The collections range from pre-cinema apparatus to digital cinema files, all of which require specific methods, techniques and an extensive knowledge of film history for preservation.
[3][4] It was the first large-scale film restoration project funded by the MEDIA I Programme of the European community.
[3][4][5] ACE started in 1991 as the Association des Cinémathèques de la Communauté Européenne (ACCE).
[3][4] By the end of the LUMIERE project in 1996, the association renamed to its current title, Association des Cinémathèques Européennes (ACE), and established collaboratively its role in raising awareness of the cultural and economic value of European film heritage among policymakers and the audiovisual industry.
ACE works to support and improve the economic and legal conditions, as well as technical and scientific research for digitization and long-term film preservation.