The is more than a library. It is a monument to the idea that the laughter, tears, and chaos of Asian life in the 20th century deserve to survive the 21st.
Our collection spans over 50 countries and regions, including: asian film archive
If you are interested in locating a specific film or learning how to access the digital catalogs of the Asian Film Archive in Singapore or the National Film Archive of Japan, visit their official websites or consult the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) directory. The is more than a library
At the heart of a film archive's work is the painstaking, multi-disciplinary craft of restoration. It's a race against time. At the heart of a film archive's work
. Because many early Southeast Asian films were shot on volatile nitrate or acetate stock and kept in tropical climates, the AFA’s climate-controlled vaults are essential for preventing "vinegar syndrome" and physical disintegration. By digitizing and restoring these works, the archive ensures that the artistry of past generations remains accessible to contemporary audiences.
While the world rightly venerates the BFI and the Library of Congress, there is a growing recognition among cinephiles and historians that the most urgent preservation work is happening East of Suez. Enter the : a network of institutions, both physical and digital, fighting to save the visual soul of a continent.
In the golden age of streaming, we often assume that all movies are immortal. With a few clicks, we can summon Hollywood blockbusters or the latest K-drama. But scroll a little further, past the Netflix recommendations and trending hashtags, and you will encounter a terrifying silence. Where are the black-and-white classics from Manila? What happened to the celluloid reels of pre-war Shanghai? Who is preserving the experimental cinema of 1960s Bangkok?