NFSA | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia

On 1 March 1975, Australian television flickered into a new era.

Close up of the band Silverchair when they were teenagers, circa 1995.

In March 1995, Silverchair’s debut album Frogstomp propelled three 15-year-olds from Newcastle to global stardom. Read more

Aerial shot of houses in the outer suburbs of Melbourne.

40 years ago

Neighbours: the first episode

The first episode of Neighbours aired on Channel 7 on 18 March 1985. It overcame a rocky start to become a cultural phenomenon. Watch the clips

A 3801 steam locomotive pulling a passenger train on a raised railway track above a grass embankment. The train is about to cross a railway bridge

Remastered in 4K

A Steam Train Passes

We're celebrating 50 years of Australia's most acclaimed film about the age of steam with special screenings and vintage train footage from the NFSA collection. All aboard!

A steam train on a track passing through a rural area while a young boy watches on from behind a fence.

A great track record

The art of trainspotting

Jim Powe's train-chasing footage gives us a unique record of the Australian age of steam.

Going viral

From Gotye to Doechii

Underpinning ‘Anxiety’ by Doechii is a huge hit by Gotye, itself braided with samples.

Vale

Corinne Cantrill

We mark the passing of a legendary figure in Australian alternative and experimental cinema.

Chris Hemsworth looking uncertain in a scene from Home and Away

Before They Were Famous

Suds to stardom

9 Australian Hollywood stars who were good Neighbours or called Summer Bay home.

Two women standing in a crowd of protesters and police. A placard near them reads "Drop all charges against the 53".

Where it all began

First Mardi Gras

Watch recently discovered news file footage from the first Mardi Gras protests in 1978.

A lick of flame rises against a night sky filled with glowing embers

NFSA Commissions

WINHANGANHA

Jazz Money's acclaimed film about how the legacies of collection affect First Nations people.

'Our collection tells the story of the nation – our memories, our lives, our futures.'

Explore a wealth of stories

Video game consoles and hardware laid out on a table

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Video games at the NFSA

Hitting the start button on preserving our video game history

Our video game collection continues to expand rapidly as the NFSA evolves in response to 21st-century media production and consumption trends.

In late 2023, we conducted a landmark international survey that revealed the threats to the survival of important video game heritage.

View the key findings of the international survey

Computer screen with the words 'Game Not Over' on it.

International survey

Video game preservation

Computer graphics of Space Invaders computer screen.

Retro gaming

Advertising, news and reviews

A screenshot from a video game featuring a goose being chased by a farmer.

1980s to Now

Video games in the NFSA collection

A woman in a floral dress pictured from the waist up, walking away but with her head turned to look back over her shoulder.

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A celebration of First Nations culture

Experience Nangamai

Nangamai ('Dream' in the Dharawal language) is the NFSA's online collection of First Nations content.

It pays tribute to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander icons, trailblazers, dreamers and performers who have kept their rich culture and history alive through activism, writing, filmmaking, song, dance and art.

View Nangamai: a celebration of First Nations culture

Image (above): Deborah Mailman

Nova Peris flanked by team mates receiving an Olympic gold medal

Icons

Sporting legends

Trailblazers

First Nations Portraits

Close up of actor Miranda Tapsell holding a wedding bouquet and smiling.

Dreamers

First Nations filmmaking

Canberra highlights

3 - 5

Apr

Thursday 7:00 pm

Mardi Gras Film Festival

Share your love of cinema as Queer Screen's 32nd Mardi Gras Film Festival (MGFF) brings the best new LGBTQIA+ films to the NFSA.

6

Apr

Sunday 1:00 pm

Special Event: A Steam Train Passes

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Australia's finest railway film, A Steam Train Passes, with a special film screening and discussion event.

11

Apr

Photo of street at night lit up by the neon signs of various bars

Friday 8:00 pm

Cult Classics: Streets of Fire

Romance takes over the neon night in this cheesy-delicious rock musical.

16

Apr

Graphic of human being made up of pixels

Wednesday 6:00 pm

Science.Art.Film.: Ex Machina

Alicia Vikander’s humanoid AI, Ava, challenges the line between technology and consciousness in this sci-fi thriller.

View full event calendar

Open daily 10am–3pm

Constellations

An immersive audiovisual experience by Robin Fox in which sound, light, and space collide.

Open 27 February to 4 May in the Gallery, seven days a week. Admission is free.

Find out more

Cinema in Canberra

NFSA's Arc Cinema

Arc Cinema is Canberra’s go-to spot for the culturally curious. Enjoy our curated program of recent releases and revived classics, from high art to guilty pleasures. There’s something for everyone!

Find out more

Visit the NFSA