Dennis Doros and Amy Heller started this independent New York distributor in 1990. Its catalogue covers silent cinema, post-war world cinema, documentaries and US independents, and since 2007 it has concentrated on restoring overlooked films by and about African Americans, Native Americans, women and LGBTQ filmmakers, such as Killer of Sheep. In May 2025 the founders named Black Film Archive founder Maya Cade as its next owner and president.