This thesis analyses the effect of the personal history of Arthur and Corinne Cantrill, two Australian independent filmmakers, on their style of filmmaking. It analyses their representation of film-form experimentation within national Australian art in a range of independent film works. It reflects on their cultural relation to the general history of independent filmmaking in Australia, America and Europe. It studies the circumstances tat resulted in the appearance of the Cantrills' experimental film and their relation to international art theories and film experimentation. This thesis will examine how the Cantrills' film works, which were often critical of conventional filmmaking styles, and their critical writing, statements and promotion of their independent and experimental film work contributed significantly to theoretical discussion and argument about the physical nature of film within Australia. This examination is explored through asking and answering the central question: The work of Aurtheur and Corinne Cantrell is theoretically drawn from a tradition of European arts and visually drawn from Australian landscape and urban culture; can their work be identified and undertood as Australian art?