Restoring the world’s first feature film

The restoration of The Story of the Kelly Gang (Charles Tait, Australia, 1906) includes recently discovered footage that brings the extant film to almost 20 minutes. State-of-the-art preservation technology allows the surviving footage to be returned to a condition as close as possible to that of the original.

The restored film premieres at a Parliamentary screening on 29 November, followed by an outdoor screening at the NFSA the following night. Electronic musician Endorphin performs his NFSA-commissioned musical score live. The NFSA releases Kelly Gang on DVD with curated commentary, optional soundtracks and a study guide.

In June 2007, The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) is entered into UNESCO’s Memory of the World register, which identifies cultural heritage of international significance.

NFSA website: The Story of the Kelly Gang
UNESCO Memory of the World register

Read more about NFSA Restores

Copy of the original booklet The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906)_349437

Copy of original booklet cover to The Story of the Kelly Gang, 1906. NFSA title: 349437

The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) screenshot_Ned Kelly, in armour, falling in front of a fallen tree, while pointing a pistol with his right hand_352527

Image from The Story of the Kelly Gang, 1906. NFSA title: 352527

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906)_Grading the new negative_710092

Grading the new negative. NFSA title: 710092

The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906)_Lacing the fragile film nitrate onto the Oxberry 2K archival scanner_710102

Lacing the film nitrate onto the archival scanner. NFSA title: 710102

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906)_using Diamont digital restoration software_710095

Using the Diamont digital restoration software. NFSA title: 710095

Endorphin performing the score to The Story of the Kelly Gang, 2006.