Famous Film Archivists and Their Work Preserving Cinema's Legacy

Henri Langlois was a French film archivist and founder of the Cinémathèque Française, which is considered the oldest and most important film archive in the world.

Sergei Eisenstein was a Soviet film director and theorist who also played a significant role in preserving and restoring Soviet films.

Iris Barry was an American film curator and historian who founded the Museum of Modern Art's film department in 1935.

Oscar Micheaux was an African-American filmmaker and distributor who also played a significant role in preserving and restoring African-American films.

William K. Everson was an American film historian, critic, and archivist who is considered the father of American film preservation.

Akira Kurosawa was a Japanese film director and screenwriter who also played a significant role in preserving and restoring Japanese films.

Stanley Hawes was an Australian film producer and director who founded the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia in 1940.

Satyajit Ray was an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who also played a significant role in preserving and restoring Indian films.

José María García Escudero was a Spanish film director, producer, and screenwriter who founded the Filmoteca Española in 1953.

Gabriel García Márquez was a Colombian novelist and Nobel laureate who also played a significant role in preserving and restoring Latin American films.

Emilio García Riera was a Mexican film critic, historian, and archivist who founded the Cineteca Nacional de México in 1974.

Zhang Yimou is a Chinese film director and producer who also played a significant role in preserving and restoring Chinese films.

Kim Ki-duk was a South Korean film director, screenwriter, and producer who founded the Korean Film Archive in 2006.

Abbas Kiarostami was an Iranian film director, screenwriter, and producer who also played a significant role in preserving and restoring Iranian films.

Manuel Michel was a Mexican film critic, historian, and archivist who founded the Filmoteca de la UNAM in 1960.