Starstuck tells the story of Australian cinema through the faces of its film actors – both famous and forgotten – from the early 20th century through to today and will be complemented by a program of events, including behind-the-scenes tours, industry insights, films and art making.
Made possible through an unprecedented partnership between the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) and National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) in Canberra, the touring exhibition will bring Australia’s filmmaking history to life.
“Audiences will be able to see rare film posters, stunning 1930s scrapbooks of aspiring actors, and original costumes from iconic titles such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, Moulin Rouge! and The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. If you love movies, you’ll love Starstruck.”
Gallery at Home of the Arts (HOTA) Director, Tracy Cooper-Lavery, said HOTA will be the first and only venue in Queensland to host the touring exhibition. “With HOTA positioned as the Gold Coast’s arts and culture hub, it’s great to be able to bring together our audience with the NFSA’s vast collection of untold stories from Australian stills photography,” she said. “The exhibition includes many images from films with scenes shot locally on the Gold Coast, including Muriel’s Wedding, Coolangatta Gold and the legendary film, Sons of Matthew.”
To celebrate the exhibition opening, HOTA will host a whole day and evening of free activities and events on March 2 where families can enjoy hands-on activities at the Startruck drop-in space and draw themselves into a film strip, then take a self-guided tour of the exhibition.