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# Anthology Film Archives
- URL: https://www.kinoki.co/anthology-film-archives/
- Published: 2026-10-02T15:18:40.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T15:18:40.000Z
- Description: A guide to the leading moving image art institutions in the world → Anthology Film Archives is one of the oldest and most important institutions for film art in North America.
- Author: Team Kinoki
- Tags: Institutions

### What is Anthology Film Archives?

Anthology Film Archives is [a New York-based international center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthology%5FFilm%5FArchives?ref=kinoki.co) that concerns itself with the preservation, study, and exhibition of film and video, focusing mostly on those works which belong to independent, experimental, and avant-garde cinema.

### What is the mission of Anthology Film Archives?

Originally established in 1970 as [the brainchild of independent filmmakers](https://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org/about/about?ref=kinoki.co) Jonas Mekas, Jerome Hill, P. Adams Sitney, Peter Kubelka, and Stan Brakhage, with the goal of redefining cinema as an art form rather than a disposable form of entertainment, Anthology has since expanded its scope to cover film and video preservation, hosting film screenings and public lectures. Over the course of the preceding decades the guiding philosophy has been that culturally relevant and vibrant works often emerge on the outskirts of the commercial mainstream; to that end, it has been heavily involved in exhibition and archival work.

Anthology Film Archives educates the public through curated screenings, exposure of overlooked works, research and scholarship, and issuing publications and contextual materials. Through this multifaceted and in-depth approach, Anthology keeps the legacy of the original founders alive and underscores the artistic and conceptual value and significance of contemporary and experimental film as an important artistic and cultural practice.

### What activities does Anthology Film Archives conduct?

Engaged in the preservation of film and video since the inception of its preservation program in 1972, Anthology Film Archives maintains [a collection of over 20,000 films and 5,000 videotapes,](https://villageview.nyc/2025/12/16/how-anthology-film-archives-keeps-experimental-cinema-alive/?ref=kinoki.co) of which 900 have been preserved, with 25 new works being added on an annual basis. This collection includes original motion pictures done in 8mm, 16mm, and 35mm film, which are preserved in conditions that decelerate that deterioration of these materials; this preservation policy also extends to works filmed and stored on digital media.

![Black and white image of a cinema screening hall, with empty rows of seats and clean walls.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/98/98/98986ef2-474e-4f7c-82a5-62d592178e78/content/images/2026/09/anthology_film_archives_screening_room_interior.jpg)

A view of the interior of the Anthology Film Archives screening room. Courtesy of Anthology Film Archives.

The preservation of film and video works entails, likewise, another function: the provision of public access to these works. Screenings of film and video are conducted in their original formats to provide viewers with an authentic experience, with around 900 screenings being held each year at Anthology. Scholars, filmmakers, film researchers and other guests are regularly invited to host panels and other film-related events to familiarize the public with the value that the moving image has in the contemporary world.

Public outreach at Anthology also extends to the literary domain, with an important reference library containing books, periodicals, photographs, and stills available to researchers and the general public, as well as publishing books on film studies and also DVDs.

### How does Anthology Film Archives contribute to educating the public about film?

Anthology Film Archives maintains a strong outreach program aimed at educating the public about the relevance and impact that contemporary and experimental films and videos have had on shaping the cultural landscape of the modern world and expanding on the potential that moving image media has in addressing social, political, environmental and identity issues through novel modes of creative expression. With a library that is well-stocked with materials dedicated to this subject at the disposal of the public on its premises, and a regular program of curated screenings and lectures touching upon contemporary film and video, Anthology Film Archives invites the public to personally and critically engage with the historical and cultural forces that shaped these works.

### Where can I find more information about Anthology Film Archives?

Visit the Anthology Film Archives [website](https://www.anthologyfilmarchives.org/?ref=kinoki.co), where you can access the latest news about screenings and lectures.