Cult classics, Studio Ghibli and vampire parties: Why you’ll want to spend spring at the NFSA

Posted on 11 August, 2026

From disaster movies and literary adaptations to queer cinema, family favourites and conversations with some of Australia’s leading filmmakers, the NFSA’s Spring Film Series is shaping up as a season built around shared experiences.

Whether you’re chasing tornadoes, wandering through fantastical worlds or discovering stories that celebrate our connection to nature, the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) in Acton has your next movie night covered.

Inspired by the elements of Earth, Water, Fire and Air, this spring’s film series brings together everything from blockbuster classics and Studio Ghibli favourites to live conversations with filmmakers, cult movie nights hosted by a drag performer, book club discussions, science panels and family favourites on the big screen.

Chase storms, survive tsunamis and embrace cinematic chaos

If your idea of a great night at the movies involves edge-of-your-seat tension, the aptly named Disaster Fridays might be for you. The series celebrates films where nature takes centre stage, bringing together tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes and climate catastrophe in stories that balance spectacular destruction with stories of courage, resilience and survival.

Expect screenings of Twister (11 September), Norwegian disaster films The Wave and The Quake (25 September), alongside The Day After Tomorrow (9 October) and the 1961 classic The Day the Earth Caught Fire (30 October).

Book lovers, this one’s for you

The NFSA’s Book Club returns with another carefully curated season of adaptations, inviting audiences to watch first, then stay for conversation afterwards.

This spring’s selections span dystopian drama, one of cinema’s most enduring prison stories and Studio Ghibli magic in Never Let Me Go (13 September), The Shawshank Redemption (11 October) and Howl’s Moving Castle (15 November).

It’s a book club with a cinematic twist: more conversation, more discovery and none of the awkward social pressure, all in a welcoming environment for curious readers, film lovers and everyone in between.

Cult classics, Shakespeare and vampire parties

Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet returns to the big screen on 10 October to celebrate its 30th anniversary, followed by a discussion exploring why Shakespeare’s most famous love story continues to resonate three decades later. Gather in the NFSA’s heritage courtyard for a celebration inspired by the film’s unforgettable style and soundtrack. Dress as a Montague or a Capulet and enjoy music from a live DJ alongside Shakespearean performers bringing scenes and characters from the story to life!

For film nerds and drag lovers, Cult Classics with Venus Mantrap is serving up the perfect combination in its monthly filmic feasts. Hosted by local drag artist Venus Mantrap, each screening brings together fascinating geeky facts about the films – as well as a dazzling drag performance!

This season, audiences can experience Strange Days (18 September), the gothic excess of The Lair of the White Worm (23 October) and the camp immortality of Death Becomes Her (13 November).

And get ready for a night of vampires, rebellion, humour and pure 1980s nostalgia as The Lost Boys returns to the screen on 31 October, reminding us why some legends never die. If Halloween is your favourite night of the year, sink your teeth into this special screening, complete with blood-themed cocktails, an ’80s vampire dress-up party, and a killer dose of nostalgia.

Big ideas meet big-screen storytelling

If you’re the kind of person who leaves the cinema wanting to unpack every idea over dinner, Science. Art. Film. deserves a spot in your diary.

Pairing Her (30 September), The Girl with All the Gifts (28 October) and Minority Report (18 November) with live discussions, the series brings together an eclectic line-up of researchers, technologists and creatives whose work is anything but ordinary. Think experts exploring artificial intelligence, immersive technologies and neuroscience; an award-winning game designer researching parasites in screen media; a scientist who first worked as an opera singer and filmmaker; a composer who studied under John Williams before scoring more than 100 films, including Pokémon movies; and a researcher whose fascination with Minority Report inspired his own work into how science fiction shapes our understanding of technology.

Throw in an expert exploring consciousness and AI, and a former electrical linesman who helped guide Australia’s EFTPOS network through Y2K, and you’ve got discussions that promise to be every bit as fascinating as the films themselves.

See some of Australia’s best filmmakers in conversation

One of the highlights of the season is the chance to hear directly from the people behind the films.

Rob Nugent, a multi-award-winning, non-fiction filmmaker based in Canberra, joins the NFSA for a Q&A on 6 September following Signatures of Earth, a poetic documentary that reflects on humanity’s place within larger environmental and cosmic systems.

Music lovers won’t want to miss the Canberra premiere of Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke: Tall Tales (21 November). The ambitious album film combines the Radiohead frontman’s music with mesmerising animation by acclaimed Australian artist and director Jonathan Zawada, whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, video and installation and which has seen him collaborate with artists including Flume, The Avalanches and Röyksopp.

Best of all, audiences can stay after the screening for a live on-stage Q&A with Zawada and Pritchard, offering a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this immersive work that explores technology, environmental change and the future we’re creating.

Queer cinema takes centre stage

Returning each month, Queer Flicks brings audiences together before each screening for drinks, conversation and films celebrating LGBTIQA+ stories.

The spring line-up includes Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut The Chronology of Water (3 September) and the much-loved cult comedy But I’m a Cheerleader (1 October).

On 5 November, catch Australian glitter-soaked, fuzz-guitar fever dream Wolf Cat Fever followed by a Q&A with director Josh Collins and costume designer Babzotica, who crafted every set, costume and prop from recycled and salvaged materials.

The season also includes an Intersex Awareness Day screening of Girl For A Day (9 October), presented with A Gender Agenda, exploring identity, self-determination and belonging.

Something for every audience

The Spring Film Series isn’t just about what’s on screen – it’s also about creating opportunities for more people to enjoy the cinema.

During the school holidays, families can revisit favourites including Up (29 September), Frozen 2 (1 October), Kiki’s Delivery Service (7 October) and Finding Nemo (8 October) on the big screen.

The program also includes A Day at the Movies on 31 October, a dementia-friendly screening of Victor/Victoria that includes morning tea, a light lunch and time to mingle, offering a welcoming cinema experience for audiences and carers alike.