It was probably the world’s first full-length feature film in 1906: The story of the Kelly gang. Australian cinema thrived during the silent era but the industry went into decline in the late 1920s as ever-expanding US and British production companies took over distribution and exhibition, often excluding Australian product from local cinemas. By the end of the 1960s, Australia had virtually no feature film production. The intervention of the Gorton and Whitlam governments in the early 1970s rescued the industry from oblivion. Taking advantage of this re-invigorated production climate, a new breed of independent filmmakers sought to reflect the complexity of history, thought and culture in Australia.

Screening in conjunction with the exhibition The photograph and Australia, the documentaries and feature films in this series sought to raise questions, redress gaps in recorded history, bring uncomfortable truths to the fore, register social change and depict contemporary realities. They cast a new light on the historical events, people and ideas that shaped Australia’s history during the 20th century.

Film series: Brought to light
29 March – 3 June 2015
Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au