THE ARCHIVE PROJECT

In the context of the Cold War, ‘The Archive Project’ examines the work a small group of dedicated film enthusiasts. The Melbourne Realist Film Unit forged an Australian response to threats to freedom of speech and sought social justice through an engagement with European and American documentary, feature and avant-garde cinema.

In their body of work – their films and equally importantly their exhibition practices – lies an important foundation of Australia’s contemporary independent film culture. Their story is told through the first person account of a filmmaker today, digging through archives.

Director: John Hughes

Producers: Philippa Campey, John Hughes

Year: 2006

Duration: 98 mins

Produced by Early Works with the assistance of the NFSA, AFC, Film Victoria, ABC TV Arts and Music and Effects, Melbourne.

OFFICIAL SITE

AWARDS

• Winner, The Audio/Visual History Prize, 2007 NSW Premier’s History Awards.

• Best Feature Documentary, 2006 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards (with Hunt Angels)

• Best Tertiary Education Resource, 2006 ATOM Awards.

• Winner, The Film and History Association of Australia and New Zealand’s 2006 Joan Long Award for Achievement in Australian Film History.

• 2006 AFI Award Nomination for Best Editing and Best Sound in a Documentary.

• Writer/Director John Hughes was also honoured with Film Australia’s coveted Stanley Hawes Award, for Achievement In Documentary in 2006.