The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) have released the first screening program for Arc, the new state-of-the-art screening venue at the NFSA’s Canberra headquarters.
Arc is a purpose-built cinema that features sophisticated projection equipment capable of screening movies in all formats, from cinema’s 19th century beginnings to its 21st century possibilities. This will allow visitors to experience the best archival prints from the NFSA’s own collection as well as films restored by other film archives around the world.
‘Arc is the realisation of a long-held dream for the NFSA of having its own screening venue, said NFSA Director Paolo Cherchi Usai. ‘Audiences will have the opportunity to see the best of world cinema as these films were truly meant to be experienced – on the cinema screen with outstanding sound quality. We’re committed to taking the public enjoyment of cinema to a whole new level.’
Arc will be officially opened with a gala screening of Rolf de Heer’s new silent comedy Dr Plonk with live musical accompaniment by the Stiletto Sisters and pianist Samantha White on Tuesday 7 August. Director Rolf de Heer and actor Magda Szubanski will join the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator George Brandis, for the opening night screening.
The August-September Arc screening program includes a diverse program of exciting world cinema, from contemporary cutting-edge new releases to newly restored masterpieces preserved in the collections of the NFSA and film archives around the globe.
Saturday 11 August will see the Australian premiere of the NFSA’s Atlab/Kodak Project’s new restoration of Monkey Grip – Ken Cameron’s gritty adaptation of Helen Garner’s novel. Producer Pat Lovell and the lead actor Noni Hazlehurst will attend this event.
Other Arc special events include documentary maker Simon Nasht in conversation about his new celebration of the life and times of Errol Flynn, Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn (1 Sept).
Arc’s inaugural program also presents the Message Sticks Film Festival (1 and 8 Sept), featuring the best new films from Australia’s Indigenous filmmakers. The program will also allow visitors to see some of cinema’s benchmark classics and cult movies on the big screen, including The Cremaster Cycle (beginning 29 Sept), artist Matthew Barney’s stunning operatic cycle of performance art films, and a return screening of the complete Three Colours cycle, Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski’s masterpiece of sensual 1990s art cinema (23 Aug-6 Sept).
Limited tickets for the opening night screening and party are available for purchase by the public at $50. From 9 August, Arc will be running three public screenings a week – on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm and on Saturdays at 4:30pm and 7:30pm. Tickets are $9.50 or $8 for seniors, students and children. Special ‘Max’ passes are also available offering 10 tickets for just $70.
The full Arc screening program is available online at www.nfsa.afc.gov.au/arc. Copies of the program will be available in The Canberra Times on Saturday 28 July and at selected cafes and venues in Canberra.
[release from Avviso PR for the AFC]