film library Australia

Film Australia Library

Film Australia is celebrating 60 years of documentary with preview clips online.

See our News page for the latest annnouncement.

In 1945, the Australian National Film Board was established to produce documentary films and in 1946, Stanley Hawes began work as the first "producer in chief" of what was to become Film Australia.

Today, the Film Australia Library is one of the largest and most historically significant sources of archival, documentary and stock footage in the country.

We offer:

* an extensive online database, with preview clips being added during 2006
* a constantly expanding collection of more than 5000 titles, from the late 19th century to the present
* specialist library services for the documentary sector

The Library manages a collection of film, video and sound recordings and photographs in which the Commonwealth of Australia holds copyright.

The collection is constantly being updated with footage from each new National Interest Program production

This unique record is available to both local and international producers.

Highlights include:

* people – how they have lived, worked and played for more than a century
* events – from royal tours to centennial celebrations
* locations – in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Americas, from the outback to the city
* Australian native plants and wildlife
* industry, agriculture and transport
* immigration and multicultural Australia
* a vast amount of material from the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War and Vietnam
* a world-renowned ethnographic film collection from Australia and Papua New Guinea (see note below)
* classic films from Australian film pioneers such as Bert Ive, Stanley Hawes and John Heyer
* early works of acclaimed filmmakers including Gillian Armstrong, Jane Campion, Chris Noonan, Phillip Noyce, Bruce Petty, Fred Schepisi, Dean Semler and Peter Weir

Tapes can be supplied in all formats, quickly and efficiently.
Finding the footage you want

There are three ways to find the footage you want:

* Use our website to search the online collection and make an online order enquiry about specific footage you choose.
* Fill in the online form or email, fax, or call the Library. Using your brief, our researchers will provide you with an initial assessment free of charge. Fees will apply for more in-depth research.
* Or make an appointment to do the search yourself on site at Lindfield, using our database to search the entire collection. (Private viewing facilities are also available on site. See Film Australia Studios - Location for how to find us.)

For some titles, preview clips will be available online. Alternatively, a preview tape with timecode will be sent to you by courier or post. Selected footage can be transferred to a master tape by quoting the timecodes you require.
Need more information?

See What to Do for an explanation of the online collection, search hints and details of our online order enquiry system and registering as an online member.

Check our Library FAQs for more details about the Film Australia Library and how it works.
Film Australia Stills Collection

In addition to film, video and sound recordings, there are more than 100,000 still images in the Library and it's growing all the time.

You can browse our online photo galleries to get a taste of this extraordinary collection.

Then go to the Contact FA Library page and fill in the online form or email, fax, or call the Library, and our staff will help you find the right image to suit your needs.

Important note and Indigenous warning

The Film Australia Library contains over 500 titles with Indigenous content. We respect Indigenous cultural restrictions and use specific procedures and guidelines to manage the use of this material.

To many communities, it is distressful and offensive to depict persons who have died. Indigenous communities that may be affected are warned that this online database, including some preview clips, may contain such scenes.

Many of the films in the collection are records of their time, with language use and attitudes that reflect that period in history. The earlier films were made for Commonwealth government departments as part of their information programs and so reflect government policies and priorities of the day. The views expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent the views of Film Australia.

Contact the Library for further information.

visit http://www.filmaust.com.au/library/ for more information