NFSA Canberra

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NFSA Canberra

The go-to spot for the culturally curious. Catch a film at Arc Cinema, explore pop curiosities in The Library, or drop by to enjoy a coffee in the courtyard.

Open daily in Acton’s cultural precinct, on the lands of the Ngunnawal people. The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia is the national audiovisual cultural institution. From the earliest recordings of the 1890s to the latest games and immersive digital productions, the collection comprises video and audio recordings, and contextual materials such as costumes, scripts, props, photographs a

nd promotional materials. It ranges from items inducted into the UNESCO Memory of the World register to sporting matches, game shows and advertising jingles. Originally known as the National Historical Film and Speaking Record Library and operating under the auspices of the Commonwealth National Library, the collection dates back to 1935, making it one of the first audiovisual archives in the world. The NFSA became an independent cultural organisation in 1984.

Based on the lands of the Ngunnawal peoples in Canberra, the national collection has stories by and about First Nations people from all over Australia.

As well as preserving these items for future generations, NFSA curators continue to add to the collection, ensuring it provides an unbroken record of life in Australia, and of Australian creativity. We believe everyone deserves to enjoy film. Arc Cinema is fully wheelchair accessible and we offer specialised equipment for different accessibility needs. For more information, contact us at 02 6248 2000 or [email protected]

13/06/2026

What does “home” look like in Australia? 🏡

Explore ideas of housing, belonging and identity with a powerful collection of free short documentary screenings at the NFSA in Acton.

The Place Compilation brings together three films examining life in Australia—from youth homelessness to migrant experiences and changing architecture—offering a thoughtful look at what it means to find your place.

Screening at 12.30 pm every Saturday this Winter, this session provides a compelling snapshot of how Australians have lived, adapted and connected to place over time.

Drop-In Docos screen every weekend, with sessions starting at 11 am, 12.30 pm and 2 pm. Drop in as you please – entry is free and no bookings are required.

View the full program:
https://bit.ly/4fE4ZE1

06/06/2026

Free documentaries. Every weekend. Right here in Acton. 🎬

Drop into the NFSA Theatrette this winter for a season of free documentaries exploring time, place and perspective.

From powerful stories of Australian women in our Women 88 series, to the sounds of native wildlife and sky‑high discoveries in radio astronomy — this program brings together bold ideas and fascinating slices of our national story. You can even step back in time with a rare snapshot of ANU in its early years.

Drop-In Docos screen every Saturday and Sunday, with sessions starting at 11 am, 12.30 pm and 2 pm. Drop in as you please – entry is free and no bookings are required.

Make a day of it and grab coffee, snacks or lunch from Dom’s to enjoy during the screenings.

View the full program: https://www.nfsa.gov.au/whats-on/drop-in-docos?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=social_meta&utm_campaign=acton_winter2026&utm_term=drop-in-docos

21/05/2026

There's something about the clear, dark skies of winter that invites us to look up at the stars and wonder…

19/05/2026

Enjoy a movie or three at the NFSA in Canberra this Winter!

Tickets are now available for our Winter Film Series.

Settle in for stories that move across time and space—from playful twisty timelines to journeys beyond our everyday world. Our Winter program at Arc Cinema blends beloved classics with contemporary favourites. Stretching across eras and genres, there is something for everyone, all season long.

Warm up with movie marathons and Friday night double features
Find your community with our brand new series, Q***r Flicks
Enjoy fan favourite series, including Cult Classics, Science. Art. Film., and Book Club at NFSA

See what’s on: https://www.nfsa.gov.au/whats-on/winter-26-film-series?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=social_meta&utm_campaign=acton_winter2026

15/05/2026

Where camp glamour collides with cinema theory 🎬 💅

Our year‑long series Cult Classics with Venus Mantrap pairs the razor‑sharp insight of a film professor with the fabulous irreverence of drag icon Venus Mantrap—and the results are delicious.

In this fun, tell‑all interview with STUN Magazine, Venus lifts the curtain on how Cult Classics was born, why these films still matter, and what audiences can expect as the series rolls on.

Read the interview: https://bit.ly/4nqofXj

Ready to join the cult? See what’s coming up and book tickets: https://bit.ly/4uGZQPL

📷: Photos by Cassie Abraham

13/05/2026

Step back to pre‑1920 Australia—where bushrangers, newsreels, magic lanterns and melodramas flicker to life on the big screen.

On 30 May, acclaimed composer and saxophonist Phillip Johnston performs live at NFSA, weaving jazz and new music through rare Australian silent short films from the NFSA collection.

Be entertained while uncover a little‑known chapter of our screen history. Think cinema archaeology meets avant‑garde gig.

30 May | 7pm | NFSA, Canberra

Book tickets: https://bit.ly/4d2MtCf

07/05/2026

Treat the leading lady in your life with an NFSA gift voucher!

Whether you’re looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift—or just a thoughtful surprise—an NFSA gift voucher lets the film lover in your life choose what they love. From curated classics and family favourites to special events, there’s always something worth seeing at the NFSA in Acton.

Buy a gift voucher: https://bit.ly/3P6Z0wG

01/05/2026

Join us for Sign on Screen, a three-day celebration of Deaf-led storytelling and representation of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) storytelling across film, television and digital media.

Enjoy screenings, panels, workshops and networking opportunities with leading Deaf and HoH screen creatives – at the NFSA in Acton.

All events are free. All workshop and panel events will be AuslanEnglish interpreted and all screenings will feature English-language SDH captions. Our cinema is also equipped with hearing loop capability.

Sign On Screen Festival is a collaboration between the The Australian National University, Deaf Connect, the Australian Research Council and the NFSA.

View the full program and book your free seat: https://bit.ly/4dxwmi7

28/04/2026

Canberra International Music Festival is taking over the NFSA this Saturday, 2 May!

For one day only, MOSSO: music in motion turns NFSA Acton into a roaming, multi‑venue festival exploring the relationship between music, moving image and spatial sound.

Catch festival highlights featuring artist‑in‑residence Aaron Wyatt (with CIMF Artistic Director Eugene Ughetti), the brass brilliance of Lyrebird Brass in the Courtyard & Foyer, and a portrait concert celebrating composer‑in‑residence Fiona Hill with Australian String Quartet and Ensemble Contrechamps.

In the afternoon a series of stand-out works by First Nations composers are presented by Ensemble Contrechamps in partnership with ANU’s Ngarra-Burria First Peoples Composers program.

Come and be delighted by music in motion 🎶🎞️✨

Book tickets: https://bit.ly/3QOKIRH

Address

Mccoy Cct
Canberra, ACT
2601

Telephone

+61262482000

Website

https://tickets.nfsa.gov.au/Events

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