Overview
The NFPF helps archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, and universities preserve and make available American films that are not likely to survive without public support. Since 1998, we have provided preservation resources to 337 organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Films preserved through our programs are used in education and seen widely through screenings, exhibits, DVDs, television broadcasts, and the Internet.
The grants are made possible by funds authorized through The Library of Congress Sound Recording and Film Preservation Programs Reauthorization Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-217) and secured through the leadership of the Library of Congress, and the contributions of public-spirited donors.
The NFPF offers several types of preservation grants supporting the creation of preservation and access copies of American orphan films of historic and cultural interest. Basic Preservation Grants are the best choice for most institutions. Offered annually, these grants award cash and in some cases services donated by laboratories and post-production houses. The larger Matching Grants enable experienced preservationists to undertake more extensive projects. Matching Grants require that recipients contribute or “match” one-fifth of the total costs. The Avant-Garde Masters Grants, funded through the generous support of The Film Foundation, target the preservation of motion pictures significant to the development of the avant-garde in America.
We welcome applications from American public and nonprofit institutions of all sizes and generally award between 30 and 40 preservation grants each year. Click on a state in the map below for a list of organizations receiving film preservation support.
Organizations Served by the NFPF