The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) announced Wednesday it has joined the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), a global community of organizations dedicated to preserving and sharing the world’s film heritage.
Founded in 1938, FIAF brings together major non-profit film archives to collaborate and share knowledge.
“Membership in this prestigious federation reflects the NFB’s expertise in digitization, restoration and conservation — work that lies at the heart of its mission as Canada’s public film producer and distributor for more than 80 years,” an NFB press release said.
“We are extremely honoured to be accepted as an associate of this wonderful community,” said Steve Hallé, director of technical resources at the NFB, in a statement. “Our team is dedicated to the preservation and distribution of Canadian audiovisual stories, and we all look forward to cooperation and knowledge-sharing with other FIAF member organizations.”
The NFB’s collection of more than 14,000 animated, documentary and interactive productions “is a living archive of the Canadian experience and a vital record for future generations,” the NFB’s press release said. Works in the NFB archives predate the organization’s founding in 1939, with some footage dating back as far as 1896.
The NFB’s work in digital preservation and archiving has received international recognition including a 2007 FOCA International Award.
The NFB is the third Canadian organization to be accepted as a member of FIAF, joining the TIFF Film Reference Library and the Cinémathèque québécoise.
