Published Tuesday 12 August

This spring, Arc Cinema at the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) invites audiences to dive into a rich and adventurous film season that celebrates the brightest, darkest, and most unforgettable moments of cinema. From loveable heroes and iconic villains to glamorous stars, heartwarming stories and striking cinematography, there is something for everyone in a program full of big-screen moments.

Audiences can expect a rich mix of special events, international film festivals, live performances and exciting collaborations that bring together science, art, music and storytelling. The NFSA’s freshly renovated cafe re-launches today as Dom’s, a modern sandwich deli and bar located within the Acton venue. Featuring the same great locally roasted coffee that Canberra knows and loves, Dom’s serves fresh sandwiches by day and transforms into an ambient wine bar by night. Open seven days a week with extended hours before NFSA events, visitors can dine in, enjoy local wines under the stars in the heritage courtyard, and purchase your favourite snacks to take with them to any onsite event.

International films in the Spring program explore identity, resistance and connection: Edward Yang’s sweeping Taiwanese coming-of-age epic A Brighter Summer Day, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s beloved French romance Amélie, and the Afrofuturist, genre-defying musical Neptune Frost. The program also pays homage to legendary filmmaker Yasujirō Ozu with a screening of Tokyo Story, alongside Wim Wenders’ reflective journey through Japan in Tokyo-Ga. Visionary works like these weave through the season, showcasing bold and distinctive cinematic voices in languages, including Japanese, German, French, Dutch, Italian, Swedish, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Swahili, Spanish and Mandarin.

The season also pays tribute to directors who have shaped how we watch and think about film. From Lars von Trier’s provocations and Martin Scorsese’s gritty character studies to Bob Fosse’s explosive musicality, Jon Bell’s vital Indigenous storytelling and Wim Wenders’ poetic, meditative cinema, these filmmakers have all transformed the screen. 

Aussie classics shine throughout the program, with highlights including a special screening of Crocodile Dundee: The Encore Cut. This newly restored 4K edition of the Australian hit features a post-screening Q&A. Fresh from the Melbourne International Film Festival, Jane Campion’s darkly comic family drama Sweetie, her directorial debut, has been newly restored in 4K as part of NFSA Restores and will screen with a post-film Q&A featuring lead actress Karen Colston. Also returning to the Australian music scene are The Hard-Ons in the documentary sequel Harder & Harder, followed by a Q&A with director Jonathan J Sequiera. Join Fatty Finn on a wild romp through Woolloomooloo in The Kid Stakes (1927), a gem of Australian silent cinema presented on 35mm with live musical accompaniment by CJ Shaw. Music in all its glorious forms continues to take centre stage this spring, with Puffs of Smoke, a fantasia of Australian silent shorts brought to life by renowned jazz composer Phillip Johnston. 

Family favourites The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast light up the screen with feel-good sing-alongs, complete with on-screen lyrics. Kids of all ages can enjoy a range of seasonal treats, including a Halloween screening of Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, with trick-or-treating through the NFSA’s historic corridors.

The program features the NFSA’s long-running Science. Art. Film. series in partnership with the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science ANU, bringing scientists and scholars together to discuss the themes behind specially selected films. Book lovers can also participate in Book Club at NFSA, a monthly event in partnership with the Canberra Writers Festival pairing screen adaptations with thought-provoking and lively post-screening discussions, always with special guests.

‘This cinema season is expansive, playful and thought-provoking, from road movies and rom coms to black-and-white classics, beloved animations and radical musical hybrids. Whether you're a lifelong cinephile, a curious newcomer, or a family looking for holiday fun, Arc Cinema promises a spring full of unforgettable moments.’ Aidan Delaney, Manager Programs & Visitor Experience.

⭐ Program highlights below

📅 Digital Spring Film Series program

📷 Download images via Dropbox 

Media enquiries and interview requests: Irina Agaronyan | Communications Specialist | Irina.Agaronyan@nfsa.gov.au

Program Highlights