The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) will celebrate music all this month with a range of events, screenings and digital content showcasing the best of the archive’s musical collection. From Classic Australian albums, and renowned Australian composers and performers, to a blast of punk and our regular Vinyl Lounge, it’s a chance to get up close and personal with iconic Aussie music and musicians. 

• Paradise Road Screening – and Q&A with director Bruce Beresford and composer Ross Edwards 
• Classic Australian Albums - Unit by Regurgitator; Eternal Nightcap by The Whitlams 
• Doco of the Month: Age of Rage – The Australian Punk Revolution 
• NFSA Vinyl Lounge 

Paradise Road 

Screening & Q&A 

Sunday, 30 October, 2pm, 

Renowned Australian composer Ross Edwards will join celebrated director Bruce Beresford on stage at the NFSA for a Q&A following a screening of Beresford’s 1997 film Paradise Road. This powerful and moving cinematic testament to the power of music, starring Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett and Juliana Margulies chronicles the true story of a group of WWII prisoners-of-war who form a choir while interned on Sumatra. 

This event is co-presented with Flowers of Peace project, supported by the Australian War Memorial, which will premiere The POW Requiem on 29 October and will feature music by Margaret Dryburgh and Norah Chambers, who founded the choir. 

The NFSA’s Classic Australian Albums series pays tribute to the incredible musical talent of Australians and unlocks the secrets of some truly great albums. 

Unit, by Regurgitator 

Friday 21 October, 7pm 

Join Ben Ely, Quan Yeomans, Lachlan (Magoo) Goold and Paul Curtis as we delve into the creation of Unit, its influences and styles, and the creative process that made it such a classic Australian album. Get your tickets before they sell out! 

Eternal Nightcap by The Whitlams 

In August this year Tim Freedman and producer Rob Taylor of the Whitlams sat down with us for an intimate recount of the influences, styles, and process behind the classic Australian album Eternal Nightcap. If you missed it, the whole event, including a performance by Tim, is available to enjoy online.

Doco of the Month: Age of Rage – the Australian Punk Revolution 

Thursday 20 October, 6pm 

Our doco of the month celebrates the Australian punk explosion of the 1970s and 80s. 

Through music, photos, archival footage – including content from the NFSA collection – and testimonials, award-winning filmmaker Jenny Ross’s feature debut rediscovers how the radical musicians and activists of punk found transgressive alternatives to the status quo. 

Vinyl Lounge 

Friday 7 October, 5.30pm Bring your favorite records, share your music stories and hear what’s spinning on the NFSA’s turntables this month. Proceeds of ticket sales for the Vinyl Lounge go towards the development of the NFSA sound collection. Drinks and snacks available from 5pm. 

More info and tickets to all events here. 

Images are available here. 

Media enquiries: Louise Alley - louise.alley@nfsa.gov.au - 0422 348 652