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PFA was conceived as an American version of the Cinémathèque Française in Paris—a center committed not only to exhibiting films under the best possible conditions, but also to increasing the understanding, appreciation, and preservation of cinema. The PFA collection serves as an educational resource for the UC Berkeley community as well as for scholars, teachers, film critics, filmmakers, and programmers from around the world. At the same time, PFA curators draw upon the collection for the film and video exhibition program.
PFA is home to the largest collection of Japanese films outside of Japan, as well as impressive gatherings of Soviet silents, West Coast avant-garde cinema, seminal video art, rare animation, Eastern European and Central Asian productions, and international classics. American experimental pioneers like Bruce Conner and Ant Farm share the shelves with international past masters Sergei Eisenstein and Kenji Mizoguchi at PFA's off-site storage vault, which provides a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment for over 10,000 films and videos.
PFA has always relied upon the kindness of donors to enrich its collection. Distributors, filmmakers, fellow archives, and private collectors have all made significant contributions. Grant-funded preservation projects yield archival masters and new prints and videotapes, which ensure that works in the collection will survive for future generations.
The collection does not circulate, but many titles are available for on-site screenings, for a small fee, to anyone with a legitimate research need; appointments may be made through the PFA Library and Film Study Center.
Search the Film Collection online: More than 6,600 records describing PFA's permanent film and video collection
Contact the PFA Library at (510) 642-1437 for information on scheduling research screenings. Viewing appointments must be made at least two weeks in advance.
