Marius Sestier arrived in Sydney in mid-September 1896 to exhibit and make films. While in Australia he made 19 films and his footage of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and humorous short Patineur Grotesque are recognised as Australia’s earliest surviving films.
Sestier’s descendants, Mons. Robert Sestier and his sister, Mme Marie-Dominique Petitbois, attend a celebration at the NFSA on 17 March with the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, bringing with them their great-grandfather’s papers and photographs. The NFSA has conserved, scanned and preserved these documents.
NFSA website: Marius Sestier collection
NFSA website: Salon Lumière at the NFSA