Discoveries from Australia World Cinema

Two boys embark on an adventure to go fishing at their friends favourite pond, on the journey they come across the Park Ranger who has other ideas.

Holidaying in Asia, Australian backpackers Joanne and Richard are hauled off a train and taken as hostages by Cambodian rebels. A ransom demand is made on the Australian Government for their release. The Government refuses to pay. Also kidnapped is French couple Louise and Pierre who are confident a French mining company for whom Pierre works will pay the ransom. When Richard and Pierre are executed, Joanne and Louise know their days are numbered and plan their escape.

When immigrants Attila and Jana resettle in a rural Australian town as part of a government policy to populate isolated areas, they consider themselves lucky. Although they must work on a wind farm in the middle of nowhere, they have each other, and soon, a family. Problems with narrow-minded locals, the isolation, backbreaking labor and immigration officials are the least of their worries when bad things begin to happen to the animals and people in town. As the situation escalates, and fear begins to motivate them, Attila and Jana begin to wonder – are the Turbines only onlookers or guilty of the unthinkable?

A hitman for the mafia is tasked with killing a new target, however the task proves to be difficult due to unforeseen reasons.

A TV soap star hit-and-runs a prostitute, putting her in a coma. The cult of celebrity, contemptuous of natural justice, conspires to assuage his guilt and keeps his career on an upward trajectory.

One year after a disastrous graduation party, Oscar is invited to estranged friend Chris's home to catch up. But as soon as he arrives with girlfriend Emma, things seem off. Can the two mend their long-festering wounds? Or is their friendship dead... forever?

When a volunteer firefighter drives his car into almost certain death during the worst fires in Australian history, he does it because he ‘has a job to do’. Three months later, the fires are out but his nightmares are just beginning. What’s tormenting him, however, isn’t the memory of flames. Turning a sensitive lens on the unprecedented devastation of Australia’s Black Summer bushfires, from a country-wide emergency to the astonishing stories of help that emerged.

Recorded by pioneers as far back as 1805, the Tasmanian tiger has become an intensely mystifying Australian icon, whose entire existence has become the stuff of both fable and legend. This program investigates a chequered past and puts the speculation into perspective, taking into account the tragic culling and ‘bounty era’ where the carnivorous creatures were thought to be solely responsible for a considerable loss of farmers’ livestock. Balancing the facts with personal reflections from Tasmanian locals, scientists and other informed practitioners, The Tasmanian Tiger is a thought-provoking and revealing look at the extraordinary life and death of one of Australia’s most mysterious marsupials.

Lives change when a homeless woman, in desperate search of a better life, meets a social worker with troubles of her own.

A young Australian rugby player, patriot, and fan experiences a premonition. An impending oblivion punctures the lungs planted by collective identity, shallow pools, and deified humans—one oblivion unveils another—. Akin to Australian rugby players themselves, the titular figure and his vision represent not just rugby but our country's values and cultural epicentre of sport more broadly.

Made by the Department of Immigration to entice immigrants from Great Britain, this film shows an idyllic picture of life in the Western Australian regional town of Geraldton in the mid 1960s.

A young woman Min loses her job, her boyfriend and her flat on the same day, throwing her life into chaos. Fortunately her best friend Jaz, comes to her rescue.

Through ten years of stellar service to the game's most passionately supported club, Gavin Brown, Mick McGuane, Gavin Crosisca and Alan Richardson have won special places in the hearts and memories of all Magpies fans. The brilliant presentation features highlights of their careers and special moments from the testimonial dinner honoring their service to the Mighty Magpies.

Jess, a former country music child-star turned single mother, decides to make a comeback after a 15-year hiatus.

During a camping trip to Ayers Rock in outback Australia, she claims that she witnessed a dingo taking her baby daughter Azaria from the family tent. Azaria's body is never found. Police note some apparent inconsistencies in her story, and she is charged with murder. The case attracts a lot of attention, turning a simple investigation into a media circus with the public divided in their opinion.

The 1980's was the golden age for basketball and the Adelaide 36'ers. The Golden Era takes an in depth look back over that triumphant decade and tells the story exclusively from those who lived it. Watch the history unfold from over 400 hours of archival footage. From the merger that formed the Adelaide 36'ers, to the dominance of the record breaking 1986 Invincible team, to Darryl 'Iceman' Pearce's amazing 48 point annihilation of Newcastle, nestled among many comical moments of the charismatic Ken Cole and others.

A stop motion/collaged based independent short film plays with the recontextualisation of memories and how time distorts them.

Travel to the underwater lands of ice and corals to discover the birth of a movement to protect the sea. Through the eyes of a prince, a president, a pirate and even an island chief, see how a bountiful underwater paradise can thrive once more; paradise it is more than just a dream.

A stylish look at the growing surfing scene and counterculture of the 1960s, this documentary explores whether Hawaii's Dick Brewer or Australia's Bob McTavish deserves credit for inventing controllable shortboards to replace bulky longboards. Narrated by actor Simon Baker, this wipeout-filled sports movie features interviews with surfing royalty such as Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Layne Beachley and Laird Hamilton.

Daisy, a gun-toting grumpy old battle-axe, eeking out her life in a tumbledown shack in the middle of nowhere. Into her life stumbles Simon, a mild-mannered accountant. Together, they form an uneasy alliance that is hilarious to watch. Gradually he helps her rediscover her zestful youth in return for stability in his troubled life.

After being forced to share her room with her dementia-suffering grandmother, a teen's resentment turns to love as she uncovers family secrets and gains a new understanding of her grandmother's past.

Steven Sullivan, a lonely office worker in an Australian metropolis longs to escape his feelings of self-loathing. Forcing himself into a life of hedonism, degeneracy and high-risk situations with a complete disregard for self-preservation, Steven begins his descent from a banal but normal life into a place with no return.

Horror Short: A fashion photographer sees a nightmarish aberration in the glare of his camera flash.

A timid college student discovers that her crush could be a notorious serial killer.

A young couple share a summer romance/trip with a visiting American artist. A story about love, relationships, nature, art, death and the meaning of life set in a beautiful scenery.

In this defiantly affirming queer tale, a gorgeously decked-out Australian calls out his date for chastising his "femme" qualities.

The second installment in the franchise. Plot TBA.

Based on the short story 'Coffee, Coffee, Coffee,' Last Stop is a story about observation and contradictions. A surreal look into a young photographers world as she documents her daily commute through a train station.

Detour de France offers a fascinating look inside the world's biggest annual sporting event. The film focuses on three Australians reporting on the world famous cycling event. All three bring a larrikin humour to their antics, which propels the film from mere reportage to something more akin to attending a sporting event with 'the boys'.

Luca visits his frail Nan on her deathbed, and reflects on their shared past through a series of vivid memories.

Derek, the simple-minded film student, wants to make his avant-garde masterpiece but he soon realises that something more nefarious is at foot.

On the brink of an alien invasion childhood sweet hearts Traye and Sally are thrust into an inescapable turn of events. Now Traye has to face his biggest fears while protecting the girl he loves as she fights for her life.

Once upon a time there was a Princess who was gifted with the power to make one wish come true. It had been arranged that she was to marry a Prince whom she did not love nor care for. They are married and at night they sleep apart, the princess with her wish beside her in the guise of a beautiful flower, a pink. The rest of the tale is for you to see, but to the best of my knowledge the Princess still lives happily ever after.

Adapting to her new home in Melbourne, Vietnam War immigrant Hanh (9 years old) mistakes the cunningness of her new “friends” as an act of kindness, forcing her to come to terms with the reality of human betrayal through the loving and tender guide of her family - especially her father, Quan.

Jack woke up in a Funk one day. No one really knows how it started.

Three gorgeous but deadly hired killers, Beretta, Blondie and Snowball, hole up in a small beachside community to keep a low profile. But this town has a dark secret. The local old sea baron, Joseph, tries desperately to warn them to never go into the water. But these crazy vixens listen to no one, especially no crazy assed old fool. So the Kraken awakes! Now, along with Joseph and his beautiful grand daughter, Hannah, they must fight for their lives against this furious creature of the deep as the sea rises in a tidalwave of blood.

John hasn't left his bedroom for ten years. Today he could, in a time machine.

In a future time when middle-class, Stepford-type suburbanites have triumphed over individualists and non-conformists and made them prisoner, two vanquished but not defeated non-conformists carry on the fight as best they can.

The last man on Earth undertakes a long, perilous journey in search of redemption while trying to stay one step ahead of a malevolent alien invasion.

Everything I Never Did follows troubled teen Liam Black and Jenna Reid, a seriously ill girl, as they embark on a transformative journey together, discovering life and love in the face of adversity.

Ring the bells, it's Christmas time! The happiest band in the land, The Wiggles, have joined with the happiest man in the land, Santa Claus (played by entertainment legend Bert Newton with dazzling Patti Newton as Mrs Claus), to deliver The Wiggles' best every Christmas songs and story. "Go Santa Go!" has The Wiggles helping Santa get the presents ready for Christmas Eve, but Lachy's invention turns Santa's elves from tiny helpers to football player-sized helpers (Jay Laga'aia and real football stars Lote Tuqiri and Joel Reddy)! With traditional Christmas carols and fun new songs, "Go Santa Go!" is the most fun you'll have since Santa first grew his beard!

Dino Bird is a visually spectacular one-hour film that explores the life of the endangered southern cassowary through the eyes of matriarch Bertha, as she and her family strive to survive in the tropics of northern Queensland in the oldest rainforest on Earth. Over the course of one tumultuous season, Bertha, her partner and her chicks battle fearsome predators and formidable rains, but also play an invaluable role in sustaining life in this ecological hotspot. Dino Bird is an intimate and rarely seen portrait of one of Australia's last remaining southern cassowaries.

When two buskers find themselves situated on the same busy street corner, a musical battle ensues when the musicians realise that the lively city isn't big enough for the both of them

Set amidst the raw beauty of North East Arnhem Land , a small community has lost its school teacher due to government cutbacks. With the chance inheritance of a boat they see this as an opportunity to start a business and find the money to buy their own teacher. Things don't quite go as planned ! Starring a complete local cast from regional centre Nhulunbuy this unique film is a community project and a window into a part of Australia that is rarely seen. Grab a beer and enjoy the full movie at https://vimeo.com/728551246

Set in an Aussie farmhouse and a 50's style diner, Rocfish presents this classic tale of a Father's love for his runaway child.

Charlie is a strange and troubled young insomniac barely holding onto his job. His boss, a gruff but oddly sentimental man, has given him more chances than he deserves. But when Charlie’s fixation on a stranger pulls him further from his responsibilities, the consequences are inevitable. As their uneasy relationship reaches its breaking point, Charlie must face the quiet fallout of his obsession.

Take an intimate look at six-time world champion Kelly Slater before he became the most well-known name in surfing, and find out what he did to rise to the top and become the most commanding presence in his sport. With footage from France, Fiji, Southern California and Oahu's North Shore, the film treats you to fabulous scenery from some of the best surfing locales in the world. Also features Tom Carrol, Jeff Booth and Tom Curren.

100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. In the mirror he saw a 310lb man whose gut was bigger than a beach ball and a path laid out before him that wouldn't end well— with one foot already in the grave, the other wasn't far behind. FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD is an inspiring film that chronicles Joe's personal mission to regain his health.

Crazy Maltese Joe is forced to road trip across California with his estranged brother Charlie, a gassy dog, and a precious family heirloom to bust their dying sister out of the hospital on time for her planned escape.

Charting the recovery of wildlife in the aftermath of Australia's catastrophic bushfires through stories of hope and resilience.

In the public housing commission estate of Pendle Vale, a single mum and her daughter do it tough, until one day a witch decides to change their fortune.

When a young man’s failed suicide attempt results in the death of a stranger, he calls the only person he can think of for help: his mum.But when she pushes him for the actual story he soon realises that telling her the whole truth won’t be so easy.

Locked in an austere country house, headstrong and spirited Alice yearns for the freedom of the forest. But as Alice discovers the power of seduction, it is more than just her desire that is awakened… Adapted for the screen by Laura Scrivano. Based on Noel Coward's Alice Is At It Again.

Hawthorn aiming at back to back Premierships for the first time, Geelong under Malcolm Blight looking for it's first Premiership since the days of Polly Farmer in 1963. This is the story of the battle for the 1989 Premiership by the men who played such a major role. The behind the scenes story of one of the best footy matches ever played.

A writer tells a joke. Complications ensue.

Unable to tap into his emotions on stage, a middle-aged struggling actor is given one last chance to prove himself, and in turn, takes a class with an acting coach who promises to transform his performance.

Follows Nellie Cameron, a real life prostitute famous on the streets of Sydney in the 1920s and 30s. Nellie is enjoying the perks of her world, the drugs, the money, the fame but in her game she can't afford love.

For over four decades the Rolling Stones have been on top. Arrests, drugs, fall-outs, death and relationships have stood center stage with eight consecutive number one albums in the US and sold out live shows.

A morose traveling salesman finds solace by ‘collecting’ odd phrases he finds on motel walls. He believes they may make an interesting study, even a book, but thoughts of suicide prove equally as distracting.