Discoveries from Australia World Cinema

After bungling his suicide attempt, a bankrupt man accidentally embarks on a career of crime. In search of condoms, he becomes involved in a bank robbery.

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.

The Queen's maiden visit to Australia in 1954 marked the end of one era and the dawn of another. It was post-depression, post WWII, and pre TV, and Australians came in their millions to bask in the presence of a monarch.

One kid wakes up to a perfect day where nothing bad happens to him, whereas another kid wakes up on the same day but everything around him goes bad

An investigation into the secret worldwide organization of Neurocam. Almost a million people are involved with Neurocam yet no-one really knows what the point of it is. WTF is Neurocam?

When a disabled teenager fears she will never find love, she enlists her friends to become her mentors in the unpredictable world of dating and discovers that love can come in unexpected ways and different forms.

Desperate for power, ambitious tech nerd Robbie is keen to hack into her high school’s anonymous gossip page to garner popularity. Robbie enlists her loyal friend Ruth to help, but as tensions grow between Ruth’s moral compass and Robbie’s unconscionable actions, Ruth reveals a secret that blows their project (and friendship) wide open.

'Authentic' is a portrait of a man desperately trying to find meaning - or, perhaps, escape - in the compulsive pursuit of climax. In his quest for satisfaction, he either does not see his real desires or ignores it deliberately; but it all changes when the 'Right One' steps in.

A stylized autobiography of the insides of a horror geek's brain and the dilemma of having a family, that would never want to be involved. Or silly exploitation fun disguised as art. You decide.

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

In the late 1800s, two Solomon Islander siblings, Kiko (16) and Rosa (24), were kidnapped from their Pacific island home and forced to work on a sugar cane plantation in Queensland. In a world where exploitation of Pacific Islanders for cheap labour is legislated and conditions for islanders are akin to slavery, Rosa struggles to keep an eye on her spirited young brother as he journeys into adulthood.

"Immersion the movie" is a journey of what is surfing now. 7 years in the making, Immersion features some of surfing's greatest talents and personalities and takes you to some of the world's most isolated, notorious and picturesque surfing locations - Australia, Hawaii, Fiji, Tahiti. This film captures mind-blowing swell events that made history and glue the viewer to its seat. You will travel following the footsteps of the film maker, Tim Bonython, and will embark on a memorable journey. Each sequence has a purpose and a story to tell. Immersion is an intense sight and sound experience for surfing enthusiasts and ocean lovers of all tastes, generation and walks of live.

Smokedog goes about his day.

A short animated series by Dave Carter - Victims and psychos with social problems.

This is the story of the invention of penicillin and the scientists behind the work. The main character, Howard Florey, races against time to create his magic bullet that will ultimately save the lives of thousands of soldiers during the second world war and win him the Nobel prize. It is a story of intrigue, suspense and bitter rivalry, set mainly in Oxford, England during World War II.

Recovering from a broken leg, a romance-obsessed loner finds herself swept up in a passionate long-distance love affair. Richard is perfect in every way, except that he may be a scammer.

A swimming instructor is taking a class when a young girl's scream echoes throughout the public pool. Parents rush to pull their children out of the pool, assure them everything’s okay, and then flock to hurl accusations at the most likely subject… the one remaining person in the pool.

On the 20 year anniversary of the release of Powderfinger's seminal hit album, Internationalist, the band reflects on the creation of the record that rocketed them to fame.

In the small town of Kalgoorlie Western Australia, five young adults live together in a small townhouse when suddenly Kat is forced to make a decision changing her life forever.

Over the course of one day, a single mother in Melbourne’s working-class west must draw on all of her resources as she confronts the ghosts of her past.

In the vast, little-understood wilderness of Australia’s Cape York, fortune-hunters hide amongst the mangroves and the crocs, seeking to bend the ancient laws of nature to their will. When a ten-year-old boy and his father vanish while checking their shark nets, it unravels a dynastic alliance between mighty fishing clans. A mother and son are accused of murder and a love triangle gone horribly wrong raises questions of guilt and complicity that ripple out far beyond the alleged killers.

A retired world champion fighter is lured to a secret location in an effort to rescue his abducted wife. He is now a part of their game. He is a part of the show. Fight, to live. Lose, you die. Once you check in, there is no way home.

Brock: Over the Top is a feature length documentary that not only chronicles the extraordinary life of Australia’s greatest racing car driver, Peter Brock, but peels away the surface to reveal the profoundly human story behind the legend. This film is a cinematic, thrilling yet intimately personal portrait of a life lived on the racing track and in the public eye. Using a treasure trove of rare archival material coupled with candid interviews with the key characters in Peter Brock’s life including his family, his partners, and closest colleagues, this film tells the epic story of Brock's early obsession with cars, his hard won ascension to the top, his incredible record-breaking victories at Bathurst, his various professional and personal controversies, and his ultimate, tragic death on the race track.

In rural Ghana, Clara faces the challenges of teaching, as her students discover the happiness of having wheels.

In a stab-happy world, a sad outcast wrestles with his demons. The Story of Bubbleboy is a film about being trapped by the past and redeemed by the future.

A plasticene animated film about a lonely lighthouse, a craggy old lighthouse keeper and a mysterious dark figure that moves in the fog. A delightful song ends this tale of unrequited love.

Betrand believes he is knight, guarding a magical forest with the aid of his trusty goblin sidekick, Fretel. Cassie is an ordinary schoolgirl who dreams of being a pirate. When the two meet, a clash of swords and a battle of wills ensue.

This time High Performance Imports visits Ebisu Circuit for the draft matsuri, tours the Veilside factory and attends some drag meetings.

'dust: the road to where?' is a documentary uncovering the recent success of the band dust, based in Newcastle, NSW. Viewing the ups and downs of the band and their outlook on the newly announced European tour.

In the picture-book town of Collector, a young girl and her gang of rogue environmentalists are trying to save the planet as the world goes into lockdown. The main target of their rebellion… the girl’s very own father.

Hailed as one of the most influential composers of his generation, Max Richter presents his record-breaking eight-hour, 31-track Sleep album in full for the first time in front an Australian audience.

The Sailor washes up on the shore and is hit with violent and libellous accusations of gang affiliations. The Sailors drink hearty ales and enter a pop music competition. The Kid pines for suburb exploration.

When Optometrist Alana discovers her daughter has a rare inherited eye disease, she must look into her past to realize her vision for the future. A judo athlete with a vision impairment halfway across the world may hold the answers she is searching for, but old truths threaten to derail the mission and Alana’s marriage. Can she save her daughter’s sight without losing everything else she holds dear?

Rare documentary chronicling Keith Haring's visit to Australia in 1984, including working and painting at the National Gallery of Victoria and the New South Wales Art Gallery.

A shy teenager attempts to manipulate a game of seven minutes in heaven so he can confess his feelings to the boy he is infatuated with.

Hosted by Kitty Flanagan.

17 yr old Jasmine struggles to come to terms with her fathers death. She and her best friend Skye are left to take care of their younger siblings Zac, Blake and Eva when their mother's Sandy and Katherine decide to go on a girls night out to give Sandy a breather. Jasmine and Skye take the kids to the notoriously haunted Quarantine station to research a school assignment where they find out more about a resident ghost; Jolene Denman, AKA the girl in the pink dress. In an attempt to scare the boys, they pretend to evoke the spirit of the troubled girl but when things start going terribly wrong they begin to realize that their actions have had serious consequences. Jasmine and Jolene have a fateful connection. That night as Jasmine's behavior becomes increasingly concerning, Jasmine's boyfriend Cameron and Skye discover that the kids have gone missing.

A raw journey through occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, this film profiles Palestinian life under Israeli aggression, exposing Australia’s complicity and media bias.

A woman is forced to confront her elderly husband’s physical deterioration when they meet to sign their divorce papers.

A young man spirals into a deep depression after the death of his former lover.

An animated portrayal of a traditional Indonesian farming calendar based on celestial observation and cycles of natural phenomena.

A short film by Edwin Mcgill.

A collaboration between Soda_Jerk and The Avalanches.

Jamie is a 26-year-old musician, which isn't as cool as you'd think. When his band breaks up, he's left with no money, no career, and no girlfriend. Now he teaches piano at a soul-destroying music school. Will he take a risk and follow his dreams? Or will he surrender to his new-found unhappiness and play it safe?

A montage of a Nigerian athletics meeting cut to music by Okoli Obazo

A short teasing a Wyrmwood TV series that never got made

Down on his luck and soon to be divorced, a troubled man is convinced by his best friend to seek solace in revenge.

In order to preserve Latvian traditions in Australia, it is necessary to want to live with them on a daily basis. This film preserves the memory of the rich traditions of the Australian Latvian Arts Festival and delves into the complexities of what it means to be an Australian Latvian.

Whether you are a Christian, atheist, or member of another faith, it's impossible to ignore the impact that Christianity has had on Western civilization. But most people don't actually know how Christianity began. In this lighthearted but factual film, we tell the "true" story of early Christianity. An honest attempt to piece together a very complex and fascinating story that everyone will enjoy.

Ayers Rock is examined in the light of its ancient human and animal associations. It is seen under various light effects which create different colour and texture impressions. The timelessness of the monolith is suggested by negative colour, the result of using fine-grain Eastmancolour print stock in the camera, a slow speed material which required the intense Central Australian light for adequate exposure. A half-speed recording of the local bird call and insects contributes to the sense of cross eras. Human perception of time, colour and sound is questioned. As Einstein said: 'The distinction between past, present and future is only an illusion, even if a stubborn one.'

‘The Bridge’ follows a young woman who hears a mysterious phone ringing in the forest and follows it into a surreal world, where inspiration resides but cannot manifest. It is a meditation on the creative act as a passage between fantasy and reality; a concept I was very much in touch with throughout the process of manifesting this film.

Singled [Out] tells the story of five educated women in four corners of the world: Jules in Melbourne, Manu in Barcelona, Shu and Yang in Shanghai, and Melek in Istambul -they all travel solo in a world where pairing up is the norm. Together with the voices of some well-known experts in the areas of sociology, law and demography, the film unveils modern love in the era of choice, and is a journey to the heart of being a single woman today.

"Australia Diary" lives up to it's name! This video documents Momoko's stay in Australia for a period of 10 days. During this time, she works with her production crew on a number of short productions and promotional material, including "Those eyes are a little naughty!"

Three versions of a woman – bride to be (virgin), dominatrix (whore), and actress playing Joan of Arc (saint) – are shown. Each is dissatisfied with her place in the world.

Acclaimed Australian journalist Ray Martin and remarkable Australians return to the epicentre of the tragedy, uncovering incredible stories of hope and resilience.

A daughter worries about her mother's abusive boyfriend and decides to do something about it.

After a lonely 12 year old boy stumbles upon a book that gives him the power to control his life and make his miraculous wishes come to existence, he realises what is truly important about life and destiny.

Mike the Trike is back for vengeance many years after Robert was killed. Think John Wick, but the dog is a tyre and John Wick is a tricycle.

Three Sydney-based creatives reflect upon the experiences and influences that shape personal style, exploring the intersection between fashion and individual storytelling.