History of AMPS and the American International Film and Video Festival
by George W. Cushman

The American International Film Festival is the oldest film continuously running festival in the world. It dates from 1930. There were at least two film festivals (or competitions as they were called in those days) that began a few years prior to that date, both sponsored by motion picture fan magazines. But after a few years both were discontinued.

The Amateur Cinema League was formed about 1926 and in that year began publishing their monthly magazine, Movie Makers . Four years later, in their December 1930 magazine, they listed what they called the ten best films they had seen that year. The list became known as the “Ten Best” and because it was so popular with the movie making public, especially members of the League, the competition was continued, the list of the Ten Best winners appearing annually in the League's December issue.

From the very first, members wanted to see the winning films, and they were shown In the New York area, the League's headquarters. In time the requests for showing were so numerous that the League began making copies of the winners and sending them on circuits throughout the country.

In 1954, the League experienced financial difficulties and the result was a take over of the league by the Motion Picture Division of the Photographic Society of America. This new sponsor was eager to continue the competition and began with the 26 th Ten Best in 1955. No changes were made in the procedure, the competition remained the same.

In 1962 the “Ten Best” became known officially as the American International Film Festival and continued under that name until the 80's when movies on video were being entered. At that time the word “video” was added to the official title.

The Motion Picture Division of the Photographic Society held their last competition and festival screening in 1990. The members appeared to lack any enthusiasm or interest in continuing the festival. As a result the American Motion Picture Society was formed the following year for the purpose of continuing the “Ten Best.” Their sponsorship began with the 62 nd screening in 1981.