BOOK CLUB: HEAD ON + Discussion

BOOK CLUB AT THE NFSA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CANBERRA WRITERS FESTIVAL

Sun

Sun 25 Aug 1:00 PM

Arc Cinema

Allocated Seating

104 Mins | Australian classics | Book Club at the NFSA

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1998 | 35mm | AUS | D: Ana Kokkinos
 
Head On is adapted from the 1995 novel Loaded, the debut title from bestselling Australian author Christos Tsiolkas (The Slap, Barracuda). The narrative offers a 24-hour window into the life of troubled protagonist Ari, a young, queer, Greek Australian man who finds himself alienated from just about everything.

Ana Kokkinos’ film adaptation stars Alex Dimitriades as the nineteen-year-old Ari, who seeks short-term ecstasy in drugs and anonymous sexual encounters while struggling to relate to his traditional parents (Tony Nikolakopoulos and Eugenia Fragos).

Head On is a gripping dive into  class, culture and sexuality in 1990s urban Australia.

‘Shocking, confronting and dazzling…an exhilarating piece of Australian filmmaking’ –  SBS

Presented on 35mm film prints from the NFSA collection.

The screening will be followed a discussion with guest screenwriter and author Anthony Mullins, exploring Australian grunge lit and the novels and film adaptations of He Died with a Felafel in his Hand (John Birmingham), Monkey Grip (Helen Garner) and Loaded (Christos Tsiolkas).

ANTHONY MULLINS

Anthony Mullins is a BAFTA and AWGIE award-winning screenwriter, script producer, playwright and author. His first short film (STOP, 2000) screened at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, while his first television gig was writing and directing two web spin-offs for the hit TV series Lost, one of which won a Primetime Emmy. Anthony has been a script producer and script editor on numerous TV series, including Safe Harbour, Five Bedrooms and Nowhere Boys. He has also been the director and writer of several award-winning interactive projects including Spooks Interactive (2008) and Primeval Evolved (2009). Anthony’s stage play The Norman Mailer Anecdote was a finalist in the Queensland Premier’s Drama Awards and had a sold-out season at Queensland Theatre in 2024. His award-winning screenwriting guide Beyond the Hero’s Journey has so far been released in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, China and South Korea.

A discounted triple film pass is available to see Richard Lowenstein’s He Died with a Felafel in his Hand (11 Aug), Ken Cameron's Monkey Grip (18 Aug) and Ana Kokkinos’ Head On (25 Aug). Learn more

A discounted season pass is available for the Book Club at the NFSA program. Learn more

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Price

$20 Full / $18 Concession

Arc Cinema

1 McCoy Circuit Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601

Information

Transport

Accessibility

We are situated in the heart of Canberra on McCoy Circuit, Acton, between the shores of Lake Burley Griffin and the grounds of the Australian National University. Just a 10-minute walk from the city and state bus interchanges.

BY BUS - WEEKDAYS

Note: the NFSA is open daily 10.00am – 4.00pm (except Christmas Day and New Year's Day), and outside those times for special film screenings and events – see our upcoming events calendar.
ON THE NUMBER 6
Route R6 runs between Woden Interchange and City West approximately every 10 to 20 minutes from 5.30am to 11.00pm weekdays. To use this service to visit the NFSA, alight at London Cct after Edinburgh Ave and proceed 600 metres along Gordon Street to the entrance on McCoy circuit.
ON THE NUMBER 53
Route 53 runs between National Museum Lennox Crossing and Dickson Shops Cowper Street on average every 30 minutes from 7.00am to 10.10pm weekdays. Bus alights at Liversidge St behind the NFSA.
Transport Canberra's Routes and Timetables site can help you find the most practical way to our venue (and others).
ON THE CULTURE LOOP FREE SHUTTLE BUS
The free Culture Loop shuttle bus stops at NewActon (on Edinburgh Avenue), within walking distance of the NFSA.

BY BUS - WEEKENDS

Note: the NFSA is open daily 10.00am – 4.00pm (except Christmas Day and New Year's Day), and outside those times for special film screenings and events – see our upcoming events calendar.
ON THE NUMBER 6
Route R6 runs between Woden Interchange and City West approximately every 10 to 20 minutes from 7.00am to 9.00pm weekends and public holidays. To use this service to visit the NFSA, alight at London Cct after Edinburgh Ave and proceed 600 metres along Gordon Street to the entrance on McCoy circuit.
Transport Canberra's Routes and Timetables site can help you find the most practical way to our venue (and others).
ON THE CULTURE LOOP FREE SHUTTLE BUS
The free Culture Loop shuttle bus stops at NewActon (on Edinburgh Avenue), within walking distance of the NFSA.

PARKING

There is dedicated visitor parking on the premises between McCoy Circuit and Ellery Cresent (paid parking, up to three hours). There is also limited free parking surrounding the building on Liversidge Street.
We recommend using public transport in peak times.

Accessible parking is available off McCoy Circuit.
Wheelchair/accessible access via Liversidge Street.