documentary

A Thousand Encores: The Ballets Russes in Australia

album-art
Best Sound in a Documentary
AFI AWARD (2010)
Nominee
Best Documentary under one hour
AFI AWARD (2010)
Nominee
Best Editing in a Documentary
AFI AWARD (2010)
Nominee
Best Direction in a Documentary
AFI AWARD (2010)
Nominee
Best Documentary; Arts
ATOM AWARD (2010)
Nominee
Best Home Entertainment
Focal AWARD (2011)
Winner
Best Archive
Focal AWARD (2011)
Nominee
Best Archive
History Makers AWARD (2011)
Nominee

From the Flaming Star Films website:

A Thousand Encores tells the surprising and little known story of how, over 70 years ago, an extraordinary company of dancers made a deep impact on our cultural heritage. In 1936, the celebrated Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo stepped off a boat into the bright Australian sunlight. With exotic sets and costumes designed by cutting edge-artists and avant-garde music by great composers like Stravinsky, the Ballets Russes inspired a nation and transformed our cultural landscape.

Over five years from 1936 to 1940 they came to Australia three times, winning the hearts and minds of Australian audiences, inspiring a generation of our greatest artists – Grace Cossington Smith, Jeffrey Smart and Sidney Nolan – and ultimately sowing the seeds for Australian ballet today.

Year:
2009
Director:
Mandy Chang
Producer:
Sharyn Prentice, Marianne Latham, Lavinia Riachi
Editor:
Karin Steinginer
Prod Company:
Flaming Star Films
Broadcaster:
ABC1
LINKS:
A Thousand Encores DVD

“Deeply insightful, rich in detail and genuinely engaging, A Thousand Encores is a fantastic exploration of a significant figure in Australia’s cultural history. Definitely a must-see for the culturally curious and ballet fans and aficionados”

Michelle Ho
Citysearch TV, October 2009

"...fascinating story — the archival material is splendid”

Deborah Jones
The Australian, April 17 2010