The archive was set up in 1977 and is the home for moving images made in or about Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside[7] and Cumbria.

[9] The material relates to the Archive's moving image collection and also to the region's film and cinema industries.

Local residents and groups can take advantage of the NWFA's free research, viewing and loan services.

The NWFA has over twenty years' experience in providing a commercial service to television companies both in the UK and abroad.

The NWFA do public screenings at venues in the region and participated in the national digitising project Unlocking Film Heritage.