The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Peter Weir’s seminal film Picnic at Hanging Rock with an exclusive one-night only exhibition of original costumes, props and posters on Friday 7 August 2015.
Adapted from the 1967 novel by Joan Lindsay, Picnic at Hanging Rock tells the story of three schoolgirls from an exclusive boarding school, who go missing during a Valentine’s Day picnic at the Hanging Rock monolith, in central Victoria. This tragedy is followed by chaos, grief, confusion, and the film never answers the mystery of their disappearance.
Picnic at Hanging Rock had its world premiere in Adelaide on 8 August 1975. The film became an immediate critical and box-office sensation, and played an essential role in the Australian film revival of the 1970s. The success of the film launched the careers of many Australians including director Peter Weir, producer Patricia Lovell and actors Helen Morse, Anne Lambert, Jacki Weaver and John Jarrett.
Picnic at Hanging Rock: 40 Years a Mystery begins at 5.00pm, with the exhibition open to the public in the NFSA foyer. This display of the original items preserved in the NFSA collection is a one-night only event – fans should not miss this rare opportunity to see them up close.
In addition to this special event in Canberra, the NFSA will also launch a comprehensive online exhibition highlighting even more costumes, props, documents and trivia from the film. It will be available from Friday 7 August 2015.
Picnic at Hanging Rock: 40 Years a Mystery
National Film and Sound Archive
Event: Friday 7 August 2015 – Exhibition from 5.00pm / Film screens at 7.00pm
Entry fees apply
For more information, visit: www.nfsa.gov.au for details.
Image: A still from Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock