Writer, director and actor Davo Hardy and co-star David Charlie, a Perth native, will be attending the Q&A screening on March 5th 2026

Renegade independent cinema, like Davo Hardy’s erotic dramedy Mothers, Lovers and Others, is generally not regarded as ‘safe’ for winning the favour of film festivals. This unconventional, dialogue-heavy melodrama opens at an orgy, contains explicit sex scenes and juggles multiple plotlines for a solid 135-minute runtime.

Around the quirky ensemble cast of unknown actors, there is wall-to-wall confronting subject matter, handled with unapologetic honesty that will challenge the mainstream cinema-going public.

At the end of last year, when the contenders for the 2026 AACTAs were presented for members-only viewing, Mothers, Lovers and Others had the distinction of being the most balls-to-the-wall film on offer; uncompromisingly separate from the three dozen other titles. Though this did not result in a nomination, it was the third film in a row that Davo has put before the academy, cementing his reputation as an auteur in the Australian filmmaking industry.

Despite its provocative content, Mothers, Lovers and Others has still managed to find its niche.

The UK-based Maverick Movie Awards has recently announced its recipients for 2025, honouring the film and its creator with a Best Screenwriting Award, alongside nominations for Best Feature and Best Direction.

Closer to home, the Central Coast Film Festival, in New South Wales, screened Mothers, Lovers and Others to an eclectic audience of arthouse cinema lovers, already pumped from the Q&A screening of Gillian Armstrong’s My Brilliant Career, which immediately proceeded it.

Most recently, the Perth Queer Film Festival has announced Mothers, Lovers and Others to be included in its prestigious lineup for March 2026, complete with a live screening and Q&A session with the ever-provocative filmmakers, enthusiastically presented by the festival’s artistic director, Mark Reid.

In many ways, Davo Hardy’s career trajectory is quintessential proof that independent cinema is a fertile place for creators to explore their controversial and deviant subject matter, striving for authenticity over ‘safe’ commercial appeal. While he has found considerable international success, Australian audiences have been slow to embrace the indie storyteller in their midst. Perhaps this is the long-awaited turning point.

When asked about the philosophy behind his work, Davo Hardy has been quoted as saying; “In order to achieve high critical acclaim, one must be highly criticised. And in order to be outstanding, one must be brave enough to stand out.”

Tickets to the Perth Queer Film Festival, including the Mothers, Lovers and Others Q&A screening are available here.

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