Discoveries from Australia World Cinema

A searing account of war correspondent Michael Ware's seven years reporting in Iraq--an extraordinary journey that takes him into the darkest recesses of the Iraq War and the human soul.

On Nov 16, 2005, Australia didn't just qualify for the FIFA World Cup, it found its voice on the global stage. We hear from the players, coaches and fans who were part of that historic moment.

A woman travels from France to Australia in search of her missing son.

Four people seek a more sustainable and secure future by asking the question: "What is it really like to build and live in a tiny house?"

Without a Shirt follows one crazy day in the life of two feuding brothers, Daniel and Anthony. A road trip to the country takes a turn for the worse when Daniel insists on stopping the car for a toilet break. The events that follow escalate with absurd comical results that eventually bring two brothers closer together and reinforce that fundamental rule of life that 'everything happens for a reason'.

Follows a young man working a failing farm amidst the most severe drought on record and a devastating global economic collapse. After his father committed suicide, Matthew has had to take on the responsibilities of managing the faltering sheep station, as well as caring for his younger brother and grandmother. Set against the backdrop of the harsh and unforgiving Australian bush, Matthew must protect his family and his most precious resource, water, from a rising and relentless threat.

An over-masculine brute drudges up to the urinal beside an over-childish little man. Enter competition. Enter the match.

Mt. Kilimanjaro – it’s here that World Hang Gliding Champions Bill Moyes and his son Steve defy freezing temperatures and lack of oxygen to break the World Descent Record by flying their hang gliders from the 3 mile-high peak.

New York playboy Tanner returns to his estranged father’s seaside home after 30 years, armed with a secret that threatens to unravel what’s left of their fractured relationship.

Austen Tayshus performing his stand-up comedy, recorded at the Bridge Hotel in Sydne

For seven year-old Maxine, playing with her goldfish is all a game; until somebody gets hurt.

The story of Dujuan, a 10-year-old Aboriginal boy living in Alice Springs, Australia, who is struggling to balance his traditional Arrernte/Garrwa upbringing with a state education.

When Emily's boyfriend abandons her in the night, her only way home is through an alleyway where she is terrorized by the mysterious entity Alfred J. Hemlock. After reaching the depths of her despair she finds the strength that she never suspected she had

After a deal goes wrong, three bikies, led by their ruthless leader Red, hunt down the traitor- no matter the cost.

A Nigerian refugee struggles to integrate into Australian society after escaping the clutches of Boko Haram, until he meets a woman who opens her home, and ultimately her heart, to him.

The Telegram Man explores the impact of World War II on a close-knit Australian farming community.

Explores the life and work of English journalist Robert Cox, the former editor of "The Buenos Aires Herald" daily newspaper, whose investigative reporting in the late 1970s exposed the shocking human rights crimes of Argentina's military dictators.

The 1996 made-for-television documentary focusing on the creation of the original Australian Production of 'Sunset Boulevard' and the re-opening of the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia.

When a teenage girl is desperately admitted to hospital after contracting an intense new respiratory virus, her doctor grapples with the decision to permit an emergency lung transplant at the risk of causing an outbreak.

Fifty years after the collapse of Melbourne's West Gate Bridge that took with it the lives of 35 workers, their families and the survivors share their stories of the tragedy.

A seemingly righteous exorcist is called to save a teenage girl from a violent demonic possession. As he conducts a dramatic and intense ritual, strange and unpredictable forces come into play.

An introverted man spends a day at work observing his peers rather than interacting with them, but beneath his awkward exterior, he is not at all what he seems.

A riveting story of polar exploration that investigates the motivation, psychology, science, and physical endurance that have characterized the historic heroes who have explored the frozen continent of Antarctica over the last 200 years.

Pregnant and in labour, a teenager decides the best way to get to the hospital is to buy a new car. Based on Gloria Harrison's true story.

Pun-based comedy show names are an automatic winner, and Ronny Chieng’s Chieng Reaction is a golden example of this. Coming off the back of record-breaking sold out shows at the last two Melbourne International Comedy Festivals, Chieng has had a smooth and well-deserved run into the forefront of Australian comedy.And he’s wasted no time in humorously exploiting this new-found fame - a big red sign spelling out “RONNY” complete with flashing lightbulbs serving as the backdrop for his MICF 2014 show.

Expanding into Australia's rich UFO heritage through interviews and reconstructions, the film culminates in recent investigations of extraordinary encounters.

A customer tells a cautionary tale of the dangers of public transport. Part of a series of short films animating real life conversations between a 2nd hand shop worker and their customers.

George is obsessed with Ronald Reagan and models his entire life after him.

A clever and intuitive young mobster; Gallo seeks liberation from the psychopathic Don (his Uncle Julius) and the mafia institution in which he is bound.

"I’ve done 23 years 9 months in Jail. I’ve done 10 ½ years in H Division. I’ve been stabbed 13 times in 7 difference episodes. I’ve been hit on the head with iron bars. I’ve been hit on the head with claw hammers, shot once, I’ve been run over. I’ve survived 60 serves of shock treatment in 6 months, 1 serve 3 days… I’ve had everything done to me… I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody." Fatbelly is a raw, unique and gritty portrait of Mark ‘Chopper’ Read’s life in his own words. Fatbelly recounts the most graphic and brutal stories of violence, blood, love and survival from Australia’s most notorious gangster. From mental hospitals to the infamous Pentridge division, this jaw dropping film will leave you with a different understanding of the man that is ‘Chopper’.

Chasing Asylum tells the story of Australia's cruel, inhumane treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, examining the human, political, financial and moral impact of current and previous policy.

Renowned Australian artist William Yang traces the labyrinthine web of his family history in this adaptation of his iconic live performance piece. William was born and raised in North Queensland, his grandparents having migrated from China to the Top End during the 1880s gold rush. Yet it was not until mid-life that he claimed his Chinese heritage, which had hitherto been lost to him by his complete assimilation into the Australian way of life. William's transatlantic exploration of his genealogy unites him with scores of relatives from all walks of life, some rich, but most ordinary folk with menial jobs, and most cannot speak a word of Chinese. A visual feast, Blood Links examines how the Chinese diaspora establish roots in foreign soil, and how over the generations, through intermarriage, blood is mixed; yet the intricate bonds of family remain.

Film biography of Eileen Joyce, the celebrated Australian pianist, concentrating on her childhood in the Tasmanian bush and the Kalgoorlie goldfields. Opening and closing scenes showed the pianist herself performing at a concert.

Brotherhood tells the story of two brothers of Middle Eastern descent, who live with their mother in a social housing complex, known as Housing States, in the city of Melbourne, Australia. While Ali, the older brother suffers from heroin dependence, Syed, the youngest, tries to make a different life from his brother and finds a means of escape in urban poetry.

Madaline is troubled by the recurring visions of her past. The comfort of her envious life and social position are not enough to shake the haunting memories of her brother’s accidental death that Madaline blames on herself. Nightmares haunt her with images of her brother and also begin to blur with reality. Madaline’s frail state of mind has her believing that her brother has returned to kill her. Her husband disappears and a stranger from Madaline’s past threatens her life. Suspense builds and the truth is revealed in the chilling climax – Madaline’s life will never be the same again. Returning to the home where she was raised, Madaline fights to come to grips with why she was blamed for her family's death.

For ABBA fans the journey hasn’t ended! The Swedish supergroup – Agnetha, Anna-Frid, Bjorn and Benny are back with music that never grows old.

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.

Tantra and Tantri are inseparable. When they secretly steal eggs from the family’s sacrificial offering, Tantri always gets the whites and Tantra the yolks. One day, however, the yolk is missing, as is Tantra. Her brother gravely ill and in hospital, Tantri starts slipping into magical parallel worlds, approaching the inevitable farewell through costumes, body paint and dance. When at one point Tantri’s mother washes the paint from her face, it is as if tenderly to expel the illusion that things can remain as they are. In long dream sequences and against the background of the Balinese philosophy of sekala – the seen – and niskala – the unseen – Andini relates how one ten-year-old girl deals with parting and grief.

The Djarn Djarns is a comedy-drama very much suited for young people. It is a dance film with a sports feel, so culture and sport are not in competition.

The only thing Dave Hughes is handy for is a laugh, which is handy given he calls himself a comedian. Hes made a handy name for himself on radio and TV as a funny man but live on stage is where Hughesy began (& continues to shine). Whats handy for you is that hes recorded his latest sell out show for you to watch from the comfort of your couch. DVD extras include an intimate club gig and candid at home footage of Hughesy and family.

5 people trapped in a bunker after a nuclear and biological attack are forced to make an impossible decision - either one dies or they all die.

The master Hitman "Red" is informed of a lucrative bounty that he cannot miss. But after suffering a fatal injury, he will need to adapt to complete the mission.

Burdened by the death of her single, first-generation immigrant mother, Ayana struggles to find closure. As she moves through grief and guilt, she begins a fragile process of healing.

He's in for one helluva long night!

Beckoning the Butcher explores the night Chris Shaw and his four friends summoned a spirit into their holiday house - then disappeared forever.

ECO/FEMINISM is an essay film that explores the philosophical theory, ‘ecofeminism’. The idea combines feminism and environmentalism and argues that the oppression of women and the degradation of the environment are interconnected and result from patriarchy and capitalism. This film imagines what a radical restructuring of systems, from patriarchy to matriarchy may look like, and dives into the historical roots of ecofeminism and how it is manifesting currently in climate activism.

13 year old Tony Johnson and computer wizard, is of falsely accused of setting fire to his school. He is sent to stay with his grandparents over Christmas. Tony's grandfather invents things. He has designed a game called "The Time Game"...

Jackie is 38 years old. She lives with John and they have two small children. Once she wanted to be an opera singer. Once, she had a boyfriend called Paul who married someone else. Once she travelled overseas. In the sixties she was in love with Charlie. In the seventies she sang in a band. In the eighties she makes scones with the kids. In the process of (re)presenting an ordinary woman's life this film explores questions of identity, representation and truth.

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.

What happens when Dorothy the Dinosaur meets Santa Claus? There's singing, dancing, reindeers and fun! Here's Dorothy's first animated adventure featuring Santa Claus, Washington, Dorothy, and a host of friends from the North Pole. Washington thinks Santa needs a rest and so uses a computer to sort toys for the children of the world, but things don't go as planned. It takes Captain Feathersword, Dorothy, and Santa's little helpers to sort things out. So follow these Christmas stars to a land of Yuletide magic as Dorothy meets Santa Claus.

Thanks to his 'friend' Ollie, Zac learns how to fish.

The seasons go by her window, she dreams about a boy she knew; his baby brother is now a man. A film about time, depression and a woman's need for a story.

In January 1968, the quiet life of Melbourne resident Colin Cameron was shattered following a mysterious encounter on Kew Boulevard. Obsessed with uncovering the truth, Colin documented strange phenomena and shared his experiences with those closest to him as the events grew increasingly intense and dangerous. Told through the eyes of those honouring a promise to share his story, THE MAN WHO SAW THEM ARRIVE recounts Colin’s journey, presents first-hand accounts of Australia’s most famous UFO sightings—including Westall 1966—and provides insights from leading UFO researchers. A haunting exploration of mystery, memory, and unanswered questions hidden in Melbourne’s backstreets.

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

Dan Freeman an obsessive UFO Hunter roams the Nevada desert around AREA 51 searching the skies for contact, but alone in the desert he awakens to a deeper mystery.

Jackie and Lucy - together nicknamed 'Jucy' - are 20 something best friends who do everything together. Their days are spent working at a local alternative video store serving a variety of equally emotionally disenfranchised freaks and geeks. Always on the outside looking in but never alone as long as they have each other they combat boredom with their own special brand of 'joie de vivre'. When badgered by friends and family for being in a 'womance' (the girl equivalent of a 'bromance' - codependent, weird and incapable of living a normal life), the girls decide it's time to grow up. Jackie will snag the dreamy boyfriend and Lucy will land the job of her dreams, but will growing up mean growing apart?

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.

Featuring exclusive footage from the makers of "High Performance Imports," Australia's top automotive publication covering the Japanese import scene, this video magazine takes you along for a pulse-pounding ride through furious drift and circuit battles, street drags and racing action. You'll tour the HKS factory and chat with their engineers; visit the leading vehicle workshops; track the development of the R34 Skyline project car; and much more.