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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 more than 11,000 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.
Search the Film Collection online: More than 11,000 records describing PFA’s permanent film and video collection.
Temporary Closure of the PFA Film and Video Collection
Please note: The PFA film and video collection will be unavailable for research screenings from September 1, 2009, through May 31, 2010, while we inventory the collection and move it to a new storage facility. The collection closure will not impact the public exhibition program at the PFA Theater.
On-site research screenings can still take place through August 27, 2009. Viewing appointments must be made at least two weeks in advance by contacting the PFA Library and Film Study Center at (510) 642-1437 or pfalibrary@berkeley.edu. Screening hours are from 1 to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Facilities include a ten-seat screening room for 16mm and multi-format video, and a flatbed viewing table for 35mm.
During the closure, please contact the PFA Library staff for help in locating other sources for films and videos and for any other film-related research. The Library will be open its regular hours (1 to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday) and all its resources other than films and videos will remain available for on-site study.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration.
