It is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing film and video related to the people of Northern New England.
The archive safeguards film and videotape through restoration, duplication, creation of access tools such as catalog records, and climate-controlled storage in its Conservation Center.
[2] NHF offers programs for the public, including screenings, online exhibits and events at art museums, film festivals, and agricultural fairs.
For moving image professionals, NHF offers internships, onsite and traveling workshops, and an annual summer symposium.
The third floor, designed to prevent further deterioration of films suffering from advanced vinegar syndrome, is kept at 25 degrees Fahrenheit and 30% relative humidity.
In addition to climate-controlled conditions, the Conservation Center is equipped with advanced air filtration and exchange technology, an environmentally friendly fire suppression system, and flood protection.
[8] The Society for Cinema and Media Studies named the anthology Amateur Movie Making: Aesthetics of the every day in New England Films, 1915-1960, as 2018 "Best Edited Collection."