The NFSA has been proud to present a number of awards and lecture series over the years, recognising and celebrating significant contributions to the conservation and heritage of Australian film and sound culture.
The NFSA Ken G Hall Film Preservation Award (1995-2012) acknowledged individuals, groups of individuals or corporations for their outstanding contribution to the art of the moving image and its preservation. Initiated in 1995, the award ran for 15 years and was inspired by Ken G Hall AO, OBE, one of Australia’s leading film directors and producers, who passionately advocated for cinema and its preservation.
Recipients included Peter Weir, Paul Cox, Phillip Noyce and Patricia Lovell amongst many others. See full list of recipients.
The Longford Lyell Lecture (2001-08, 2011) was established as a platform to celebrate Australian film and television through the eyes of notable national and international screen personalities. Named in tribute to the successful creative partnership of film pioneers Raymond Longford and Lottie Lyell, the lectures provided an opportunity to discuss cultural issues of major relevance in the art, industry and scholarship of the moving image.
Presented annually from 2001 to 2008, and then again in 2011, speakers included Bruce Beresford, Rolf de Heer, Jan Chapman and Sue Milliken. See full list.
The NFSA-ACS John Leake OAM Award for an Emerging Cinematographer (2010-15) included a cash prize of $5,000 and was designed to help emerging cinematographers develop their craft through education, training or professional means. Presented at the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) Awards, it was named in honour of the Society’s co-founder and industry icon John Leake OAM ACS (1927-2009). The recipients were: Kirsty Stark (2010), Edward Goldner (2011), Jimmy Ennett (2012), Dale Bremner (2013), Thom Neal (2014) and Josh Farmelo (2015).
The Thomas Rome Lecture (2008-12) gave leading figures in the Australian sound recording industry an opportunity to debate and discuss the state of the sound industries, relevant public policy issues and the role of sound in society. Named after Thomas Rome of Warrnambool, renowned for making the earliest known surviving Australian sound recording in 1896 with a novelty song called 'The Hen Convention’, the lectures were held annually from 2008 to 2012. Past speakers included Michael Smellie (2008), Joan Warner (2009), Ed St John (2010), Chris Winter (2011) and Michael Gudinski (2012).
The NFSA Cochrane-Smith Award for Sound Heritage (2010-2012) recognised those who have enriched Australian culture through their contribution to the preservation, survival and recognition of sound heritage. It is named for Fanny Cochrane-Smith, the last fluent speaker of a Tasmanian language, featuring on the only known recording of Tasmanian Aboriginal songs and language.
The recipients were Dr Karl Neuenfeldt in 2010, for his contribution to the collection and preservation of Torres Strait Islander culture; Bill Armstrong in 2011, for his contribution to documenting the industry through oral history interviews and the re-mastering of seminal Australian recordings; and Dr Ros Bandt in 2012 for her tireless work inspiring and promoting the work of Australian and international sound artists.
The NFSA National Folk Recording Award (2001-13) was established in 2001 to encourage and reward excellence in Australian folk music recording. Award entrants were selected from recordings submitted each year to the National Folk Festival in Canberra:
2013 – Luke R Davies and the Recycled String Band, Not a Note Wasted
2012 – Jeff Lang, Carried in Mind
2011 – Kavisha Mazzella, Love and Sorrow
2010 – Chloe and Jason Roweth, with Jim McWhinnie, A Voice that was Still
2009 – Fred Smith and the Spooky Men’s Chorale, Urban Sea Shanties
2008 – Trouble in the Kitchen, The Next Turn
2007 – Duncan, Strutt, Thompson, The Red House
2006 – Kate Fagan, Diamond Wheel
2005 – Zulya and the Children of the Underground, The Waltz of Emptiness (and Other Songs on Russian Themes)
2004 – Arnold Zable, The Fig Tree
2003 – Award shared by Dave De Hugard and Kate & Ruth, Songs of the Wallaby Track and Swapping Seasons
2002 – Fred Smith, Bagarap Empires
2001 – Seaman Dan, Follow the Sun
The Orlando Short Film Award (2011-12) celebrated Australia’s best lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex short films. Open to short films reflective of the Australian or Australian-relevant queer experience, the winner was selected from a shortlist of films screened at Australian queer film festivals. The recipients were Grant Scicluna for Neon Skin (2011) and Craig Boreham for Drowning (2012).
The SEAPAVAA NFSA Preservation Award (2012) was presented at the South East Asia Pacific Audiovisual Archives Association (SEAPAVAA) conference. Ms Kae Ishihara from Japan received the award for her tireless advocacy of the need for audiovisual preservation, sharing of information and development of the Film Preservation Society.
The 2011 Longford Lyell Lecture - 'An Australian Actor's Perspective on the Industry' - was presented by Sigrid Thornton on 28 November 2011.
The Thomas Rome Lecture gives leading figures in the Australian recorded sound industry an opportunity to present their thoughts and ideas on current issues faced by industry.
Patricia Lovell AM received the Ken G Hall Preservation Award at the NFSA in 2010.
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.
