NOTES FOR WEBSITE FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL FILM AND SOUND ARCHIVE
UPDATED 8 March 2021
Friends of the National Film and Sound Archive, Melbourne Branch
The Melbourne branch of the Friends was launched in November 2019, in collaboration with The Thornbury Picture House and the Liardet Community Centre in Port Melbourne. The launch was addressed by NFSA CEO Jan Muller, and followed by a showing of the NFSA RESTORES film of My Brilliant Career.
Two live events were held at Port Melbourne the beginning of 2020: Emeritus Professor Jenny Hocking speaking about her challenge to the National Archives of Australia to release The Palace Letters, and a film showing of The Sentimental Bloke, hosted by Teresa Pitt.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it became necessary to cancel further live Sundays with Friends events for the whole of 2020. However, we’ve successfully held a number of online presentations, and have more to come.
Some of our successful events so far have been:
July 2020: Webinar presented by Daryl Dellora. Online showing of his film about High Court Judge Michael Kirby, Don’t forget the justice, followed by Q&A between Daryl and Gwenda Davey, with participation by Michael Kirby.
August 2020: Webinar presented by Daryl Dellora. Online showing of his film about High Court Judge Lionel Murphy, Mr Neal is entitled to be an agitator, followed by Q&A between Daryl and Gwenda Davey.
September 2020: Zoom presentation by Dr Bryony Cosgrave entitled Silent Movies, Silent Man: Andre de Beranger, about an Australian film star of the 1920s, virtually unknown in Australia.
November 2020: Webinar of film Lousy Little Sixpence, with Q&A between Alec Morgan and Daryl Dellora. Watch recording on YouTube
November 2020: Melbourne joined the main Friends in a webinar of film Demonstrator, with Q&A between Ray Edmondson and Peter Krausz, with special guest Anthony Buckley who was the film’s editor. Watch recording on YouTube
February 2021: Zoom presentation by Bruce Watson entitled The Man, the Woman and the Edison Phonograph, about the 1903 recordings of Fannie Cochrane Smith in Tasmanian indigenous language. Watch recording on YouTube
Upcoming events:
March 2021: Melbourne will join with the main Friends in an online presentation of the live event Sounds of Australia on Friday 26 March 2021.
April 2021: OUR FIRST LIVE EVENT SINCE LOCKDOWN: The NFSA RESTORES film Newsfront will be presented at the Thornbury Picture House on Sunday 18 April.
For enquiries, further details, and to receive invitations to future events (including any events hosted by the Canberra Friends which are available on the internet) by joining our mailing list, email melfriendsnfsa@gmail.com.