National Film Preservation Foundation

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OVERVIEW: The National Film Preservation Foundation was created by the Library of Congress in 2008 to support the preservation of American films.

IP TAKE: Since its establishment in 2008, the National Film Preservation Foundation has “developed grant programs to help archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, and universities preserve films and make them available for study and research.” This funder supports organizations of all sizes and a broad range of preservation projects. The foundation will reach out to discuss eligibility and, in many cases, request full proposals from relevant projects. Grantmaking is limited to laboratory preservation work but also supports projects that involve “new preservation elements” and closed captioning for new showings and exhibitions. While this funder accepts applications, grantseekers should start the process with an email containing a brief description of their project.

PROFILE: The National Film Preservation Foundation (NFPF) was created in 2008 by the Library of Congress Sound Recording and Film Preservation Programs Reauthorization Act. Its aim is to “help save America's film heritage” and its top priority is “saving American films that would be unlikely to survive without public support.” Since its founding, it has supported over 300 organizations in “all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.” NFPF makes Basic Preservation Grants, Matching Grants and grant for Avant-Garde Masters to support its film preservation mission.

Grants for Film

NFPF’s funding is sourced from three separate programs.

  • Basic Preservation Grants support laboratory work at nonprofit organizations and public institutions “to preserve culturally and historically significant film materials.” Grants target “orphan films” that have been abandoned by its owner or copyright holder that were either made in the U.S. or by U.S. citizens working abroad. Grantees must provide public access to their film collections to be eligible for this funding. Other requirements of this program include:

    • The creation of new preservation elements;

    • The creation or maintenance of at least “[t]wo new public access copies, one of which must be a film print; and

    • Closed captioning for films that will ultimately be aired on television of have online availability.

    Grants range from $1,000 to $20,000 and may be awarded as cash or laboratory services. This program appears to run more than one grantmaking cycle per year. Application guidelines are available at the program page, but due dates are subject to change each year. To begin the application process, email the foundation at grants@filmpreservation.org with contact information and a short description of your project.

  • Matching Grants support “complex, large-scale preservation, reconstruction, or restoration projects involving a single film or film collection of special cultural, historic, or artistic significance.” Applicants must demonstrate both “the capacity to plan, manage, and complete a complex, large-scale film preservation effort” and the ability to finance at least one-fifth of the project’s cost.

    • Films or film collections “of special cultural, historic, or artistic significance” that were either made in the U.S. or by U.S. citizens working abroad are eligible.

    • This program appears to run a single annual grantmaking cycle, pending the availability of federal funds.

    • Detailed guidelines are provided on the program page, but due dates are subject to change. To start the application process, email the foundation at grants@filmpreservation.org with contact information and a short project description. Grants range from $20,001 to $75,000.

  • Avant-Garde Masters Grants are made in collaboration with the Film Foundation and with financial support from the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.

    • Grants support “the preservation of a film or films by a single filmmaker or from a cinematic group significant to the development of avant-garde film in America.”

    • Films must be at least 20 years old to be eligible, and applicants must demonstrate the significance of the film and project to the history of avant-garde film in the U.S.

    • The program page provides detailed application guidelines, but prospective grantees should first email the foundation at agm@filmpreservation.org with a description of their project to which the foundation will respond and set up a time to discuss the project’s eligibility.

    • Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000.

Past NFPF grantees include the Alaska Moving Image Preservation Association, the Chicago Film Archives, Knox County Public Library in Tennessee and the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, among others.

Important Grant Details:

NFPF grants range from $1,000 to $75,000 but are awarded in ranges specified by each program.

  • This funder supports organizations of all sizes working to preserve American films.

  • Each program runs an open application program, but prospective grantees are asked to email the foundation before submitting materials to discuss eligibility.

  • Information about past grants is available at the foundation’s awarded grants page.

Submit general inquiries to NFPF at info@filmpreservation.org or by telephone at 415-392-7291.

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