Welcome to the latest episode of the Cinema Australia Podcast. Australia really does punch above its weight when it comes to documentary filmmaking. Over the past 18 months alone, this country has produced a number of inspiring, world-class documentaries that sit comfortably on the world stage. Documentaries like Floodland, Yurlu | Country, In the Trenches,…
The WA Made Film Festival has officially announced the return of its Get Smart! Presented by Buy West Eat Best smartphone filmmaking competition, along with the official theme for 2027. Get Smart! Presented by Buy West Eat Best invites established filmmakers, independent filmmakers, students, and the general public to submit a smartphone masterpiece to be…
Tim Nathan’s BIFA and Bafta qualifying short film Thoughts & Prayers is now available to stream via Directors Notes. You can also watch it below. The digital premiere follows a successful film festival run, premiering at SXSW London, and Official Selection at Bolton International Film Festival, St Kilda Film Festival, CinefestOZ and Short Com Comedy…
The Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival has announced the official selection of short films screening throughout the festival in 2026. The Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival Short Film Competition is geared to independent filmmakers from around Australia. This exceptional showcase we will see two programs: The best short films from around Australia, and new films by…
Australian filmmaker Dean Francis has never been interested in playing it safe. His latest feature, Body Blow, is a bold and unapologetic neo-noir thriller that draws inspiration from the provocative erotic thrillers of the 1990s while carving out a distinctive identity of its own. Set against the neon-lit backdrop of Sydney’s gay nightlife scene, the…
Australian production company Far From Everything Films has officially greenlit its next feature film, Napoleonic, a large-scale, high-concept found footage horror feature that will see twin sisters Jennifer van Gessel and Janine van Gessel direct together for the first time. Currently in pre-production, casting is underway ahead of filming in Sydney, Australia. Backed by international…
A new Australian documentary is set to take audiences on a journey from the remote landscapes of Australia to the edge of space, exploring one of humanity’s biggest challenges: can we overcome the limits of our bodies to become a spacefaring species? Outback to Orbit follows astronaut-in-training Celene Shimmen as she undertakes groundbreaking research into…
Brayden Lewtas’ new short film Flathead has been released via the social media star’s Cinema Council YouTube channel. Directed by Lewtas and written by Jesse Bouma, the filmmakers have opted for a direct-to-audience model that is increasingly reshaping independent filmmaking, sharing the film with Cinema Council’s loyal online community which has amassed over 200,000 followers…
Perth writer-director-producer Annabel Maclean and producer Naz Mantoo have announced the crowdfunding launch of darkly comedic horror short, Mr. Big Hands, marking Maclean’s debut in the director’s chair. The campaign earned $10,000 in its first week with pledges open until June 26, 2026, at 12:15am AWST. Mr. Big Hands is a supernatural horror about a…
Stan, in association with BYUtv, the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF), and Screen Australia today announced that the enchanting new family feature film Scales has officially swum into production on the Queensland coast. Set against the picturesque backdrop of coastal Queensland, Scales is an uplifting sun drenched modern mermaid fable exploring self-acceptance, friendship, and the courage it takes to…
Filmmaker Aarushi Chowdhury follows up her recent short film Clown with a new, darkly funny and sharply observed short, Phorid, a story that explores self-help culture, masculinity, and the desperate search for validation. Set within the world of motivational books, social media influence, and personal growth gurus, Phorid follows Blair (Jesse Vogelaar), a struggling self-help…
Today, Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) offers its first look at the 2026 program, announcing 25 films and special events, among them six MIFF Premiere Fund titles, a selection of 17 international and local highlights and special live events, many of which will make their Australian premiere at this year’s 74th edition. Running 6–23 August across Naarm,…
Australians have always had a unique way of speaking. From our slang and laid-back attitude to the unspoken rules that make up everyday life, it can be a difficult culture to understand from the outside looking in. That’s the idea at the heart of How to Talk Australians, the new feature comedy from filmmaker Tony…
Written and directed by Jack Johnston, and starring Sophie Reynolds, Sandy Keayes, Cameron Mighell, Nicholas Vincent and Kira Nelson, Everything Grows in Eden follows a young woman who promises to take her suicidal best friend to an alternative retreat but when their volatile mutual friend joins the trip, an unexpected detour to a local commune…
Imagine a world without cancer… Conquering Breast Cancer is a compelling social impact film that inspires us to do just that. Asking: Can Australia rise to the challenge of conquering breast cancer? In a country where breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the most common cancer among women. Breast cancer is often seen as…
Cinema Australia 