Discoveries from Australia World Cinema

A film detailing an excerpt from the life of an adolescent on an Australian farm, following his solitude, his devotion to poetry and his broken relationship with his family.

Helena Rubinstein is rightly seen as one of the pioneers of a market worth millions - the female beauty market. Born in Krakow, Rubinstein started her career in the early years of the twentieth century in Australia, from where she quickly went on to conquer Europe and the United States. What began with twelve jars of her mother's beauty cream was to develop into a company with 100 branches in 14 countries and a workforce of 30,000 employees.

A group of eleven recruits, composed entirely of excruciating social stereotypes, and one dorky camp instructor, embark on a weekend-long work retreat in the quasi-wilderness of northern south-east Queensland. Everything goes relatively smoothly, that is to say, lamely, until (you guessed it) one of the group turns out to be a homicidal maniac hell-bent on dispatching the others in a variety of creative ways. Based on the Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel (sic), The Killage is a wacky, fright-filled journey into the darkest recesses of the human intestines. Bring a box of tissues.

A struggling art student's race to complete her self-portrait turns nightmarish when it begins to bleed-dragging her toward the edge of self-destruction.

GO BIG: The Story of The Canberra Capitals offers an exclusive, all-access look at the Capitals' journey through the 2020 WNBL hub season, while also showcasing the team’s historic off-court achievements—from being the first professional sports team in Australia to wear the Pride rainbow on their jerseys for a season, to Lauren Jackson’s groundbreaking $1 million contract (still unmatched over a decade later), and the introduction of childcare for players.

Ben Hunter's stand-up special from 2024, recorded at Good Chat Comedy Club in Brisbane.

"On The Australia Beaches... The Force Awakens."

"Washed Away" chronicles the Northern Rivers community's response to one of the most devastating flooding events in Australian history. On February 28, 2022, this community faced a "monster" flood that surpassed all expectations, with over 14 meters of water engulfing thousands of homes, exceeding the anticipated "1-in-100-year" flood levels leaving over $4 billion worth of damage in it's wake.

Acacia, 20, is in the midst of a messy break-up after cheating on her girlfriend. Since moving out of home three years earlier, she has grown apart from her father, 55-year-old Rob, who longs for a stronger relationship with her. The two agree to go camping together to catch up, but there’s one major barrier to their emotional reconnection: Acacia hasn’t yet come out to him. Halfway through the trip, Rob takes a walk on his own and stumbles upon a young boy by himself – an encounter that takes him on a journey of self-reflection, enabling father and daughter to finally open up to one another.

In a dark room. A flickering light. Your fingerprints marry to your hands. You look out a window. Mind spinning on the floorboards. A fire place hotter than a 1000 watt light bulb warms you. For weeks you wait for the sun to appear and it does. It always does.

Under Streetlights follows an incredible story of resilience against all odds, inspired by true events. An aspiring Aboriginal hip-hop artist living in remote Australia forms an unlikely bond with the daughter of a policeman who arrested his father. United by grief and ignited by their shared passion for music, they embark on a journey of healing, connection and pursuit of their dreams to escape their worlds and become established musicians.

Mr Ikegami is in Sydney on business. Back in Tokyo, his wife Seisuko is expecting their first child. A tale of divided loyalties.

An intimate look into the work of Josie Taoi, a basketball coach who founded a non-profit platform to provide youth in Western Sydney the opportunity to play basketball.

Seven couples are at turning points, trying to navigate their relationships and careers one moment at a time. THIS TIME, MAYBE is a sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes comedic, and always relatable story about how we share and change and love.

Struggled with her own sexual identity and spiritually lost Iranian girl, Ava, chooses to look after a lonely disabled religious Australian woman, Roxy. As Roxy's health status declines, Ava, getting closer to her, finds another meaning in life. Something that may eventually bring her calmness, even when Roxy leaves her alone in this world again.

Mercy Steele remembers her close-to idyllic childhood in rural Queensland in the twenties. Images of the landscape, abundant foods and fruits interspersed with reconstructed snatches of the way things were, show a simple life that belies the tragedy which her family later suffered. Constructed images of a lush and beautiful place suggest an uncomplicated life of harmony and abundance reminiscent of a late 19th century European way of seen Antipodean landscapes.

A gay man has lost his lover to a fatal illness and is trying to go on with his life. If only his preparations for a night of dancing weren't constantly reminding him of the one that he lost.

A relationship of a mother and daughter that are broken, because of mother's disruption to daughter's plan to move out.

Three friends investigate a mysterious hole in their yard, one with seemingly no end in sight.

After a rough night, Ed must come to terms with his way of life.

Romance blooms between a dim sum shop assistant and a street performer in Chinatown, who carries them in the safety of his balloon on a rainy night.

This inspiring film celebrates the courage and resilience of those who, for over a century, have fought for the right of Aboriginal children to public education

Documentary from 1975 on the plight of mentally handicapped children held in appalling circumstances in the UK.

Australia's first national sudoku team The Numbats - four ex-rugby mates - travel into the unknown of competitive puzzling as they enter the World Sudoku Championships in Goa, India.

Mixed media animated short

When an unassuming widow sets foot in Zeus Wholesale Caskets and Coffins, a sleazy salesman jumps at the opportunity to make a quick buck.

Targa Tasmania is a tarmac-based rally event held on the island state of Tasmania, Australia, annually since 29 April 1992. The event takes its name from the Targa Florio, a former motoring event held on the island of Sicily. The competition concept is drawn directly from the best features of the Mille Miglia, the Coupe des Alpes and the Tour de Corse.

A heartbroken girl gets into a taxi. Ten minutes later, the driver is fighting for her life.

And after much deliberation, the gay Cowboy presented the setting and configuration for the different stages on the process of painting, bleaching, swallowing, riding & haliding whilst chewing a delicious spanakopita. Who is the Gay Cowboy? when did the Gay Cowboy appear? how did the Gay Cowboy deliberate in such elegant and pugnant matter? this film has none of the answers for the questions presented

At a temple at the far ends of the earth, a committee of dogs maintain guardianship over an ancient force.

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

New decade - new heroes - new villains. It was a decade in which the Grand Final winners told the story. It was a decade of dominance in differing degrees.

Nina Mitchell has spent her entire life living in the shadow of her parents' constant criticism and expectations. A few months after turning 18, she makes a bold and life-altering decision; she will leave her home and country in order to pursue her dreams and find the happiness she's always yearned for even when her parents will say anything in their power to stop her from doing so.

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.

An online biology class devolves into chaos and shenanigans as the students adjust to online school.

A young filmmaker begins shooting his 'perfect horror film' during a movie marathon, oblivious that a real life killer will exploit, inspire and alter the outcome of his movie.

The sequel to AVIATORS

An animated short which uses a photographic montage of old buildings to show the sometimes ruthless destruction of aged buildings and the almost absolute power of progress. (text via the National Film and Sound Archive)

Shut out and ignored for too long, Sandy suddenly receives what she’s craved desperately her whole life – love and attention, from Willow, her overpowering but magnetic boss. But when Sandy finds herself just as suddenly discarded, she’ll show the world just how dangerous a wallflower can be.

The Flaming Lips marked the twentieth anniversary of their psychadelic indie rock masterpiece The Soft Bulletin with a technicolour performance in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House.

In the summer 1948, a well-dressed man was discovered dead on the beach at Somerton Park. No injuries, no identification, and every label removed from his clothing. There was no one missing who fit his description. A dead man with no name.

A totally killer party is properly executed by the man of the hour; Dean, a 19-year-old law student with a secret. When a masked murderer arrives and begins a brutal killing spree, he quickly realises he must take down the killer to save his friends and reputation. Eventually the gatecrasher forces the guests to spill their guts.

A young girl, after sneaking into her older sister's bedroom, hides to avoid being caught and witnesses an event that forces both sisters to confront their vulnerability.

Film-maker John Heyer recounts to fellow film-maker Pat Jackson his film career, especially his award-winning film from 1954, the Australian classic Back of Beyond. At the same time as the two friends are in conversation the "original" Tom Kruse, outback mailman and the subject of Heyer's film, is retracing his journey of over 40 years before across the inland desert of Australia to bring the mail to the isolated people along the 325 mile stock-route from Queensland to South Australia. Heyer's importance to Austraian cinema is acknowledged and we get to see him as a person away from the camera too as he chats and travels across Europe with his friend.

"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.

A Ngalakgan woman from Ngukurr, NT, just wants to catch a nailfish at her favourite fishing spot, Wanmari. But her family are thwarting her plans. When she sees an eagle, her grandfather’s dreaming, she remembers to use the knowledge she has of Country and soon, good luck comes her way.

Warwick is a radio DJ who battles with his depression to perform live on air during the world’s premiere apocalyptic event. But Warwick’s demons aren’t the only thing he has to contend with; something is outside and wants to be let in…

POOFTA: An offensive term used to describe a gay man. When a harmless encounter leads to a tense confrontation, a trailblazer for the LGBTIAQ+ community tries to intervene. Homophobia, internalized homophobia, anxiety & fear play out in post gay marriage Australia.

Sweethearts is a 1990 Australian film directed by Colin Talbot and starring Christabel Wigley and John F. Howard.

A vegan couple are stuck in the apocalypse without food. When Mark and Ann encounter a stranger, they learn that somethings got to give.

Fully Grown Babies explores the destructive relationship of Steven and Greg - two adult babies searching for fully grown infant bliss.

A portrait of a small Georgian village filmed across the seasons, that focuses on family intricacies and working the land in a timeless place of transience and refuge.

Every day thousands of police patrol the streets carrying state of the art firearms. Most go through their careers without firing a shot while on duty. Those who do, change their lives forever. The 1980’s saw Australian police embroiled in a bloody war with armed criminals that led to reprisal killings, as fear and violence took control on both sides. Trigger Point has been given unprecedented access inside the police brotherhood, in search of answers to the tragic chain of events set in motion when officers use firearms against citizens they are sworn to protect. Featuring never-before-seen footage and raw, first-hand testimony from police who made the split-second decision to shoot - and have never before spoken publicly. Trigger Point offers a rare and engrossing insight into the consequences of carrying a gun as part of your daily routine.

The story of Selina, a vampire who returns to a remote farmstead to destroy the last vestiges of her humanity — her long abandoned son.

Facing a short term in prison, wealthy Eisenstein heads off to a masquerade ball to enjoy his last evening of freedom. But Eisenstein's wife, Rosalinde, and her chambermaid Adele show up to the costume party in disguise, and each try to teach him a lesson or two. This revival of Johann Strauss's operetta performed by Opera Australia stars Anthony Warlow and Ghillian Sullivan.

Chantalle sells sex. Kitty seeks love. It's bath time. They're not alone. Anti-wife pulls the plug and heartache gets the shove.

Life in Nature has its pace but when it is filmed in slow-motion, fantastic behaviours are shown, impossible to notice in the real world. This video shows six species of birds and four mammals in their most intimate feats of survival.

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