Karen Chan joined the Asian Film Archive (AFA) in 2006, becoming Executive Director in 2014. Under her leadership, the AFA has created new life and access for film collections. Karen teaches about film literacy and preservation, writing about AV archiving to highlight the value of film as heritage. She presents at international conferences and speaks at industry events advocating for film preservation. She is serving a second term as President of Southeast Asia-Pacific Audiovisual Archive Association (2023-2026) and is the current Chair of the Co-ordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (2024-2026).
MORE ABOUT THE AFA
The AFA focuses on preserving Asian films, especially those that are not archived in their home country. From commissions to collaborations, the AFA is an innovative platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, learning and discovery. The restoration of deteriorating films and the digitisation of obsolete formats are prioritised for the collection. The AFA’s restored titles have travelled to film festivals like Cannes, Venice and Rotterdam, giving the films a new lease of life and raising awareness of AFA’s work.
The AFA runs regular screenings at the Oldham Theatre, screening Asian classics, contemporary releases, acclaimed titles, and more obscure films to allow audiences to develop an appreciation of Asia’s rich cinematic heritage. Commissioned projects like the Monographs series featuring video and written essays about Asian cinema, a monthly Asian digest, and regular favourites like Retrospectives, Reciprocal, and Off the Catalogue, provide variety and interest to audiences.
Check out what’s available on asianfilmarchive.org
