When Australian newsreel No. 2032 hits the screen on Opening Night the festival audience will witness the end on an era. But this 'curtain call' for the Australian Newsreel tradition, which officially ceased in 1975, actually represents the first stage of the $4 million, five-year operation of the Newsreel project undertaken by the National Film and Sound Archive to restore, copy and catalogue up to four thousand Movietone News, Cinesound Review and other Australian newsreels.

These irreplaceable records, many of which are on rapidly deteriorating nitrate stock, represent a unique view of our nation's history and culture throughout the larger part of the twentieth century.

The newsreel era may be drawing to a close here but its heritage will live on, thanks to Operation Newsreel and the support of the Greater Union Group and News Corporation Ltd. We are looking forward to seeing the fruits of this project in future Melbourne Film Festivals.
- (TB)