The Film Australia Collection (FAC) spans 1913 to 2008 and includes over 3,000 Commonwealth documentary and docu-drama titles produced by the Cinema and Photographic Branch (1913–38), Australian National Film Board for the Department of Information (1939–49), Department of the Interior (1950–55), Commonwealth Film Unit (1956–72), Film Australia (1973–87) and Film Australia Limited (1988–2008).

The mission of Film Australia and its predecessors was to produce an audiovisual record of Australian life. Film Australia became one of the nation’s leading producers of television documentaries and educational programs and served as a training ground for some of the biggest names in Australia’s film industry. Fred Schepisi, Phillip Noyce, Peter Weir, Dean Semler, Anthony Buckley, Jan Sharp, Gillian Armstrong, Tim Burstall and many others developed their early careers at Film Australia.

On 1 July 2011 all of the rights and obligations of Film Australia Limited – Library and Sales were transferred under the Screen Australia (Transfer of Assets) Act 2011 from Screen Australia to the NFSA. From this date the Film Australia Library collection was renamed the Film Australia Collection (FAC).

The NFSA is now the proud custodian of the FAC, preserving and providing access to the nation’s documentary record – our collective memory. In addition to its extensive audiovisual holdings and the associated stills, documentation and promotional materials, the FAC continues to enable filmmakers to produce new content.

Licensing Film Australia Collection titles