Discoveries from Australia World Cinema

Pictures of models from magazines, set to Koo de Tah's "Body Talk". A controversially feminist meta-narrative.

A queer teenager finds pride in his newly discovered sexual identity during a drug raid in a Melbourne gay nightclub in 1994.

At a prestigious Beijing university, Weichen prepares for his first sexual encounter under the pressures of inflated expectation and nightmarish anxieties surrounding his mother. Set within the world of the post-'90s generation of Chinese youth, BURROW is a dark coming-of-age story about the paralyzing nature of self-doubt about the primal responses we have to our fear of failure.

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.

A wrestling fanatic organises a club with like-minded enthusiasts to prove to his girlfriend that wrestling is a sophisticated high art, but his plan for intellectual discussion is quickly thwarted by his guests’ antics.

In the aftermath of World War II, the Nuremberg trials unveil a chilling drama, "The Bizarre Trial of Doctor Victor Frankenstein." Four scientists, Edward Klause, Stephan Maxis, Igor Fritz, and Victor Von Frankenstein, face judgment for their role in Hitler's covert "Project Iron Sight." Through flashbacks, Victor reveals their macabre attempts to create superhuman soldiers. The trial becomes a stage for ethical debates, exploring the fine line between scientific inquiry and culpability. The narrative exposes the moral ambiguity of each scientist, offering a poignant reflection on the consequences when intellect collides with wartime horrors, making it a riveting exploration of human nature.

The sequel to AVIATORS

A horny teenage boy stumbles across a trail cam live feed.

A very attractive lady skips her way into a group's life claiming to be Barbie. She takes a liking to Rod, a blind man who is abused by his wife, and they form an unlikely friendship. Will Barbie find her happy ending with Brady or fall apart at the seams trying?

Lara, a young musician is force isolated by a smart house system in the hopes that she will create a masterpiece.

Maggie, a Catholic school graduate with dreams of becoming an artist, leaves her small-town life for the city, only to face the darker side of the art world. Haunted by surreal visions of a cow, Maggie confronts oppressive expectations and discovers the strength to reclaim her voice and independence.

Schalk Bezuidenhout’s stand-up act is a delightful and witty exploration of the idiosyncrasies and shared customs of South Africa and Australia. He delves into the humorous realities of safety, societal norms, and the vibrant spirit of both nations. Through engaging anecdotes and clever observations, Bezuidenhout’s performance is a richly textured narrative that elicits laughter and a sense of commonality amidst diversity. Schalk Bezuidenhout's 2023 Australia tour, recorded at the Comedy Store in Sydney.

A day in the life of an unemployed youth.

"They killed a child. The adults came out of their houses and said, 'kill us, not innocent children'. They came out, praying and shouting. That's when they machine gunned the adults." "We may all die," says an East Timorese woman, "but if one is left, he will tell the story." Carmela Baranowska is the only filmmaker to have documented this period. She first travelled to East Timor in March 1999, working as a one person crew and stayed on until the UN evacuated its compound in September 1999.

Film made in support of a campaign by the Waterside Workers Federation seeking pensions for older waterside workers. It depicts the hardships veterans, particularly older workers as well as some of the health and economic issues they endure. Shows a delegation of older workers, led by the WWF's Jim Healy and Tom Nelson boarding a bus in Sydney and travelling to Canberra, where they gather outside Parliament House. Climaxes with a mass meeting of waterside workers at Leichhardt Stadium and concludes with a group of elderly wharfies walking along the Sydney docks.

In order to fulfil his New Year’s resolution, a lonely teenager downloads Grindr and attempts to lose his virginity in the final hours of the year.

Nikki, a sound recordist, picks up a strange sound whilst filming on location in a forest. After a disturbing encounter, she wakes up alone, confused and filthy in her house. Her only chance at finding out what happened to her, lies within her sound recorder.

A documentary covering the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne and Stockholm.

An unknown, tucked-away, medieval island is threatened by the advent of big business. A wealthy business man wants to develop the untouched island, which could then be ruined by the subsequent pollution.

The Hon. Montmoroncy Ralston (Frank Leighton) is a monocled Englishman of the old school, with valet and plus fours, who sails for Australia after an argument with his father. In a Sydney two-up school, he makes friends with Jim McBride (Frank Bradley), a dinkum grazier, who invites Monty out to his station, where he meets the Reverend Stanhope (Eric Colman), a "flying padre" who uses a plane to tour his parish. Monty persuades his father to buy a new plane and enters it in the Centenary Air Race from London to Melbourne. But as he gets into the racing, Monty hears that Stanhope's old plane has crashed in remote country, and he gives up the race to fly to his rescue.

This film documents the 1896 Melbourne Cup horse race including footage of the crowd watching the race.

A biopic of the Melbourne street art scene from 30 years ago to now, from railways junctions at night to festivals, abandoned factories, rooftops drains and galleries. Interview with over 15 artists, as well as criminologists, anti-graffiti activists, politicians, architects & more, coupled with a soundtrack ft. Promoe, RJD2, Bias B, Portico Quartet, Vivaldi & many more. It's a story that's been here since the beginning of time. You've seen on the walls of your homes, the sides of your trains, as you drive through streets by rooftops, billboards and drains. It's the biggest art movement of our time. The streets have become a gallery since the cave painting is now collective.

You know conversion therapy for homosexuals? Well this is like that, but for straight people.

When Harold Holt returns to land after a 60 year hiatus, the aquatic Prime Minister questions why Australian theatres are struggling.

When Charlie believes he has met the love of his life, Maya, he starts documenting their relationship, but things don’t turn out the way Charlie wants it to.

Infirmus follows Jess and Ian, a young couple on the night of their breakup. After the split, the couple navigate the end of their relationship as they begin to untether from the life they had built together. Despondent and reflective, Infirmus sheds light on the difficult stages that follow a breakup

After openly confessing to a brutal assault, a troubled recluse is interviewed by an institutional psychologist.

A young man resurrects his recently deceased older brother for 12 hours, and they go on one last adventure together.

A cosmonaut looking back on his life.

A documentary that delves in the motivations and trauma that drives Sydney's own Real Life Superhero, The Black Rat in his crusade against crime.

In November 2024, two Indigenous ranger teams set out on a 1,900-kilometre journey from the remote community of Bidyadanga in Western Australia to Uluru. Their destination: the largest gathering of Indigenous desert rangers in Australia — the Indigenous Desert Alliance Conference.

When a sudden move disrupts Harper's life, she is left wondering what this change means for her relationship with Maisie, her imaginary best friend. Left to pack up the remnants of her childhood, Harper has to figure out what has to come with her, and what has to be left behind.

One Month Later, The Chase Continues...

Two paranormal vloggers find themselves in a battle for survival against a 'drop bear', a terrifying killing machine from Australian folklore that disguises itself as a cute, cuddly koala.

Because of work commitments and the influence of Christian Missions, traditional mourning ceremonies among the Tiwi people of Melville Island were becoming rare at the time of making this film (1974). The full, elaborate ceremony, called the Pukumani ceremony, lasted several days and involved large numbers of people in ritual roles. It was performed here with full awareness that this may be one of the last times such a ceremony would be staged in the traditional way. The ceremony was prepared by the Mangatopi family of Snake Bay after the death of a 35-year old family member killed by his wife. The dead man’s father, Geoffrey Mangatopi, and his family requested this film to be made as a public record of a disappearing tradition. Unique to the Tiwi people of Melville and Bathurst islands, the Pukumani ceremony was not only performed to safe-guard the passage of the dead person into the spirit world, but to re-affirm kinship relationships and traditional Tiwi culture.

After spending life on the sideline, an introverted teen decides, with a lot of pressure from her abrasive best friend, to step out of her comfort zone in the hopes of finding connection with her long-time crush.

His friends are early, the bathroom isn’t clean and Karl has something under his skin…

A meditation upon the redemptive power of Christ's crucifixion. The film employs a variety of styles including animation, newsreel footage, hand painted footage, live-action and optical effects. The soundtrack is composed of a wide variety of music including Gregorian chant, Kodaly, Liszt and electronic music.

In 1978 the revolutionary Sandinista movement came to government after 43 years of organised resistance and the death of 50,000 Nicaraguans. This film follows charismatic guerilla leader Tomas Borge opposing CIA attempts to overthrow the Sandinistas.

Since reforming, Birtles Shorrock Goble have released a major live DVD and CD. Recorded over two nights at The Forum in Melbourne, Australia, before packed houses, Full Circle showcased all of the hits made famous by the singers and songwriters of Little River Band, together with album tracks performed during a mid-concert acoustic set. New songs written by each of the members were also introduced. Full Circle was produced by Birtles Shorrock Goble manager Paul Rodger and mixed by longtime supporter and friend Michael Costa at Stream AV Studios in Melbourne.

When Muhammad is “randomly selected” for airport interrogation—again—they expect the usual racism. But when accused of joining ISIS and questioned for the Milo in their bag, the pressure mounts, and Muhammad is faced with an impossible choice: come out to strangers before telling their own mother or find another way.

Two teenage lovers are on the run after committing a heinous crime, and are unaware of the man following them.

A highly elliptical and tense story about an abduction, set in the Blue Mountains in NSW.

Live gig 6th August 2005 in Brisbane

Ant society awakens after the spring thaw to prepare a royal banquet. This video was directed by Zoë, who also did most of the animating as well as all the painting (but I did some stuff too!)

Chronicles the history of the Richmond Football Club.

Short animation by Wendy Chandler.

TEXTBOOK: noun, a book used as a standard work for the study of a particular subject IDIOT: noun (informal), a stupid person This is Felicity Ward. Award winning stand up comedian and 1992 Walk-A-Thon Participant, Felicity Ward, shines a floodlight on the thoughts that should have stayed in her diary; about growing up in a small coastal town, having a Mother named Trevalyn and a pan toilet until she was 11; about BETA Videos, cat hatred, sweat moustaches and peri-peri chilli charts… but mostly, it’s a show about Felicity discovering she’s the last person to realise she’s a Textbook Idiot. As seen on The Ronnie Johns Half Hour, Thank God You're Here, Good News Week and Spicks and Specks.

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.

An experimental film to see how much information the eye can take in from continuous single frame images and from single frames of widely different type.

Nadezhda Ivanova, a very famous Bulgarian folksinger writes to a woman, a stranger, in Sydney Australia. She wants sponsorship to bring her raw and ancient singing to the West. Maria (the stranger) does not want a 'singing slav' in her inner-city life. She has perfected the art of self interest. East meets West with some anxiety.

The true story of Australia's 17th prime minister, Harold Holt.

We get a glimpse at one of the Tamil Tigers' most effective weapons - the camera teams shooting the Tigers' propaganda videos.

A story of the unspoken, unbreakable bond between twin brothers in the face of a deep tragedy.

When Steve's best friend is brutally murdered, his world is shattered. He goes on a perilous journey facing many trials and tribulations in order to uncover the real mystery of what happened to his best friend, and who murdered him.

Shortly after his 1977 Daily Mirror reports on dissidents in the Soviet Union, John Pilger entered Czechoslovakia undercover to film A Faraway Country… a people of whom we know nothing, a title taking the words that British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain used to describe Czechoslovakia dismissively in 1938 when it was invaded by the Nazis.

Brad the Vampire is a hopeless romantic. So when he falls for Megan the Vegan who doesn't return his feelings, he's left heartbroken and suicidal. Unfortunately, it's hard to kill yourself when you're already dead...