National Film, Video & Sound Archives (NAFVSA)

The National Film, Video and Sound Archives (NAFVSA) is a subdirectorate of the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa, located in Pretoria. The NAFVSA has a broad mandate to collect audio-visual and related material which was made in or about South Africa. It also aims to preserve the audio-visual heritage of South Africa, and to make this heritage accessible to all. Material is mainly donated by the film and music industries, as well as private donors.

The National Film Archives was established as a part of the National Film Board in 1964 to assist in the promotion of the film industry. Initially known as the South African Film Institute (SAFI), the name was later changed to the National Film Archives (NFA). In 1982 it was incorporated into State Archives Service and in 1985 the name was changed to the National Film, Video and Sound Archives (NAFVSA). In 1989 it attained full membership of the International Association of Sound Archives (IASA) and in 1996 became a provisional member of the Federation of International Film Archives (FIAF). The NAFVSA falls under the Department of Arts and Culture and is the only national institution of its kind in South Africa.