Screen Archive South East (SASE) was established in 1992 at the University of Brighton. It is a public sector regional screen archive that serves the South East of England and its mission is to collect, preserve, digitise, research, document and promote screen heritage (magic lantern, film, video, digital media) made in this region and develop and maintain its public collection for the benefit of individuals, scholars and communities. SASE was first committed to the care and preservation of the moving image as found on film and video. Its gradual transformation from a film & video archive into a screen archive has enabled it to expand its collecting remit so that it now embraces over two centuries of screen history from the magic lantern of the 1800s to the new screen culture of the 21st century.
The collection now consists of magic lantern slides, film, videotape, digital formats and associated hardware and documentation. There are over 10,000 films and some 10,000 lantern slides as well as a significant collection of apparatus and related artifacts. It includes corporate documentaries, promotional material produced for seaside resorts and the military and work made by cine clubs, independent film-makers and families. These records capture many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from across the 20th century and therefore serves as a rich and invaluable historical resource. SASE is fully engaged in advancing the teaching, learning and research culture of the University of Brighton and developing the use and understanding of the collection through a range of access and educational activities with higher education, broadcasters, local authorities, schools, record offices, museums, libraries, societies, businesses and communities.