film and the urgency of preserving nitrate-base films from the early twentieth century, which are subject to degradation and fire risk. The AFF's facilities at Bois d'Arcy were purpose-built for the storage and conservation of film materials under controlled conditions.

Collections and Holdings

The AFF holds one of the largest film collections in the world, with over 200,000 titles spanning the full history of French and international cinema. The collections include French fiction and documentary films, animation, newsreels, advertising films, and foreign films deposited in France. Notable holdings include French silent films, the output of the French New Wave (Nouvelle Vague), and materials from major French studios. The archive also holds associated materials including production documents, scripts, and technical records. For journalism and media researchers, the newsreel collections (cinéjournaux) documenting French history from the early twentieth century are of particular significance.

Access and Usage

Researchers and professionals can access the collections by contacting the AFF through its official website at cnc-aff.fr. The archive provides film consultations and supports restoration and preservation projects in collaboration with other national and international archives. The CNC also operates a broader digitisation programme to improve access to French film heritage.