The NFSA is bringing Hollywood to Canberra this summer

posted on November 16, 2021

Tickets are now on sale for the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s (NFSA) first original exhibition in two decades, Australians & Hollywood: a tale of craftsmanship, talent and ambition.

Exclusive to Canberra and opening on 21 January 2022, the show will take visitors on a journey through the crucial moments of recent and contemporary Australian cinema, as well as the people and stories that brought them to life.

The exhibition will be an audiovisual celebration with behind-the-scenes moments, on screen and red carpet, featuring rare items – costumes, memorabilia and props – from the NFSA collection that have never been shown before, as well as personal treasures from some of Australia’s most famous creative filmmakers , including David Michôd, Greig Fraser, George Miller, Mia Wasikowska, Norma Moriceau, Eric Bana and Paul Hogan.

From the striking custom steering wheel off Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller, 2015) and the spectacular costumes from red Mill (Baz Luhrmann, 2001) and The sapphires (Wayne Blair, 2012), for Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin’s art concept books for Romeo + Juliet (Baz Luhrmann, 1996) and the board from the sci-fi epic from 2021, Dune (Denis Velleneuve 2021), the audience can see up close the creativity and craftsmanship that lies in making a classic.

Extraction © Jasin Boland / Netflix

NFSA curator Tara Marynowsky says Australians and Hollywood is both a celebration of Australian talent and a provocation to rethink cinema at home, in Hollywood and beyond.

“Films can help us make sense of the world, inspire social change and reflect who we are. We hope audiences walk away from this exhibition with a greater understanding of the art form and how Australians have redefined big screen acting and found success in their own premises.

‘Australians and Hollywood is a celebration of iconic moments in modern Australian film, but also of the shared shared experience we enjoy when we go to the cinema or visit an exhibition together. ‘

Cate Blanchett © Mark Rogers

NFSA’s CEO, Patrick McIntyre, says that for the first time in two decades, an exhibition has been primarily curated from the NFSA’s collection, marking a momentary transformation for the Archive.

‘Australians and Hollywood is the start of a new era in opening our collection and sharing it with the world. This is not just a celebration of Australian cinematic success; these stories and memories provide an insight into our national character and where we may be headed, while emphasizing the importance of preserving them for future generations.

‘The exhibition is filled with memorable, shared experiences from our homemade storytellers. We want Australians to be inspired and refreshed by our contemporary cinematic stories. ‘

Woven into Australians and Hollywood is an innovative digital layer that gives visitors a unique interactive experience as they travel through the exhibit, capturing extra content on their phones that they can explore when they return home.

Australians & Hollywood: a tale of craftsmanship, talent and ambition will run from 21 January 2022 to 17 July 2022, exclusively for Canberra, at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Open daily 10-16 throughout the exhibition. Tickets can be booked at nfsa.gov.au/hollywood.

Function image: Nicole Kidman © RGR Collection / Alamy Stock