FILM HISTORIAN AND DOCUMENTARY FILM-MAKER ANDREW PIKE
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The Friends of the National Flim and Sound Archive Inc. are delighted to announce the renowned film producer, distributor and historian Andrew Pike OAM will deliver the 2026 Rod Wallace Memorial Lecture, at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 6 October, titled Creating Communities – Archiving and Curating for Social Purpose. Andrew will trace the profound post-World War II influence of Scottish advocate and theorist John Grierson, rescuing film from the grasp of Hollywood and making documentaries and feature films available non-theatrically to workplaces, schools and community organisations in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. This led to the establishment of the National Library’s 16mm Film Lending Collection in 1945 and ultimately to the creation of the National Film and Sound Archive in 1984.
Hosted by the Friends and warmly open to the public, the lecture will be held at the Arc Cinema venue, kindly provided by the NFSA, commencing with a welcoming reception at 6.00 pm, followed by the lecture at 6.30 pm. Bookings are essential.
Andrew Pike OAM, Chevalier, L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Honorary Doctor, University of Canberra is a film historian, documentary film-maker and film distributor, and co-author with Ross Cooper of Australian Films 1900-1977. In the mid-1970s he worked under Rod Wallace in the National Library’s Film Division, hearing first-hand Rod’s stories about meeting Grierson. Andrew’s company Ronin Films subsequently released many Australian features including Strictly Ballroom and Shine, and today specialises in distributing Australian independent social documentaries. His films as director include Angels of War, The Chifleys of Busby Street, Emily in Japan, Pumphead and award winners Message from Mungo and Japarta - a journey to the Gurindji Way. From 2002 to 2012 Andrew served on successive iterations of the NFSA Board. He is recognised by a plaque in the ACT Honour Walk.
The Friends of the NFSA established the annual Rod Wallace Memorial lecture to commemorate the pioneering achievement of Roderick Wallace AM as an innovator, advocate and mentor. During his 32 years at the National Library (1945-1977) he oversaw the growth of its special collections, including film, music and sound recordings, and laid the foundations for the NFSA’s creation.
Further information:
Contact Ray Edmondson ray@archival.au (phone 0413 486 849) or Ian Hallett hallettco@hotmail.com (phone 0419 018 050)
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Website www.archivefriends.org.au