The ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONALE DU FILM D'ANIMATION was founded in 1957 in France, and chartered under UNESCO in 1960 as a membership organization devoted to the encouragement and dissemination of film animation as an art and communication form. In its 40 year existence, it has grown to over 1700 members in 55 countries, with national chapters in such unlikely places as UlanBaatar, Mongolia and Tehran. The national chapters maintain the most immediate and direct contact with our members, many, like the American regional groups, with their own monthly newsletters and screenings. ASIFA provides the linkage between all the chapters as well as a direct connection to International events such as animation festivals and seminars.

In America, ASIFA is known as "The International Animated Film Society".