From cult classics to karaoke: our pick of NFSA’s Winter Film Series
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As autumn leaves give way to Canberra’s crisp winter air, there’s no better time to embrace the appeal of cinema.
Tucked away in our cultural precinct, the National Film and Sound Archive’s 2025 Winter Film Series offers the perfect excuse to swap chilly evenings for the warm embrace of its art deco Arc Cinema.
This season brings a curated selection spanning genres, eras, and cultures – from spine-tingling thrillers to nostalgic classics. We’ve explored the impressive lineup to bring you unmissable highlights that will have you clearing your social calendar faster than Canberra’s temperature drops.
For the literary-minded movie buff
Bibliophiles and film enthusiasts alike will delight in the Book Club at the NFSA series, presented in partnership with the Canberra Writers Festival. The standout event? A special 50th Anniversary screening of the Director’s Cut of Picnic at Hanging Rock on 17 August. This haunting Australian classic about schoolgirls who mysteriously vanish during an outing in 1900 remains one of our most enigmatic cinematic treasures – and seeing it on the big screen is a rare treat for Canberrans.
The series also includes screenings of Romeo + Juliet (22 June), and Can You Ever Forgive Me? (27 July), each followed by engaging discussions with special guests that will have you seeing these films in an entirely new light.
For the culturally curious
Film buffs won’t want to miss the rare opportunity to experience Robyn Archer and The Pack of Women on Saturday 14 June. This iconic Australian talent presents a special screening of The Pack of Women, plus reflections in song and conversation, including “Menstruation Blues”, Archer’s groundbreaking work that was inducted into the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia registry in 2023. It’s a delightfully rebellious way to warm up a winter’s evening!
Works from the Asian Film Archive as part of its Reciprocal Program bring five distinct films exploring identity and cultural memory. Our pick? Forever Fever (1998), a disco-fuelled charmer screening on 2 August with a post-screening karaoke session on the Arc Cinema stage – because nothing beats winter blues like belting out a tune after a feel-good film.
For those seeking classics and conversation
The Warped Winter mini-series celebrates strong female characters in Cult Classics with Venus Mantrap, featuring live performances by the eponymous drag artist. Kicking off on 20 June with The Witches of Eastwick, this series (which also includes Wild at Heart and To Die For) promises the perfect blend of nostalgia and contemporary flair.
Thoughtful cinema enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the Science.Art.Film screening of Children of Men on 4 June, presented in partnership with the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science. This 35mm presentation will be followed by a fascinating panel discussion with researchers exploring its themes.
For lovers of homegrown cinema
This winter brings extraordinary opportunities to engage with trailblazers in Australian cinema.
Even more special is the chance to experience SPEAR with Stephen Page AO, a descendant of the Nunukul people whose visionary leadership of Bangarra Dance Theatre has contributed to transforming First Peoples’ storytelling. This powerful work continues to influence Indigenous dance and storytelling across Australia and beyond – don’t miss the opportunity to hear from Page himself after the screening.
For the classic film aficionado
Cinema lovers, rejoice! The winter series features an impressive lineup of timeless classics shown as they were meant to be experienced – on the big screen with powerful sound and a captive audience.
Catch Hitchcock at his finest with North by Northwest (7 June) and Vertigo (27 June), or experience Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire dazzling in the Parisian romance Funny Face (15 June). For martial arts enthusiasts, Bruce Lee’s iconic tournament film Enter the Dragon (19 June) promises to bring high-energy thrills to even the coldest winter evening.
For family outings
Clear your throats for the sing-along screening of the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Mary Poppins on 13 June – a perfect school holiday treat that’ll have multiple generations bonding over this timeless musical.
The NFSA is also playing host to the A Day at the Movies series, providing a welcoming cinema experience for people living with dementia and their companions, with free tickets for carers and complimentary Bulla ice creams for all attendees. The series has been thoughtfully curated by film and media experts Dr Jodi Brooks (Project Lead, University of New South Wales), Dr Fincina Hopgood (University of New England), and independent screen culture and audience development specialist Karina Libbey.
Those with fur babies will want to get along to the Top Dog Film Festival on 26-27 August for heart-warming stories of remarkable canines and the humans who adore them.
For those wanting to celebrate girl power
The 2025 Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour showcases fearless female adventurers breaking boundaries and defying expectations. With six extraordinary short films packed into two and a half hours of heart-pounding action and soul-stirring storytelling, this celebration of women’s achievements in adventure sports is the perfect antidote to winter hibernation.
But wait…there’s more
Whether you’re seeking cult classics, thought-provoking documentaries, or simply a warm place to escape Canberra’s winter chill, the NFSA’s Winter Film series truly has something for everyone.
For the full program and tickets, visit nfsa.gov.au/events.
