Federal Archives Film Archive, Film archive in Lichterfelde, Berlin, Germany
The Federal Archives Film Archive is a repository in Berlin that preserves over 900,000 film reels documenting German cinema and historical events from 1895 to today. The collection spans multiple formats including 16mm, 35mm, DVD, and video cassettes gathered over more than a century.
The archive was established to collect German film productions and newsreels from the birth of cinema to the present. Its holdings from 1930 to 1945 and films from the German Democratic Republic are especially significant, preserving important moments of German history.
The archive reflects how German cinema developed through its collection of posters, scripts, and censorship records from different periods. Visitors can see which films faced restrictions and how filmmakers shaped their storytelling across the decades.
Visitors can watch films through the Digital Reading Room online or arrange in-person screenings of different formats at the location. Registration is needed to access the collections and plan your visit.
The archive operates the Lost Films portal, which documents information about some 3,500 missing films from cinema history. This database helps researchers and enthusiasts learn more about works that have disappeared from public view.
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