The true power of an image, whether it be moving or still, is its ability to evoke emotion. At the launch of Starstruck: Australian Movie Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery on Thursday everyone responded in a different way.
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Director of the NPG Angus Trumble said two things happened when he first saw the exhibition.
"The first was an absolute vivid childhood memory of having seen Storm Boy," Trumble said.
"I know exactly where I was and it was an extraordinary flashback.
"The second one, and I won't tell you which film it was, but it was a disastrous first date. Every aspect of which flashed past me like a dark cloud."
Film critic Margaret Pomeranz, a woman who has mixed with celebrities for close to 40 years, was somewhat starstruck herself.
"It's hard walking through this exhibition," she says.
"You just want to stop at everything, you think I remember that film, going out on set, I remember seeing it and being so moved by it.
"It's good to be reminded of what we've achieved over the years and actually be really moved by it.
"I know I am. This has been a wonderful initiative."
Starstruck is a collaboration between the NPG and the National Film and Sound Archive.
Jan Muller, only four weeks into the role of the NFSA's top job, said the exhibition was a great way to kick off his time in Canberra.
"This exhibition is about storytelling, about creativity, and when you join collections you can tell an even bigger story," Muller said.
Starstruck features 275 items, predominantly drawn from the NFSA's superb collection. There are portraits of Australian actors such as Hugo Weaving, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Cate Blanchett and photography from iconic films such as Australia, Moulin Rouge!, Red Dog and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
There are also several costumes on display, from a velvet red gown worn by Kidman in Moulin Rouge! to the thong dress worn by Hugo Weaving in Priscilla.
The exhibition was jointly curated by Penelope Grist, assistant curator at the NPG, and Jennifer Coombes, curator at the NFSA.
To celebrate the exhibition the NFSA has curated a complementary program celebrating Australia's cinematic history.
The summer-long program will feature classic films as well as some special guests. On December 8 film composer Bruce Smeaton, who wrote the haunting music from Picnic at Hanging Rock, will speak. Director Rolf de Heer will talk following the screening of his 2002 film The Tracker.
There are weeks for car lovers during Summernats, a film costume week, and on January 21, 10 years since the passing of actor Heath Ledger, there'll be a commemorative screening of Two Hands and the documentary I am Heath Ledger.
There'll also be a series of after dark events at the NPG, inspired by the films Strictly Ballroom, Priscilla and 1906's Ned Kelly, which was the first feature film ever made.
Strictly Ballroom star Paul Mercurio was at the launch on Thursday, also moved by the images around him.
He had stories to tell about different portraits, how he turned down a part in Priscilla, joked about how his legs probably wouldn't have been able to pull off the thong dress, how Strictly Ballroom made it acceptable for men to dance again.
"There is an incredible history right here in this room," he said.
"This exhibition is about saying let's take a look at what we've done and what we've achieved and all Australians should be proud of that."
Starstruck will be on display at the National Portrait Gallery from November 10 until March 4, 2018. Visitors can visit starstruck.gov.au to preview the exhibition, buy tickets and explore events associated with the exhibition.
Starstruck: Australian Movie Portraits will then tour to venues in South Australia, regional New South Wales and Queensland until 2020.
