Film Archivist

FedWriters, Inc.•Culpeper, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Join our team as a Film Archivist and support the Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center (NAVCC) by processing and archiving historic motion picture film collections. You will identify, inspect, and rehouse 16mm and 35mm film elements and build accurate item-level inventories, ensure culturally important collections are documented and preserved for long-term access. FWI is expanding rapidly and has been recognized as a 2024, 2025 and 2026 Top Workplace, offering excellent growth opportunities in a collaborative environment. Position is contingent upon contract award.

Requirements

Degree in a related field (e.g., film or moving image preservation, archival studies, library or information science, film studies, history, or museum studies).
Demonstrated expertise in motion picture film identification, handling, and inspection.
Proficiency distinguishing film elements: original camera negatives, answer prints, release prints, workprints, optical and magnetic soundtracks, and composite or fragmentary materials.
Knowledge of archival principles and techniques, including analysis, organization, and description of archival material.
Ability to identify preservation concerns and perform basic preservation tasks such as rehousing, with familiarity with preservation standards for different material types.
At least 2 years of experience in a field related to archives or film, including at least 6 months in a library or archives environment performing similar tasks.
Ability to lift up to 35 pounds.
Strong communication skills and ability to work closely with Library of Congress staff.

Nice To Haves

Certificate or degree from a Film Preservation or Moving Image Preservation program, or 4+ years in a film archive or a library, museum, or archive with motion picture film collections.
Hands-on 16mm and 35mm experience.
Certified Archivist (Academy of Certified Archivists), an MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited program, or completion of an archival certificate program following Society of American Archivists guidelines.
Experience with ethnographic, home movie, sponsored, or unlabeled production-element collections.
Familiarity with audio-visual metadata schemas, authority records, or Encoded Archival Description (EAD).
Experience with collection management systems and large-scale backlog processing.

Responsibilities

Inspect film on the bench to identify titles, reel numbers, episodes, and element types – camera negatives, answer and release prints, workprints, optical and magnetic soundtracks, trims, and outtakes – often with no labels or title frames.
Assess condition (vinegar syndrome, shrinkage, damage) and flag high-risk or unstable materials.
Stabilize and rehouse film in new archival cans, apply barcodes, and stage items for vault storage.
Record item-level metadata in an inventory spreadsheet using established audio-visual metadata standards.
Work through a large backlog of ethnographic, sponsored, educational, and corporate film collections.
Track throughput and quality metrics and help shape a repeatable workflow for processing complex film collections at scale.
Prepare processing plans, progress reports, and a final recommendations report.
Meet weekly with client archivists and preservation staff.