Discoveries from Australia World Cinema

A shoplifter thinks all his dreams have come true when he enters a seemingly deserted supermarket. However, he soon discovers he is not alone and getting out becomes a matter of life and death.

A woman obsessed by dogs crapping on her small piece of lawn. A pelican hungry enough to eat a small Chihuahua. A dog who enjoys dressing up in women’s clothing. And another with a penchant for rubber… Discover the wonderful world of dogs… barkers, bullies, crappers, and roamers. Meet Boris, Pebbles, Piglet, Molly and the delinquent dog, Fugly. Meet the people – the devoted dog-lovers and those less enthusiastic about the canine breed. The Wonderful World of Dogs looks at the myths and obsessions surrounding the domestic dog and their doting owners. A story about dogs who just want to be dogs and people who want their dogs to be just like people.

When King Gerlach dies, he asks Merlin the Magician to care for Baby Arthur and do his best to see that when Arthur is grown, he takes his rightful place as King. Despite Arthur's entreaties to Merlin to let him become his apprentice, Merlin insists that there are more important things in store for him. When Merlin nominates Cynthia as his new apprentice, Arthur leaves in search of his destiny. Soon after, he is captured by the evil Sir Baldrick and left in a dungeon to be devoured by a dragon. Fortunately, Cynthia, using her magic powers and guile, frees Arthur in time for him to go to Stonehenge and compete with the Knights of the Realm who try to pull the sword from the stone to become King. Of course, Arthur easily removes the sword and is crowned the new King.

Ella Havelka made history in 2013 by becoming the first Indigenous dancer at the 50-year-old Australian Ballet. In this engaging, MIFF Premiere Fund-supported world premiere, Ella – a descendant of the Wiradjuri people – charts her inspiring journey from growing up in modest circumstances as the only child of a single mother in rural Australia to gaining entry to National Ballet School, then spending formative years with the acclaimed Bangarra Dance Theatre before accepting the invitation of The Australian Ballet's artistic director David McAllister to join one of the world's foremost ballet companies.

Margaret O'Halloran is a dog trainer with a unique talent and a nose for a mystery. Now an old lady has been savaged to death, her faithful dog is the prime suspect. But Margaret smells a murderer of the two legged variety.

Provocative, funny and profoundly moving, Bastardy is the inspirational story of a self proclaimed Robin Hood of the streets. For Forty years and with infectious humour and optimism, Jack Charles has juggled a life of crime with another successful career- acting

Persephone Chase is a contract assassin with a difference. In a fond homage to 1970s drive-in action thrillers -- but set in modern-day Melbourne -- powerful criminals plot the downfall of a right-wing, devoutly religious political candidate... and each other.

Set in the vast, remote wilderness of the Indonesian archipelago and southwest Tasmania this is a story of exploration, discovery, mateship and fate. A story of how one man navigated the rogue waves in his life.

Dogs of Democracy is an essay-style documentary about the stray dogs of Athens and the people who take care of them. Author and first-time filmmaker Mary Zournazi explores life on the streets through the eyes of the dogs and peoples' experience. Shot in location in Athens, the birthplace of democracy, the documentary is about how Greece has become the 'stray dogs of Europe', and how the dogs have become a symbol of hope for the people and for the anti- austerity movement. A universal story about love and loyalty and what we might learn from animals and peoples' timeless quest for democracy.

In 1968, John Weiley shot 'Autopsy on a Dream' - a film about the Sydney Opera House detailing its construction process and the politics of Jorn Utzon's dismissal. Weiley's film was controversial; it was screened once and then he was told it had been destroyed. Forty five years later a copy was discovered in the BBC vaults by an ABC producer looking for archive footage of the Opera House. Weiley was contacted and told about a film that had no sound track. Weiley was overjoyed; for years he had kept the original sound. So began the painstaking process of restoring this record of a unique moment in Australian culture to its former glory, complete with updated voice-over from the original narrator, Bob Ellis. It is set in context by a 30 minute prologue entitled 'The Dream of Perfection'. Made by the same filmmaker, John Weiley, forty-five years on, 'Dream of Perfection' tells the story of the 1968 film - from commission to destruction, to surprise resurrection.

Follows three souls across Edo-period Japan, 1865 New South Wales and 2027 Australia, where each lifetime carries the emotional imprint of the last.

When surf crazy Brandon throws a surf mental he is sentenced to 'helping' in a home for the mentally disabled. Then enter two of the home's people. The two men realize that Brandon is there new ticket for a fun getaway. A day trip to the beach results in them meeting a mysterious waitress called Jo. A accidental murder gets them into strife, but if they want to live they will have to stay under the radar.

Four friends dare to get locked in the National Gallery and discover only 25 per cent of art in the Australian collection is by women. Raiding the vaults, they uncover forgotten works of art and scandalous tales of sexism.

In 1194 England, it is a time of rebellion as King Richard is away fighting in the Crusades, and his evil brother Prince John has employed the malicious Sheriff of Nottingham to take advantage of the people. It is up to Robin Hood and his Merry Men, Little John, Will Scarlett, and Friar Tuck, as they take on the scheming Sheriff in their defense of the poor and powerless.

Peter and Marcus, like any good couple, do everything together, including going to the gym… so where exactly does gym bunny Jeremy fit in? Working it out may not be that easy.

Australian Short Film directed by Ian Stocks

Charmian Clift was one of the finest writers Australia has ever produced, with her popular touch which led hundreds of thousands of readers eagerly anticipating her weekly Sydney Morning Herald newspaper column. Her life imitated art with all the hallmarks of a compelling novel. She had movie star looks, a brilliant writing career and a passionate, creative and tumultuous marriage to fellow Australian writer, George Johnston. Yet the sacrifice of security for the bohemian romance of life on the Greek island of Hydra with its famous friends, including Leonard Cohen; and the parties, the drinking, the love affairs and poverty, led to her early death.

The world is full of war and where can we hope to escape it? Home? - Certainly not by a stretch of this little computer animation. A lone kidney bean is being given the rough treatment by two much larger, bullying lima beans. In a number of fancy manoeuvres the kidney bean tricks the bullying two into believing they’ve killed him. When the kidney bean reaches his kin a battle of revenge is planned. The plan is foiled once ensconced in battle by the true ruler - the one who cooks beans in the kitchen. The battle scenes are stylistically similar to and remniscent of the battle scenes in the paintings of Australian artist, John Bracks, where he used pencils and decks of cards symbolically and as structural elements to recreate battle scenes.

This film tells the staggering story of Melbourne's Alex Kurzem, a young boy who escaped the massacre of his family's shtetl in Belarus in 1941. He survived in the woods during one of the coldest winters on record, only to be captured by a Latvian battalion. Instead of killing him, they took pity on him and gave him a new name, adorned him with a uniform and a gun, and made him their child mascot, “Hitler's youngest soldier.” Building on the international bestselling book ‘The Mascot’ and an award-winning ABC documentary, the film goes above and beyond, tracing Alex’s journey to Australia with his adopted Latvian family, and his eventual life in the Melbourne suburb of Altona.

King of the computer nerds Ben, transforms himself into a sonnet reading, serenading, sword fighting, cross-dressing Shakespearean Love Machine, to woo the girl of his dreams.

A woman is trapped inside her apartment by an ancient demon as a policeman is in a race against time to save her.

Guided by four musicians from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Anatomy of String Quartet takes audiences on an intimate journey through the rehearsal and performance of an iconic piece of string music.

An engrossing portrait of the rise and untimely demise of David McComb, the virtuosic frontman of Australian rock band The Triffids.

A woman's mental state unravels when her partner's mother comes to visit, bringing with her a gift that could have horrifying consequences.

When a hotshot public servant is sent to a remote Aboriginal community to prepare for the Prime Minister’s visit, he quickly learns the true meaning of Welcome to Country.

Five teenagers, Chris, Kai, Nic, Alex and Katherine, explore the Australian wilderness to see if they can capture a ghost that science-fiction nerd Nic has read an article about. The group's teenage antics and increasingly heated arguments are interrupted when the innocent and unsuspecting Katherine disappears into the bush.

Canberra, the National Capital of Australia, is a city which has been planned; a place where modern living is enriched by a lovely setting. But the hustling young city of today is expanding and developing, and there is emerging the pattern of the proud city of tomorrow.

Like an antipodean version of Romeo and Juliet, it emerges that Warri and Yatungka became the last nomads because they had married outside their tribal laws and eloped to the most inaccessible of regions. In 1977 the land was stricken by a severe drought and their tribal elders mounted a search for them with the help of a party of white men led by Dr Bill Peasley and one of their own number, a childhood friend named Mudjon. The film takes Dr Peasley back into the desert to relive his momentous journey with Mudjon and culminates with poignant archival footage of the elderly couple found naked and starving.

The world is a blazing atomic hell. Civilisation is dying in agony... What do you do? ...THROW A PARTY! The Third World War has happened. Bombs are dropping everywhere, even Elwood, Melbourne, Australia. In the ruins that follow, three survivors find a bomb shelter. Only to find that the survivors in there are having a party.

It was an ordinary day when successful film producer, Megan Turner, and her director husband, David, were flagged down by a goodlooking highway patrol officer who seemed friendly. WITHOUT WARNING is the story of sexual pursuit and intimidation that almost destroys the Turner's marriage and, in the end, leads to violence and murder.

bastard hybrid of a short film/music video chronicling a breakup in six parts

The story of Rick, a washing-machine serviceman, and his relationships with two very different women.

During the nuclear-charged 1960s, the KGB was active in sleepy Australian suburbia. For two years, the country’s security service, ASIO, secretly filmed meetings between a senior KGB officer, Ivan Skripov, and his British-born agent. Unknown to Skripov, she was a double agent - code name "Sylvia".​ Sylvia’s final rendezvous with an unknown "KGB illegal" operative held the promise of exposing a network of Soviet spies that had infiltrated the British atomic and rocketry facilities in South Australia.

Kat gets an unexpected call from her ex, saying he’s coming to her band's gig that night. With this on her mind, she sets out for the evening ahead.

Upon completing his six years in jail, after taking the wrap for his brother Chris's crime, Rick finds his family in financial hardship and he is unable to acquire a job to help provide. In the hopes of finding financial freedom for their family, Rick is lured by Chris into a uniquely well devised and low risk method of bank robbing, and the boys quickly become successful career criminals. Their success is short lived as Rick is unaware that his older brother stole this full-proof method from another career criminal, who is now demanding full compensation, drawing the brothers into a high-stakes conflict for their freedom, family, the money, and redemption.

Outsiders is the behind-the-scenes look at the Western Bulldogs' fairytale and ground-breaking journey to the 2016 AFL Premiership.

Early feature film by Ian Pringle

An experimental short film exploring fragile masculinity, small town mentality and cultural confusion, following a young Australian man on a spirit quest for significance and identity.

In this movie version of "Bellbird" (1967) a reporter, Philip Henderson stirs up the town further when they are already suffering with a drought.

A white authoress, looking for a story in the outback, is kidnapped by an Afghan slaver, betrothed to a white jungle-man, and menaced by a jealous half-caste rival, a hostile witch-doctor, his crazed-killer son, and opium smugglers!

Charlie works as a dishwasher in a high-end Sydney restaurant, where one of her coworkers regularly ridicules and belittles her creativity. When her vindictive colleague is struck by karma, Charlie finally has a chance to express herself.

Kiki, a wealthy socialite, confides in her best friend Maxine that her husband is cheating on her, and is in danger of losing her rather large fortune. The two women make a deal to uncover the truth, but not all is as it seems. Throw in a gigolo, a pornstar and lashings of camp and you are in for the funniest, stupidest, campest ride of your life.

Sammy is a teenager with disenfranchised violent men all around him. Kate watches Sammy from across the hall of their commission flats. This is the story of their inevitable demise. Based on the creator child abuse and funded through screen Australia diversity fund.

A group of young girls and gender-fluid youths discover the empowering strength of music through a GIRLS ROCK! camp in Melbourne.

Socially isolated dream-programmer Norman is desperately and secretly in love with his new boss, Claudia. When promoted to program a dream for a high profile client, Norman inadvertently bungles the operation and is forced to share his own fantasy dream involving Claudia. When the lines between dream and reality begin to blur, Norman questions if he is in fact dreaming or is stuck in his client's dream.

A poor father lives with his blind son, dog and sheep. When he can't find any food, he is forced to make a hard decision.

The narrative follows a man who, after being released from prison on a parole document known as a "ticket of leave", struggles to reform his life. He faces social discrimination as an ex-convict and is constantly harassed by former criminal associates who attempt to coerce him into participating in a bank robbery. He must fight to clear his name, evade his former gang, and prove his intent to live a reformed, honorable life

A young oriental girl, Liz, awakes her spiritual powers and transform into a warrior woman. In the process, her lost soul is awoken through true love and inner strength, and finally, confronts the forces of evil.

A whimsical film about Wyatt Kettling - a very ordinary man with hidden talents...

Marty and Moog are back in Japan to pick up another car that they've bought off the internet. This time, they'll be road tripping to Hokkaido to meet up with someone very special. With all new original soundtrack and stunning cinematography, this 90 minute feature film explores Japan in all its glory, and showcases what Mighty Car Mods does best!

In this animated adventure for the whole family, Easter is right around the corner, and three rabbits -- Flip Rabbit, Bitsy Bunn, and Buck -- are looking forward to celebrating the holiday with their good friend, the Easter Bunny. But the Easter Bunny is nowhere to be found, and Flip and his pals learn that the Bunny has been abducted by the evil Beau Rat and his partner in crime, J.J. Can Flip, Bitsy, and Buck rescue the Easter Bunny in time to save the holiday?

In the rough and tumble of 1980s Melbourne, the Passenger must navigate a conflict with seasoned underworld figure Heath Cox. What starts out as a simple objective alongside his mentor, the Driver, quickly spirals into a bizarre, hilarious and hair-raising series of events that lead the Passenger into a crossroads in his burgeoning criminal career.

Artists and the military might seem strange bedfellows, but painters, sculptors, photographers and set designers have played a critical but little-known role in modern warfare. Despite resistance and often ridicule, artists were recruited in both the first and second world wars to devise ways to protect troops and deceive the enemy by using their artistic skills and intimate knowledge of perspective, illusion, shadow and movement. Inspired by nature and influenced by the modernist art movements of their day, camoufleurs created bizarre decoys, dummy tanks and elaborate sets to conceal military installations. They painted thousands of ships in bold, arresting stripes and patterns to confuse enemy submarines. When war went hi-tech there was no room for artists, but over the past few decades artists have reclaimed camouflage for their work.

Long-haired, loud, and a real long way from home. The hip thrusting glam metal band with an image problem has come to a part of the world that suffers the same. The Middle East. Their mission: make music videos, and get out alive. The band are furious though when they learn that management has given the job of directing their videos to a relatively inexperienced Jordanian film maker by the name of Anas. Dealing with the band's egos, tantrums and paranoia, Anas struggles to help the band create the right image for their new songs. It all makes for a volatile but hilarious mix. The band soon falls apart though and Anas faces even greater pressure to pull the video clips off. For as he knows too well; in a world that rocks, image makes the difference.

Two Japanese salary men who's lives literally transform when one of them eats a live puffer fish in a sushi bar.

Australia's hottest children's band presents another full-length video that's bursting with great music, amusing antics, and a fanciful story. Two mischievous "Wiggly Gremlins" have singled out the Wiggles and their own "Network Wiggles" television studio for some serious mischief in Whoo Hoo! Wiggly Gremlins. When the big red car breaks down on the way to the studio, Jeff, Murray, Greg, and Anthony have to get out and push. Meanwhile, Captain Feathersword finds leading the preparations for broadcast at the television studio unduly difficult--and most perplexing. After a truly wacky day, the Gremlins are discovered and the Wiggles' world returns to "normal." Ten catchy songs like "Dressing Up" and "Lights, Camera, Action" punctuate the events of the day, and there are lots of fun antics, colorful sets, crazy costumes, and even a glimpse into some of the magical tricks of television. This presentation offers a nice blend of story and song and is sure to captivate children ages 1 to 7.

Pandora, a Pagan child orphaned by the witch trials, finds an unlikely love in Silene, the church-bound daughter of a vindictive pastor.

Flume first made headlines in 2012 with his self-titled debut album, a glitchy mix of R&B and ambient-leaning electronica that formed his signature sound. His remixes of hits by Lorde and Disclosure made him a global superstar. Here, the Australian DJ/producer lets fans in on the agonizing process of writing his second LP, 2016's Skin, a star-studded, mold-breaking album that won a GRAMMY® Award.

Take one innocent Japanese girl and an Australian lesbian, sprinkle liberally with sushi to taste.

Caught between social-media backlash and supporting his ex-partner's latest exhibition, a once radical artist must face a reckoning for them both.