The film industry in Australia has a unique and fascinating history, complete with notable actors, directors, and films that have left their mark on the country's and world's cinematic landscape.
From the silent film era to the Australian New Wave, Australian cinema has been informed by and shaped the country's cultural identity.
Here, we'll examine Australian cinema's history and how it has impacted cinema in the country today.
The Australian Cinematic History Timeline
Late 1800s
Australian Cinema Beginnings
Australia begins its foray into cinema.
1906
World’s First Feature Film
The Story of the Kelly Gang is released, becoming the world’s first full-length feature film and establishing Australian cinema’s early cultural identity.
1910s-1920s
Growth of Silent Film Era
Production of local films increases, focusing on Indigenous themes and bushrangers, establishing an Australian cinematic identity.
1930s
Sound Era and Hollywood’s Influence
With sound technology, Australian cinema struggles as Hollywood’s influence rises, leading to fewer local productions.
1945
Commonwealth Film Unit Established
The Commonwealth Film Unit is created, initially supporting war-related documentaries and newsreels.
1960s
Renewed National Identity in Cinema
A cultural shift brings renewed interest in Australian themes in film, laying the groundwork for a national cinema revival.
1970
Film Development Corporation
The Australian government establishes the Australian Film Development Corporation to fund local filmmakers and projects.
1970s
Australian New Wave Movement
Films like Picnic at Hanging Rock and Mad Max spark the Australian New Wave, bringing bold, unique storytelling to global audiences.
1980s-1990s
International Success and Iconic Films
Following the New Wave, films like Crocodile Dundee and The Adventures of Priscilla gain global success, celebrating Australian humour and diversity.
2000s-Present
Diverse Modern Storytelling
Australian cinema broadens to include Indigenous stories and horror, with films like The Babadook and Samson and Delilah receiving critical acclaim.
Early Milestones and the Silent Film Era
Australia's first forays into cinema started towards the end of the 1800s. The first feature-length films were made in Australia during the 1890s.
Australian silent movies explored local and typically Australian stories, giving them a unique identity on screen.
Australia is to be thanked for the first full-length feature film, The Story of the Kelly Gang. This 1906 film told the tale of Australia's infamous outlaw, Ned Kelly, making cinematic history.
In Australia, it helped cement cinema's place as an art form through its stories grounded in local Australian culture.
In the 1910s and 1920s, the production of Australian films increased. Many featured aspects of Australian life, including Indigenous themes and bushrangers, who were making their mark on cinema before any feature-length Western movies.
Hollywood's Influence and the Decline of Local Production
In the 1930s, as sound became part of cinema, Australian production struggled.
With the global popularity of American movies and Hollywood's growing influence, more and more places were showing imported films with bigger production budgets.
Domestic film production in Australia declined during this time, with very few Australian films being made each year.
Government-sponsored documentaries and newsreels during World War II helped Australian productions, and the Department of Information helped fund and produce short films and documentaries. Though these weren't feature films, production continued in some ways.
After the war, British and American film companies dominated, and very few Australian filmmakers had the resources to produce movies.
Government Intervention and the Rebirth of Australian National Cinema
Despite being the first to make feature films, Australian cinema had been relatively quiet for decades after the silent film era was over.
In the 1960s, Australia's cultural identity was evolving. This led to renewed calls for classic films that better represented Australian life and values rather than imported cinema from the US and the UK.
The Commonwealth Film Unit (now Screen Australia) was first established in 1945, but it gained traction in the 1960s when it started focusing on films with Australian themes. These films often highlighted rural life in Australia and Indigenous issues.
In 1970, the Australian Film Development Corporation was founded. This corporation aimed to provide funding for feature films and nurture local talent.
Films like the 1966 comedy-drama They're a Weird Mob explored immigrant experiences in Sydney and became one of the decade's most popular Australian films. There was clearly an interest in Australian culture and identity onscreen.
The government's support also helped establish film schools like the Australasian Film and Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in 1973. Institutions like these helped raise a new generation of filmmakers in Australia.
The Australian New Wave Movement
The real revival of Australian cinema came in the 1970s with the Australian New Wave. This era emphasised bold, gritty storytelling with a strong Australian national identity.
For many, this was a renaissance in Australian filmmaking, largely driven by government funding initiatives and rising cultural confidence.
Australian New Wave wasn't just a domestic success, either. It introduced international audiences to films like Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) and Mad Max (1979), which feature heavily Australian themes and settings.
Peter Weir's The Last Wave (1977) is often cited as an example of Australian Gothic for combining horror with social and political undertones.
Box Office Success and Global Recognition
With the Australian New Wave laying the foundations for further success, Australian cinema in the 1980s and 1990s achieved significant box office success globally.
Films like Crocodile Dundee (1986) introduced international audiences to uniquely Australian humour and culture.
This era also helped launch the careers of household names like Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Cate Blanchett.
However, Australian cinema during this time wasn't just box office hits with global appeal. It brought about many filmmakers who explored genres and different narratives.
Successes also included Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), which combined humour with themes of identity and resilience. Strictly Ballroom (1992) also showed how Australian cinema was embracing inclusivity and diversity.
Influential Figures in Australian Cinema
Australia has produced many acclaimed directors and actors, many of whom have gone from Australian cinema to Hollywood productions and global fame.
Australian Directors and Producers
We've already mentioned Peter Weir, but beyond The Last Wave (1977), he's also responsible for international hits like Witness (1985) and The Truman Show (1998).
The director Gilliam Armstrong broke ground with films like My Brilliant Career (1979), Mrs. Soffel (1984), Little Women (1994), and Charlotte Gray (2001).
George Miller is famous for his work in the action and fantasy genres, particularly the Mad Max series. For example, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) won six Academy Awards.
Australian Actors
Many Australian actors are hugely popular domestically, but some make it big internationally.
Cate Blanchett, for example, has received many awards for her performances, including two Academy Awards, and is one of Australia's best actresses.
Hugh Jackman is a hugely famous actor who's played Wolverine in the X-Men series and musical roles in movies like Les Misérables (2012) and The Greatest Showman (2017).
Of course, there are also many incredible Indigenous actors, like David Gulpilil, famous for his roles in Walkabout (1971), Storm Boy (1976), The Last Wave (1977), Crocodile Dundee (1986), Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002), and Australia (2008).
Modern Australian Cinema and Cultural Impact
So, what does Australian cinema look like now?
In more recent years, Australian cinema has looked to bring a broader range of voices to the big screen, with films reflecting the diversity and depth of Australian contemporary society.
Films like Samson and Delilah (2009) and The Sapphires (2012) both focus on highlighting Indigenous stories and raising awareness of the historical and contemporary challenges faced by Indigenous Australians.
Australia has also made a name for itself in the horror genre, with movies like The Babadook (2014) and Wolf Creek (2005) being critically successful, with the Australian landscape blending well with the genre.
Cultural Festivals and AACTA Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in film, television and documentaries.
The Sydney Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival also help bring cinema to more people in Australia while showcasing Australian talents to a broader international audience.
The Industry’s Evolution and Future Prospects
Like any good film, the history of Australian cinema has had low points and high points. While it was the birthplace of the feature film, it struggled initially as the silent film era ended. It recovered in the 1960s and 70s and has gone from strength to strength ever since, producing some amazing films.
Like elsewhere in the world, local cinemas are threatened by streaming platforms. The Australian film industry is adapting, with good representation for both mainstream and independent projects.
Australian productions can still gain global attention, especially with the help of government funding that encourages international collaborations.
The future of Australian cinema looks bright, and directors like Warwick Thornton and Justin Kurzel are demonstrating that Australian cinema has a lot to offer culturally and artistically.
From The Story of the Kelly Gang to Mad Max's international acclaim, Australian cinema has continuously reinvented itself, with new voices and stories emerging.
Learn More About Cinema and Australian Cinema with a Private Tutor
Whether you're interested in making films or learning more about the history of cinema, why not learn more with a private tutor?
On the Superprof website, you can find tutors for a range of subjects and budgets. Just search for what you want to learn and where you are, and you'll be able to browse the profiles of potential tutors.
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It's recommended that you make a list of criteria for potential tutors and shortlist them before you start getting in touch. That way, you'll save time and can arrange free sessions with those most likely to be what you want.
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