Discoveries from Australia World Cinema

Renowned ethnographic filmmakers David and Judith MacDougall explore the many meanings of photography in this profound and penetrating documentary. The film focuses on the photographers of Mussoorie, a hill station in the Himalayan foothills of northern India whose fame has attracted tourists since the 19th century. Through a rich mixture of scenes that includes the photographers at work, their clients, and both old and new photographs, this extraordinary film examines photography as art and as social artifact — a medium of reality, fantasy, memory, and desire.

This historical documentary addresses a subject typically given short shrift in discussions of World War II: the role of Malta in pivotal Second World War battles. The program argues that because of the island's key location - sandwiched, as it is, in-between Southern Europe and Northern Africa - it inevitably impeded Axis and Allied reinforcement deliveries time and again. As a result, the Maltese people found themselves caught in the middle of a crossfire when they had virtually nothing to do with the war itself, and suffered immensely for their geographic placement. In telling this seldom-heard story, the program draws on first-person interviews, CGI animations, and dramatic recreations.

An Indian former Chief Minister receives a high-stakes call from Melbourne, Australia, demanding a ransom of 100 crores in exchange for a top-secret that could jeopardize their political party's future with elections around the corner.

A Russian with a past, makes life difficult for her fellow house mates, causing them to fear for their safety. Chaos and drama unfold all in the presence of Feodora.

Caught having sex with another man, this 17 year old has an angry fight with his father which comes to a tragic end when he sets himself on fire.

Three Sydney-based creatives reflect upon the experiences and influences that shape personal style, exploring the intersection between fashion and individual storytelling.

Joe, a closeted soldier struggling to embrace his true identity, is trapped in a world of expectation. Joe must confront not only the horrors of the battlefield, but the war raging within. When tragedy strikes Joe's wife, Bonnie, his descent into madness begins.

Dan and his teenage brother are stuck living out of a car as they struggle to find a permanent home in the midst of the nation-wide housing crisis.

A woman who lives alone begins to doubt her sanity after strange events occur in her home, but the cause for these disturbances is more terrifying than she imagined.

Earth. 2038. ISOLIS are working to create the perfect artificial intelligence so humans will never have to work again.

The one and only 'Modfather' behind The Jam, The Style Council and a staggering 13 solo albums treated us to a bit of everything for his Sydney Opera House debut.

A short film by Edwin Mcgill.

The inside story of the 2010 AFL Grand Final.

A university student is stuck in a never-ending cycle of being sold life insurance.

A young man tries to clean up the house before his parents get home and encounters difficulties.

YORKY BILLY is set in Ngurgdu (Spring Peak) in the Northern Territory, an area irrevocably disturbed by uranium mining. There, 80-year-old William Alderson (known as "Yorky Billy") reflects on his life in the outback. Yorky's mother was an Aboriginal woman who died when he was three, and his father was an Englishman who spent 45 years in Australia and "tried everything" as a prospector, railwayman, drover and buffalo hunter, often with his young son working with him. After the WWII, Yorky married an Aboriginal woman and worked in various jobs. He and his wife had a large family, and in 1977, Yorky Billy recorded his story and died soon thereafter, and was buried near his father at Ngurgdu. Filmed simply with minimal editing, this is a poignant, elegiac reflection on a disappearing way of life, capturing Yorky's slow and quiet rhythm of speech, his wry humour, and with his weather-beaten face only just emerging from the deep shadows inside his corrugated iron shack.

When a man faking a leg injury meets a woman pretending to be pregnant, they strike an unusual connection based on shared dysfunction and a reluctance to face their past.

Welcome to a society where you can't survive if you're single. Hoping to not get banned from dating for life, "Simp" Sonny relies on nothing but the expert dating tips of Angelica (aka The Wing Girl), an online influencer who is now humanity's last hope as he navigates through various matches in a dating facility for loners. Sonny's flirting skills are put to the test when his next match is the Wing Girl herself.

When shipwrecked sailors first encountered wombats, they did what they had to do to survive - they ate them! More than 200 hundred years later, the wombat still suffers at our hands, blamed for damaging fences and fouling pastures, this film examines the myths and realities of wombat life, above and below the ground, as scientists begin to understand these intrepid and resourceful Bulldozers of the Bush.

Lurking under the sea is a global web of fibre optic telecommunication cables, the plumbing of the internet. It's how we talk, text and stream, connecting billions of people. These cables are also the frontline of a tech war.

A single night in a small country town leads unexpected results as four random strangers - a graffiti artist, a girl longing for adventure, a wanna-be protector and a vengeful father - are united by pure coincidence

Drawn by a mysterious thread, a distracted student is pulled far and wide in search of connection.

Miner Will Morrison marries heiress Grace Norwood. Jealous Richard Myers tries to convince Will that Grace is unfaithful and when that fails he drugs Will and frames him for murder.

A young trans girl and a policeman spend the night together.

Regarded as the most physical Grand Final ever played. 40 Years On: The Final Story provides a unique insight into the feelings and experiences of those who've played at the highest level.

James is trying to reconcile the relationship between him and his sister after their parents pass away but is reluctant on going to The Church of Life where she is now spending most of her time. After going back and forth about whether to go or not with his friend Michael, James eventually decides to go, leading him to have strange encounters with a few people.

A Bryan Hynes documentary following the story of Ultra Runner Lucy Bartholomew as she runs the the 231km Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory Australia. From Lucys early beginnings into the sport of Ultra running, the film looks behind the curtain into the raw and upfront realities of ultra running and the undertaking of a project on this scale. The film shines a light on going beyond limits, the value of community, and showcasing some of the most beautiful landscapes of central Australia.

When a wild band of outlaws come into town they are met by a group of locals determined to not see their town erupt into chaos.

When gunshots ring out at school, library geek Alex finds herself hiding with popular girl Ruby, Alex’s secret crush. Will Alex find the courage to reveal her true desire amid the overwhelming fear and confusion?

In the middle of Australia’s divisive marriage equality vote, Melbourne hosted a gala event to honour and celebrate its LGBTIQ elders. These are their stories.

In the summer of 1964 three unusual incidents took place on Lake Grace. The first two were totally unexplainable. The third, and most disturbing one, provided one clue... Based on the journal of sixteen-year-old Gwendolin Howard.

The father of two kidnapped girls pursues her killers.

In 1978 the police attacked demonstrators at the Sydney (Australia) Mardi Gras celebrations. This film details the communities' responses.

Country Town Pride follows the inspirational story of Holly Conroy, a transgender woman from country NSW, as she bids to stage a Mardi Gras in her home town of Wagga Wagga - Australia's No 1 Christian town. As she herself undergoes gender reassignment surgery to complete her transition, Holly has to confront Christian priests, conservative politicians, her homophobic neighbour, and even her own brother as she attempts to pull off the first-ever pride parade in this conservative stronghold. With an official green light from Wagga Wagga City Council, sponsors, supporters and floats ready to roll, will the Wagga locals turn out in force? Or will the town's Christians and conservatives rain on Holly's parade?

After having a dream where they claim God told them that they have 7 days left to live, Charlie goes on a spiritual journey to find answers whist also experiencing the five stages of grief.

An insecure young man with a god-complex tackles feelings of isolation and lonliness one night with his friends when the TV reveals the existence of God, causing the young man's realtionships to reveal their vapid nature.

An art gallery attendant follows a young woman she suspects is the child she gave up for adoption many years earlier.

“The Way We Dream” is the third Anthology Film of the “Letterboxd Independent Filmmakers” Discord Server, for which eleven cinematic artists from around the globe came together to create Short Film Works centered upon the primary notion of “Dreams”.

The story of Christina Lau and her relationship with her parents as she recounts the happy and traumatic memories of her childhood and adolescence. She shares the ways in which the tragic demise of her father and mother have affected her and shaped who she is today. Her story is powerful, tragic, and demonstrates the importance of strong family ties when overcoming hardship. The documentary is directed by her eldest daughter, Robyn Mae, and includes stunning animations created by her youngest daughter, Tammy-Ann.

In this haunting rural drama, a former AFL hopeful is forced to face the consequences of a decision he made one year to the day.

Trance is a short film about Oliver Brooks (Oliver Ludbrook). A hard working man who hits a small bump in life. After seeing an ad playing on his television for a suit, a certain 12 thousand dollar suit, Oliver begins to pursue it by any means necessary as he believes it will solve all his problems. He falls into a Trance.

A collage of an American poem, exploring the universality of womanhood.

A group of fathers confront the pain they have caused, and take hold of a chance to transform their most precious relationships.

In the stark Southern Highlands of New South Wales, two young asexuals strip naked for a shared bath, but a shocking sexual awakening threatens to send their romantic evening down the drain.

Three war veterans on a motorcycle ride come into conflict with bikers and gangsters. The bikers want their girl back, the gangsters their drugs. This leads to an all out war with the bikers and gangsters up against three highly trained veterans.

On the run, three criminals find themselves holed up at a notorious old hospital that happens to be the hunting ground of a masked killer.

Men Like Me is a techno documentary exploring the physical and social transformation of Dale Michaels, a transgender man. With stills, text, animation, colorising, morphing images and sound, slow motion and out of sync dialogue, Men Like Me breaks new ground to illustrate the (re)construction of the body as we know it. Men Like Me is not only Dale's story, but also an account of the filmmaker's journey. What does it mean to have a friend who is changing their gender and how does one adapt to such a metamorphic experience?

Aspiring actor Beth performs a gore-inspiring final show to prove she's worthy of stardom.

As fragmented memories of the past and an uncertain present collide, a distraught young man reflects on his strained relationship with his older sibling and one fateful night drive.

This inspiring documentary film takes us on a journey into the world of language and the crucial role it plays in the lives of newly arrived refugees in Australia. This heart-warming film tells of their experiences, from trauma endured as they fled their war-torn countries, to their search for safety and a better life in Australia.

A frustrated art student reaches into his dreams for inspiration, only to be taken on a journey by a mysterious doppelganger.

An insight into the lives of the miners who search for Australia’s famous black opals.

A ballet based on the Edgar Allen Poe story. A woman murders an old man and is haunted by the sound of his heart.

Two withdrawn individuals constantly seeking human connection, role-play their first accidental encounters

A young artist feels overshadowed by a charismatic and dangerous girl she's never met. Her life changes when she decides to follow in her nemesis's footsteps.

After a rough breakup, a young man tries his hand at camping as an approach strategy to handle the consequential stress. Unbeknownst to him, something lurks in the shadows nearby. Mustering all his confidence and skills, he attempts to escape the impending imminente danger, and overcome the various demons both mental and physical that plague him.

This woman needs help. A very short comedy about regret.

In a crumbling estate Harry, an accomplished but declining author slaves away on his latest novel. He is assisted by his sharp-tongued daughter, Syb. Syb’s easy routine is interrupted by an attraction to Margot, the young neighbour, and the unexpected arrival of Jonathan, Syb’s brother.

Fentanyl trafficking. A highly lucrative sex industry. Foreign wars, armed rebel militia, late stage capitalism, Russian electioneering and sweet, sweet oil - everything we deserved from a live action Barbie film.

When two explorers crash-land on an alien-infested planet, a grim decision arises: as one is infected by the microorganism menace, the other must choose between containment and cataclysmic consequences.