NFSA Canberra

Events + Experiences

We’re open daily in Acton’s cultural precinct. Check out our ticketed events, explore our heritage building for free or simply enjoy a locally roasted coffee in our sunny courtyard. 

FILM SERIES

What’s On at Arc Cinema

23
Jan
Still from Laputa: Castle in the Sky, 1986
Thursday 1:00 pm
Laputa: Castle in the Sky
The retro-futuristic classic from Studio Ghibli about two orphans in search of a floating island.
24
January
Still from Frozen, 2013
Friday 1:00 pm
Frozen
Can sisterly love melt the heart of the queen of ice? The Oscar-winning Disney princess movie that gave us ‘Let It Go’.
24
January
Pink duotone image of film reel
Friday 8:00 pm
American Graffiti
Where were you in ’62? American ‘60s teen culture is brought to life in loving detail by George Lucas.
25
Jan
Still from Grease, 1978
Saturday 8:00 pm
Grease
The high school hit that glories in 1950s nostalgia – and everyone can sing along.

Calendar + tickets

Discover more about Arc Cinema and the program

Enjoy our curated program of recent releases and revived classics, from high art to guilty pleasures. There’s something for everyone!

Free live music, cold drinks and good vibes
Installations and experiences
Hot Summer Nights

Join us this summer for free live music, cold drinks and good vibes in our heritage courtyard followed by a classic film in Arc Cinema.   

 

Special events
FRI 24 JAN | 1PM
Frozen

Can sisterly love melt the heart of the queen of ice? The Oscar-winning Disney princess movie that gave us ‘Let It Go’.

SAT 25 JAN | 8PM
Grease

The high school hit that glories in 1950s nostalgia – and everyone can sing along.

SAT 1 FEB | 1PM
For The Term of His Natural Life

One of Australia’s most famous silent films, lost for decades and painstakingly reconstructed from incomplete versions and NFSA stills.

SAT 8 FEB | 10:30AM
A Day at the Movies | Ali's Wedding

A dementia-friendly screening of the charming, true story of about family, duty and love in multicultural Australia.

Explore the NFSA
Wooden display case in gallery space
https://www.nfsa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-11/RecentRelics_gracecostaphotographer%20crop.jpg
Open daily - free admission
Recent Relics

A pop culture explosion from the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s, this new permanent installation boasts two beautifully restored display cases filled with iconic objects that celebrate our contemporary audiovisual experiences. 

Image of carpeted room with large screen at one end and chairs at the other
https://www.nfsa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-11/NFSA%20-%20Mediatheque%20-%20%20Christopher%20Morris.jpg
Open daily - free admission
Mediatheque

Step into the Mediatheque, a welcoming lounge to gather and enjoy highlights from the NFSA’s audiovisual archives. 

View from the back row of an empty cinema with red seating, large screen and wooden stage at front
https://www.nfsa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-11/NFSA%20-%20Theatrette%20-%20%20Christopher%20Morris.jpg
Open weekends and for events
Theatrette

Catch free documentaries on rotation every weekend and book your tickets for our monthly Vinyl Lounge listening party.

Image of two coffees in mugs on table with teaspoons
https://www.nfsa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-11/NFSA%20-%20Cafe%20-%20%20Christopher%20Morris.jpg
OPEN WEEKDAYS 8.30AM–3PM | WEEKENDS 10AM–2PM
Cafe and bar

Enjoy locally roasted Redbrick coffee and a selection of sandwiches and sweet treats. Open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 3pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 2pm. Joining us for an evening screening? The cafe and bar is also open late for NFSA screenings and events.

The courtyard at the NFSA with the pond in the front and tables and umbrellas in the background
https://www.nfsa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-09/Venue-hire_courtyard.jpg
Open daily
1930s courtyard

A sanctuary for all seasons, with beautifully landscaped gardens framed by covered seating areas – perfect for quiet coffees.

A meeting room with a colourful carpet and blue chairs arranged around a long wooden boardroom table. There is a framed photograph on the wall.
https://www.nfsa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-10/Kookaburra%20Room.jpg
Open daily - free admission
Kookaburra Room

Newly renovated in collaboration with Australian designer Mel Page, the Kookaburra Room celebrates the heritage aesthetic of our Acton building, with vintage 1930s furniture from the Institute of Anatomy and a colourful array of entertainment-themed mugs on display from the NFSA collection.

A celebration of pop culture curiosities
Installations and experiences
The Library

Lose yourself in The Library, a treasure box of the NFSA’s most precious, wondrous, and whimsical artefacts.   

Stay connected

Based in or around Canberra? Sign up to our weekly What’s On e-newsletter. 

Visit us

There’s something for everyone at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia in Canberra. Drop in for date night, a family outing or a quiet afternoon to yourself.


Open daily, in Acton’s cultural precinct.