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Jan 2019
Donald Bradman batting in front of wickets while a film crew films him from behind

Donald Bradman: film actor

Sir Donald Bradman is recognised internationally as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, but did you know he also briefly acted in a movie?

By Jeff Wray / 21 Jan 2019
Film
Photographs
Popstar and TV personality Jimmy Hannan walking down the aisle at the Sydney Stadium with a crowd of people around him.

Jimmy Hannan: a winning smile

Vale Jimmy Hannan, who passed away on 7 January 2019, at the age of 84. We celebrate his life and work, and acknowledge his kind donation to the NFSA.

By Beth Taylor / 8 Jan 2019
Photographs
Sound
Television
An image of two posters side by side. One features a cartoon dog below a sign that says 'Vote 1 Dogs' and the other features a cartoon cat below the words 'Vote 1 Cats'.

Dogs vs Cats

This summer, the NFSA is celebrating our furry friends with our season of cool cat matinees and dog day afternoons!

By Mel Bondfield / 7 Jan 2019
Film
Photographs
Television
Dec 2018
Four womern standing in a line in period costume

2018 at the NFSA

The NFSA collects tens of thousands of items every year. What were some of the highlights for 2018?

By Adam Blackshaw / 17 Dec 2018
Documents
Film
Object
Oral History
Photographs
Posters
Radio
Sound
Television
Oct 2018
The sails of the Opera House tower above a camera operator and a man in a hardhat. They are standing in a wooden box which is hoisted to a crane.

Newscaf: Sydney Opera House

Through our Newscaf program, we share footage of some of the famous stars who love the Opera House – including Oprah Winfrey and Jackie Chan.

By Beth Taylor / 22 Oct 2018
Photographs
Television
The Sydney Opera House is festooned with red ribbons. There are many boats on the water in front of it.

Sydney Opera House Opening

Photographs, news and home movie footage capture the excitement of the opening of the Sydney Opera House, 45 years ago on 20 October 1973.

By Beth Taylor / 16 Oct 2018
Film
Photographs
Television
A person has their back to the camera and is standing amidst shelves that are lined with video tapes.

Starstruck: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

We’ve produced a short documentary about the Starstruck: Australian Movie Portraits exhibition, featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the NFSA. The exhibition is now on its national tour, starting at Adelaide’s Samstag Museum of Art.

Documents
Film
Photographs
Posters
Heath Ledger is looking directly at the camera in a quietly confident pose. He is wearing black and up against a wall.

Heath Ledger on playing Ned Kelly

Jennifer Coombes looks at costume sketches and continuity polaroids of Heath Ledger’s portrayal of Ned Kelly, as featured in the exhibition Heath Ledger: A Life in Pictures at the NFSA.

By Jennifer Coombes / 3 Oct 2018
Documents
Film
Photographs
Sep 2018
A hand-coloured still of Annette Kellerman as a child. She is dressed in a pink ballet tutu with ballet slippers and is striking a pose with her arms and on leg out.

Annette Kellerman's amazing life

Overcoming childhood adversity, Australian silent movie star Annette Kellerman took on the world – swimming, acting, performing and writing herself into the history books.

By Beth Taylor / 27 Sep 2018
Film
Photographs
Women in swimsuits lounging on a film set made to look like a beach.

A Portrait of Pearl

Jennifer Coombes explores the life of Pearl Schweig, an actress from the 1930s Cinesound casting books who features in the exhibition Starstruck: Australian Movie Portraits.

By Jennifer Coombes / 10 Sep 2018
Film
Object
Photographs