The Kid Stakes: with Live Accompaniment by CJ Shaw at the National Film and Sound Archive

Join us for an interactive family screening designed especially for kids, bringing a unique piece of Australian silent cinema to life. 

The screening will feature a live performance of new and original music by Aussie kids’ performer CJ Shaw and The All Sorts. This playful event invites young audiences to participate with a hands-on activity sheet provided to each attendee.

1927 | DCP | AUS | D: Tal Ordell

Enter the world of Fatty Finn, played by six-year-old Robin ‘Pop’ Ordell, as he faces off against his rival Bruiser with his pet goat Hector in a billy-cart race. This adorable silent film was mostly shot on the working-class streets of Sydney in 1927. Drawn from the NFSA’s collection, it was the first major children’s feature film produced in Australia.

Digital screening from the NFSA collection.

ABOUT CJ SHAW AND THE ALL SORTS
Aussie kids’ performer CJ Shaw made his debut in 2020, earning an ARIA Music Teacher of the Year nomination for his songwriting for school-aged children, championed by Jimmy Barnes. Since then, CJ Shaw released his debut family album with the single, ‘Ain’t Many Like Lennie’ which was broadcast on SBS and streamed between 2022 to 2023. In 2024, CJ began recording his follow up album, Cha Ching, a ‘best of’ collection of his children’s songs, road tested in primary schools and scheduled for release in late 2025.

CJ’s versatility as one of Australia’s leading children’s performers and songwriters shines on stage. Alongside his band, The All Sorts, he delivers a dynamic blend of Australiana folk, storytelling, and playground hip-hop. With choreographed dance moves and interactive call-and-response segments, a CJ Shaw and The All Sorts concert invites children and their families to actively engage and participate in the musical experience.