Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute TFAI 國家電影及視聽文化中心

History and Founding

The Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute (TFAI; traditional Chinese: 國家電影及視聽文化中心) traces its origins to 1978, when the Film Library of the Motion Picture Development Foundation was established by Taiwan's Government Information Office and the Taipei Film Trade Association. It became the National Film Archive in 1989, then the Chinese Taipei Film Archive (CTFA). In 2014, the Ministry of Culture relaunched the institution as the Taiwan Film Institute (TFI) with expanded missions in marketing, education, and international promotion. In December 2019, the Legislative Yuan passed legislation upgrading TFI to an administrative public body; the legislation took effect on 19 May 2020, and the organization was renamed the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute. TFAI is a member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF).

Collections and Holdings

TFAI houses approximately 20,000 film titles and 400,000 artifacts in more than 10 vaults, stored at its facility in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City. The collection is particularly notable for its preservation of Hokkien-language (Taiwanese-language) films: though roughly 1,000 to 2,000 Hokkien films were produced between 1956 and 1981, approximately 160 complete films survive, largely due to political censorship during the White Terror period. By 2026, TFAI had restored its 100th Hokkien film. Digital restoration efforts began in 2008; as of 2024, TFAI had completed over 7,000 advanced digital scans and 98 digitally restored titles.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

TFAI's collection includes newsreels, documentary films, and audiovisual materials documenting Taiwan's 20th-century history. The Film Appreciation Journal, published since 1983, represents the institute's contribution to film criticism and media scholarship.

Access and Usage

TFAI operates a film library, reading room, audiovisual room, digital restoration laboratory, and an online film archive. Its collections are accessible to researchers, filmmakers, and the public. TFAI also operates an online box office and promotes Taiwan cinema internationally.