The FIAF was founded in 1938 at the International Congress of Film Archives in Paris.

The FIAF's primary mission is to promote the preservation and restoration of films worldwide.

As of 2023, the FIAF has over 400 member organizations from around the world.

The FIAF plays a multifaceted role in the preservation of silent films, including maintaining a database, providing funding, and organizing festivals.

While the FIAF supports film distribution in various ways, it is not directly involved in the distribution of films.

The FIAF recognizes the importance of digitization as a means of preserving and accessing films, while also emphasizing the need to maintain the integrity of the original film materials.

The FIAF engages in various activities to promote film education and awareness, including organizing events, publishing materials, and collaborating with educational institutions.

The FIAF actively advocates for film preservation policies by lobbying governments, collaborating with UNESCO, and providing technical assistance to film archives.

The FIAF Journal is the FIAF's main publication, featuring articles on film preservation, restoration, and related topics.

The FIAF does not offer corporate membership, but it does offer full membership, associate membership, and student membership.

The FIAF plays a significant role in the preservation of non-fiction films, including maintaining a database, providing funding, and organizing festivals.

The FIAF collaborates with other organizations in various ways, including participating in joint projects, sharing resources and expertise, and advocating for common goals.

The FIAF actively promotes access to film archives by encouraging digitization, providing funding for improvements, and advocating for open access policies.

While the FIAF considers various factors when evaluating membership applications, the location of the organization in a country with a strong film industry is not a specific criterion.

The FIAF plays a vital role in the preservation of experimental films, including maintaining a database, providing funding, and organizing festivals.