Film series: Brought to light 29 March – 3 June 2015

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.

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.

Brought to light screens at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from 29 March to 3 June 2015, in conjunction with the exhibition The photograph and Australia.

Films

• 29 March – Faces 1976-1996 (director Sue Ford, Australia, 1997, 16mm) + Nice coloured girls (director Tracey Moffatt, Australia, 1987, 16mm) + Night cries (director Tracey Moffatt, Australia, 1990, 35mm)

• 29 March – Camera natura (director Ross Gibson, 1985, Australia, 16mm) + Wild (director Ross Gibson, 1992, Australia, 16mm)

• 1 April – Lousy little sixpence (director Alec Morgan, 1983, Australia, 16mm) + My survival as an Aboriginal (director Essie Coffey, 1978, Australia, 16mm)

• 1, 5 April – Ten canoes (directors Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr, Australia, 2006, 35mm)

• 4 April – Two laws: a film in four parts (directors Borroloola Aboriginal Community with Alessandro Cavadini and Carolyn Strachan, 1981, Australia, 16mm)

• 8, 12 April – The tracker (director Rolf de Heer, Australia, 2002, 35mm)

• 11 April – Life in the Antarctic (Home of the blizzard) (produced by Douglas Mawson, principle photography by Frank Hurley, 1913, Australia, 35mm)

• 15, 19 April – Sunday too far away (director Ken Hannam, Australia, 1975, 35mm)

• 22, 26 April – Front line (director David Bradbury, Australia, 1979, 16mm) + Aeroplane dance (director Trevor Graham, Australia, 1994, 16mm)

• 25 April – My survival as an Aboriginal (director Essie Coffey, 1978, Australia, 16mm) + Stockman’s strategy (director David and Judith MacDougall, 1984, Australia, 16mm)

• 29 April, 3 May – Red Matildas (directors Sharon Connolly, Trevor Graham, Australia, 1985, 16mm) + Green tea and cherry ripe (director Solrun Hoaas, Australia, 1988, 16mm)

• 2 May – Living room (director David Caesar, Australia, 1988, 16mm) + 27A (director Esben Storm, Australia, 1973, 35mm)

• 6, 10 May – Wake in fright (director Ted Kotcheff, Australia, 1971, 35mm)

• 13, 17 May – Samson and Delilah (director Warwick Thornton, Australia, 2009, 35mm)

• 20, 24 May – Dance me to my song (director Rolf de Heer, Australia, 1998, 35mm)

• 27, 31 May – Snowtown (director Justin Kurzel, Australia, 2011, 35mm)

• 3 June – Billal (director Tom Zubyrcki, Australia, 1996, 16mm) + The plains of heaven (director Ian Pringle, Australia, 1982, 16mm)