This event begins at 1:00 pm with a pre-screening conversation featuring James Bradley OAM in discussion with critic Beejay Silcox about the film Contact and the novel that inspired it. An intermission, including book sales and signings in the NFSA Foyer, will follow at 1:45 pm. The film screening of Contact will then commence at 2:00 pm.

ABOUT THE SCREENING
1997 | DCP | US | D: Robert Zemeckis

When alien intelligence contacts Earth, Dr Eleanor Arroway (Jodie Foster), a radio astronomer working on the SETI project, picks up the signal – included in it are blueprints for building an advanced spacecraft.

Based on Carl Sagan’s 1985 novel, the film combines science, politics and religion to ask the big questions about our place in the universe.

“Contact is that rare big-budget motion picture that places ideas, characters and plot above everything else.” – ReelViews

ABOUT THE Q&A
James Bradley is a writer and critic. His books include the novels Wrack, The Deep Field, The Resurrectionist, Clade and Ghost Species, a book of poetry, Paper Nautilus, and a work of non-fiction, Deep Water, which won the 2025 NSW Literary Award for Non-Fiction and a Gold Medal in the 2025 Nautilus Awards and was shortlisted for the Prime Minster’s Award for Non-Fiction and the Queensland Literary Award for Non-Fiction. In 2012 he won the Pascall Award for Australia’s Critic of the Year. His latest novel, Landfall, is published by Penguin.

Book Club at the NFSA in in partnership with Canberra Writers Festival.

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November

Sun 16 Nov

1:00 PM

Price

$21 Full / $18 Concession (+$1.50 booking fee)

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.