The Film Foundation: The Academy Film Archive

Using Film Foundation funding the Academy has restored and preserved the films of Satyajit Ray (PANTHER PANCHALI, APARAJITO, APUR SANSAR, DEVI, TEEN KANYA, CHARULATA, MAHANAGAR, and JANA ARANYA). The Academy has also used Film Foundation funding on many projects, including the preservation of about forty Edison Kinetoscope reels, in addition to ALWAYS FOR PLEASURE and DRY WOOD, both directed by Les Blank, CRISIS and PRIMARY both directed by Robert Drew, as well as a short nitrate clip [AFRICAN-AMERICAN BASEBALL PLAYERS, c.1942 - 1945] documenting some of the players of the Negro Leagues.
This year the Academy will undertake several projects using Film Foundation funding. Planned projects include: more Satyajit Ray films (PARESH PATHAR, MONIHARARA, ABHIJAN, and SEEMABADDHA), FIGHT FOR THE SKIES (USAF WWII combat film), NIGHT TIDE (Curtis Harrington), NATALKA POLTAVA (Edgar G. Ulmer), IN OLD ARIZONA (Raoul Walsh, the first all-talking Western), more Les Blank films (including WERNER HERZOG EATS HIS SHOE), and Bob Drew Films (including ON THE ROAD and THE CHAIR).

— Michael Friend, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Center for Motion Picture Study

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Academy Film Archive

The Academy Film Archive is a part of the Academy Foundation, an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to activities which foster the appreciation, study and understanding of the historical, aesthetic and technical dimensions of the motion picture. The collection of the Archive, which amounts to roughly 15,000 titles, includes early American cinema, documentary film, interviews and related material pertaining to the history of the motion picture industry technical tests and examples, Academy Award® winning and nominated films, and the Annual Academy Awards® Shows. The Archive is engaged in a wide range of preservation projects, and has a particular interest in new technologies and methods for preservation. Through its association with FIAF, AMIA, and other organizations, the Archive collaborates with many other archives and institutions worldwide. The Archive serves as the repository for the International Documentary Association and the Visual Effects Society. Individual access to the collection is limited and by special appointment only.