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FILM SERIES
What’s On at Arc Cinema
24
May
Saturday 1:00 pm
Ten Canoes
A First Nations tale of murder, jealousy, sorcery and revenge set in Arnhem Land and narrated by David Gulpilil.
24
May
Saturday 7:00 pm
La Dolce Vita
Fellini’s masterpiece takes us to hedonistic postwar Rome and reveals its melancholic core.
29
May
Thursday 7:00 pm
Waterworld
Kevin Costner’s ambitious cli-fi action film set on high seas that have engulfed the world.
30
May
Friday 6:00 pm
Pizza & Pyjamas: Storm Boy (NFSA Restores)
A young boy befriends a pelican on the spectacular Coorong coast.
31
May
Saturday 1:00 pm
Ben-Hur
The Hollywood blockbuster that defined the genre and won 11 Academy Awards.
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!
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.
Special events
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FRI 30 MAY | 6PM
Pizza & Pyjamas: Storm Boy
A young boy befriends a pelican on the spectacular Coorong coast.
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WED 4 JUN | 6PM
Science. Art. Film.: Children of Men
In a bleak world where babies are no longer born, a group of terrorists makes a perilous journey.
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WED 7 JUN | 6PM
Alfred Hitchcock Spotlight
Alfred Hitchcock: the undisputed master of suspense, symbolism and sinister suggestion.
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SAT 14 JUN | 7PM
Robyn Archer and The Pack of Women
Join one of Australia’s most renowned performers for a special screening plus reflections in song and conversation.
Partner series
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With Venus Mantrap
Cult Classics
A series of Friday night filmic feasts showcasing cinema with bite: edgy movies and fan favourites that unnerve, push buttons, ask questions, or simply look good on the big screen! Each event includes a performance and introduction to the film from series host Venus Mantrap, local drag artist and culture warrior.
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Canberra Writers Festival
Book Club at the NFSA
Perfect for bookworms and film buffs alike, this series of screenings and discussions spans a variety of genres, styles and subjects, from Little Women to Australian grunge lit and everything in between. Presented in partnership with Canberra Writers Festival.
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Australian National University
Science. Art. Film.
A series of screenings and panel discussions that uncover wacky, weird and wonderful facets of science and art in films in partnership with the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, ANU.
Explore the NFSA
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Open daily - free admission
Recent Relics
A pop culture exploration 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.
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Open daily - free admission
Mediatheque
Step into the Mediatheque, a welcoming lounge to gather and enjoy highlights from the NFSA’s audiovisual archives.
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Open weekends and for events
Theatrette
Catch free documentaries on rotation every weekend and book your tickets for our monthly Vinyl Lounge listening party.
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POP-UP OPEN WEEKDAYS 8.30AM–3PM | WEEKENDS 10AM–2PM
Cafe and bar
Our café is getting a makeover! Same great team and coffee, but with a revamped menu and fresh look. While we're under construction, Melted Toasted Sandwich Emporium will be serving coffee, toasties, and cold drinks from 8:30am to 3pm (Mon-Fri) and 10am to 2pm (Sat-Sun and public holidays). A pop-up bar will be onsite for evening screenings.
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Open daily
1930s courtyard
A sanctuary for all seasons, with beautifully landscaped gardens framed by covered seating areas – perfect for quiet coffees.
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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.
Stay connected
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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.
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.