Brought to you by the pioneers of motion picture film, this site introduces the essentials of storing and handling both safety and nitrate film. The site also offers international directories for laboratories and transfer facilities.
This site provides numerous instructional videos clips, made by professional film technicians, covering topics such as film handling, repair, identification, and disaster preparedness. Also includes clips regarding the preservation of audio and video tape.
Not looking to save the world, just those old home movies? Sponsored by the Association of Moving Image Archivists, this guide is the best place to start!
Home Movie Day is an annual event that invites the public to share their home movies. The site offers Home Movie Day locations, tips on caring for your home movies, and a directory of trusted transfer facilities.
Don't be distracted by the blinking lights and pin-up girls, this site actually provides useful information regarding early color, sound, and wide-screen processes.
It is important to remember that film collectors are not archivists; however, this site offers a wonderful guide to identifying color film stocks and useful film projector information.
Watch our cultural heritage magically disappear!
Graduate programs in film preservation and archiving
A bit outdated, Education, Training and Careers in Moving Image Preservation by Greg Lukow provides a brief overview of programs in moving image preservation. Please visit the links below for updated information on current graduate programs.
Perusing the AMIA site is a great way for the novice to become familiar with the moving image archives field. Check out the many links and resources, subscribe to the AMIA list-serv (or simply search archived postings) for the latest discussions (and disagreements!), and, for those pursing a degree in film preservation, discover scholarship opportunities.
FIAF brings together moving image archives from around the world. FIAF publishes many of the resources mentioned in this guide and is responsible for the field's Code of Ethics which may be found on the website.
Check out NFPF's latest grant opportunities and download (FOR FREE!) the essential and incredibly user-friendly "Film Preservation Guide: the Basics for Archives, Libraries, and Museums", complete with glossary.