IN late February, the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia are taking some of its rare footage of the bombing of Darwin to the NT capital for a series of special screenings.

The “1942 Frontline Australia” program of events will mark the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese air force on February 19 1942. As part of these commemorations, the NFSA is presenting the rare films.

NFSA CEO Michael Loebenstein says he and chairman Chris Puplick will both travel to Darwin to be part of the commemorations, adding, “we are excited to be able to show Darwin audiences rare footage of their home town, in their home town”.

On Sunday, February 19, the NFSA and the Darwin Film Society will host two screening sessions at Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinema, Mitchell Street, Darwin. The first features rare footage of Darwin filmed by local resident and amateur filmmaker, Victor Tarhanoff, which have not been screened publicly in 40 years.

Tarhanoff’s silent films, made between 1941 and 1946, are the earliest known colour footage of Darwin showing show life in the community before and after the bombing raids. The films have been specially edited for this screening, with music and sound effects added.

Tarhanoff’s films will be accompanied by documentary footage produced by the Australian Government’s Film Australia Unit between 1949 and 1995, depicting “an isolated, hard and fickle land”, but also showing Darwin’s new promise and development.

Images show 1960s fashions, early tourism imagery, and the mix of strong Indigenous culture and bare-foot crocodile hunting. One of Tarhanoff’s films and the Film Australia documentary “Darwin – Doorway to Australia” are also available at youtube.com/filmaustralia

On February 19, two Australian films, “The Telegram Man” starring Jack Thompson and Sigrid Thornton and the classic Australian feature “The Overlanders” starring Chips Rafferty will also be shown.

There will also be free screenings of Tarhanoff’s films and the documentary footage from February 15 to 22 at the Northern Territory Library in Parliament House (which is an NFSA Access Centre), the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, and the Darwin City Council Library during venue opening hours.