The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) has added 25 new titles to its streaming service, NFSA Player. This expands the platform’s on-demand library, giving viewers more access to Australian film and television history. The titles span nearly a century of content.
Here’s the Lowdown: NFSA Player now offers 60 individual films and programs for rent, without requiring a subscription. New additions range from the 1929 silent film The Cheaters, restored by the NFSA and directed by Paulette McDonagh, to modern documentaries. Other early treasures include The Kid Stakes (1927) and Rangle River (1936). Prices are $2.99 or $4.99 per title.
What This Means Now: Australians have more options to explore their screen heritage. The additions include documentaries on artist Albert Namatjira (Namatjira the Painter), the Western Desert Art movement (Mr Patterns), and wilderness photographers Olegas Truchanas and Peter Dombrovskis (Wildness). There’s also A Steam Train Passes, a nostalgic look at steam locomotives, and The Floating Brothel, about female convicts in early Australia. Wokabaut Bilong Tonten (1972) is a Pidgin language drama about Papua New Guinea.
The Bigger Picture: NFSA Player is making a concerted effort to provide access to a wide range of Australian audiovisual content. By offering individual rentals, the platform removes the barrier of a subscription, making it easier for people to watch specific titles that interest them. The NFSA is providing historical context. This is part of the NFSA’s broader mission to connect Australians with their national collection, with more titles to be added through 2025.
