The Scottish Screen Archive was established in 1976 and locates, preserves and provides access to moving images reflecting Scottish 20th- and 21st-century culture and history. In addition, the Archive collects a wide range of written and photographic materials relating to the development of cinema exhibition and film production in Scotland over the past 100 years.

The collection comprises 32,000 items of documentary, newsreel, shorts, educational, advertising and promotional films, amateur and professional productions. The television material in the archive includes Gaelic language broadcast production from 1993 onwards, the acquisition of which is funded by Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig - Gaelic Media Service (GMS).

Scottish Screen Archive is a member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF).

Following a comprehensive national cultural review in 2004-5 and publication of a Scottish Government cultural policy document entitled Scotland's Culture in 2006, the Scottish Screen Archive was transferred from Scottish Screen to the National Library of Scotland on 1 April 2007.