Film

Our SXSW Sydney 2024 Screen Festival Panel Highlights

From the ICC to multiple UTS venues, the Palace, and beyond, the energy of Australia’s film industry was unmistakable at SXSW Sydney 2024’s Screen Festival. Here are some of our highlights from panels, interviews, and sessions featuring indie pioneers and industry giants alike. Creative folks talking candid shop What better way to open a festival…

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Film Review: Bonnard, Pierre And Marthe is as much a love story as it is a character study

Behind every great man is a great woman. Especially if that man is as shrouded in mystery and as reclusive as post-impressionist French painter and printmaker Pierre Bonnard. Bonnard, Pierre & Marthe is as much a character study as it is a love story about the decade-spanning romance between famed painter Pierre Bonnard (Vincent Macaigne)…

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Queensland director Neil McGregor explores America’s dark history in trailer for assassination documentary Hinckley: I Shot the President

On Sunday 21st of July this year, the world stopped as former US President, Donald Trump, survived an assassination attempt. The last attempted American Presidential assassination attempt was March 30, 1981 when John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate US President Ronald Reagan. This significant world event sparked global interest about history repeating itself. In Queensland, Australia,…

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Film Review: The Road to Patagonia twists and turns towards self-discovery

The Road to Patagonia opens with Matty Hannon – the director, cinematographer, and centre-man – telling how he’s headed to the top of Alaska, which if you know your American geography, is distinctly away from Patagonia, which encompasses the southern end of South America. But worry not, the title is not a metaphor nor figurative. …

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Win a double in-season pass to the chilling new horror movie Tarot

Your fate is in the cards. Thanks to Sony Pictures Australia we have 5 double in-season passes (Admit 2) to see the chilling new horror film Tarot, starring Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man: Homecoming) and Mean Girls‘ Avantika, in Australian cinemas from May 2nd, 2024. When a group of friends recklessly violates the sacred rule of Tarot…

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SXSW Interview: Director Cutter Hodierne on his crypto-meets-home invasion thriller Cold Wallet

After losing everything in a cryptocurrency scam, a ragtag team of vigilante Redditors attempt to kidnap the kingpin who screwed them over. But when the home invasion takes a turn for the worst, they become victims in a sadistic game. Directed by Sundance-awarded Best Director Cutter Hodierne, Cold Wallet is a topically relevant genre blend of…

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SXSW Interview: Writer/director Annick Blanc on Hunting Daze, the navigation of gaslighting, and always sticking to her guns

Nina, a young and headstrong exotic dancer, finds herself stranded in the far North. She convinces her recent customers, five men on a bachelor hunting trip, to put her up for a few days. In this masculine microsociety, by turns hilarious and philosophical, she starts to feel a sense of belonging she never has before. But…

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Film Review: Kung Fu Panda 4; Jack Black’s loveable Po proves a welcome return in amusing sequel

Though there was a certain sense of the story coming to a natural close in 2016’s Kung Fu Panda 3, the powers that be at DreamWorks deemed another go-around with the loveable Po (once again voiced with vigour by Jack Black) necessary, and so families are gifted with the effortless joy that is Kung Fu…

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Film Review: The Zone of Interest makes for a cruel and profound questioning of humanity’s dark underbelly

An idyllic family life juxtaposed with the genocidal holocaust horrors next door has made for one of the most gripping and intellectual cinematic gems in years.  The Zone of Interest is by far the most haunting and arresting depiction of Nazi family life and Holocaust bureaucracy you’ll get all year.  Directed by Jonathan Glazer, his…

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Uproar is an uplifting coming-of-age dramedy grounded by a sublime Julian Dennison: Brisbane International Film Festival Review

Outside of New Zealand it’s highly likely that the political clash at the centre of Hamish Bennett and Paul Middleditch‘s Uproar is one that’s never been heard of. Set in 1981, the ultimately uplifting, oft-powerful coming-of-age dramedy centres around the controversy that arose from the South African rugby team touring New Zealand at the time. …

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Pandemic “comedy” New Strains is a nightmarish chore to experience: SXSW Sydney Screen Festival Review

Whilst it’s always best to go into films with zero expectations, plot synopses and narrative outlines at least provide an idea of what audiences can expect from a storytelling perspective – however loose the product itself wants to determine as such.  For New Strains, there was the idea of this being sold as a romantic…

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Film Review: Killers of the Flower Moon is Martin Scorsese at his boldest

In many ways, Killers of the Flower Moon is a celebration of everything we love about Martin Scorsese, whether it’s the flawed gangster charm of Goodfellas or the arresting psychological nuances of Taxi Driver. Though with a budget of between $200-250 million for this epic crime western, you cannot fault this film on being a…

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Film Review: The Creator is equally brilliant as it is flawed

Unless you’re a Spielberg or a Cameron, it seems increasingly difficult to launch an original, high-concept, sizeably budgeted film with major studio backing.  So, in that regard hats must go off to director Gareth Edwards for getting The Creator off the ground and into multiplexes; extra points for doing so with a film centred on…

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The AU Review’s Best Films of 2022

It’s always an amusing statement to hear when people say that “There are just no good movies out there.” You can cry foul on 2022 being “the worst year of movies, ever” all you want – it’s considerably not true – and, perhaps, because certain blockbusters failed to wow you or due to the endless…

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Interview: Umbrella Entertainment’s Ari Harrison on Australia’s revolutionary Feature30 filmmaking competition

Have you ever had an experience or an idea that would make a great movie?  A first of its kind film competition open to everybody is hoping to turn your creativity into reality. Never been done before in Australia, Feature30 is a competition with a difference.  Not only will it reward its winner with a…

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Aussie thriller The Drover’s Wife joins SXSW Film Festival as full lineup revealed

The 2021 SXSW Film Festival has revealed its full line up for its 28th edition for SXSW Online, running March 16th-20th, 2021.  The previously announced Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, a hard-hitting documentary covering the personal and professional life of the pop star, including her fatal near-overdose, will serve as the festival’s opener, whilst…

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Film Review: A Guide to Second Date Sex proves that dating can be a joke

Often when dating and relationships are portrayed on screen they appear to be so perfect. But we all know that the reality of modern romance is quite different. A Guide to Second Date Sex is refreshing because it showcases human foibles and offers a more realistic and funny view of dating. This dramedy will appeal…

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Photo Gallery: Supanova Comic Con & Gaming Expo – Adelaide Showgrounds (03.11.19)

Another awesome weekend of pop culture, comic, gaming and cosplay rolled through Adelaide on the weekend at the 2019 Supanova Comic Con & Gaming Expo, with Supa-Star guests like John Travolta, Deborah Ann Woll, Jason Isaacs and Mark Sheppard. Take a look at some of the fun! Shot by Kerrie Geier.

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Melbourne International Documentary Film Festival Review: Boom! is a rocking trip along some sonic highways

Boom! A Film about the Sonics is a documentary that is cut from the same cloth as Searching for Sugar Man and Waiting: The Van Duren Story. You may not have heard about American group, The Sonics but chances are you’ve heard their influence through other people’s music. This film is an overwhelmingly positive one…

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Film Review: Celebration: Yves Saint Laurent (France, 2007) offers a rare look at the designer’s creative process

Most people have seen Yves Saint Laurent’s creations but how many have wondered what is going on beneath the covers? The documentary, Celebration: Yves Saint Laurent, should answer some of these questions. This French film is shot in cinéma vérité style and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion legend and his army of helpers….

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A Star Is Reborn: Why ‘remake’ is not a dirty word

No matter how Hollywood tries to sell it, remake will always be a word deemed blasphemous to cinephiles the world over.  Sure, they can throw out terms such as reboot or reimagining or revisioning, but regardless of the spin, they all refer to the same type of picture.  And because it’s one we have experienced…

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Three Australian Films Have Been Selected for the Venice Film Festival

Three films have been selected as part of the 75th Venice International Film Festival program, which will run from 29 August to 8 September, 2018. The three films selected include Jennifer Kent’s (The Babadook) highly anticipated second feature film The Nightingale, alongside two virtual reality films The Unknown Patient and Awaneva. Director Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale is…

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13 of the Coolest Film, TV & Gaming Trailers You May Have Missed at SDCC 2018

With San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) wrapped up for this year, there’s no doubt each year’s conference rules the entertainment universe with its mind blowing announcements from films, TV shows and the latest and upcoming games. So without further ado, let’s recap some of the biggest announcements you may have missed this year. FILMS First off,…

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NSW Introduces New Initiative for Up and Coming Female Directors

The Minister for the Arts Don Harwin has joined some of Australia’s leading female talent in order to announce #SheDirects, an initiative that will aim to bring more up and coming female directors to the forefront the the industry.  Iconic Australian actor and director Rachel Griffiths (Hacksaw Ridge) has jumped on board along with fellow actor,…

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Clint Eastwood’s The Mule Begins Production

Production has now officially begun for The Mule, the next project directed by critically acclaimed actor and director Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino, Unforgiven). And sadly no, there’s no relation to the Australian film of the same name. Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and Imperative Entertainment, The Mule will see Clint Eastwood in front of the…

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Kaiju fights return on a grand scale in the latest Pacific Rim: Uprising trailer

The second official trailer for Pacific Rim: Uprising has been released, and looks to bring back awesome Kaiju fights on a grand scale. Filmed right here in Australia, the sequel sees Star Wars‘ John Boyega in the role of Jake Pentecost, the son of Stacker Pentecost, played by Idris Elba in the first film. Jake is…

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National Theatre Live has done it again, this time with Hedda Gabler (In Select Cinemas from 1st April)

I officially have a new hobby – seeing any National Theatre Live film that comes to Australia. This is a genius concept that has been going on for a number of years but this particular viewing was my first time. Imagine being able to see the best of British theatre at the cinemas?! Genius I tell…

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ACMI presents ‘Screen It’ 2016 with this year’s theme revealed!

Children creatives, this one’s for you! ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) are on the lookout for young and inspired children to enter Australia’s student film competition, Screen It. This year’s theme, Mystery, will spark the creativity of school students around the country in making authentic and inventive films, animations and video games. Screen It…

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Tropfest will be shown across eight live sites in Australia

Tropfest made an announcement on Tuesday that it will be shown across eight live venues in NSW, QLD, SA and WA. The film festival is making its triumphant return on Valentines Day, Sunday 14 February 2016, making it such great news for film enthusiasts and creatives alike! With the incredible support of CGU Insurance, the…

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We have a new Spider-Man and a Director for the 2017 reboot. Yes, another one.

In what will be the third incarnation of the series since the turn of the Millenium, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have confirmed that Tom Holland will be undertaking the role of iconic superhero Spider-Man in the next anticipated film.

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