It’s hard to believe that Kostadinos Hatzivalsamis’ new film Tracy is the first narrative feature made about Cyclone Tracy — the tragic and devastating natural disaster that struck Darwin on Christmas Day in 1974. Considering Australia’s adoration for films based on true events (Chopper, Red Dog and Rabbit-Proof Fence come to mind), and considering the…
Melbourne-based actor and filmmaker Sarah Nicolazzo makes a powerful feature lead debut in Adrian Ortega’s family drama Westgate. Set in 1999, the film follows Netta, a mother whose world is crumbling as she struggles to keep her promises and confront her past. It’s a raw and emotional story about love, loss, and resilience in which…
Welcome to the latest episode of the Cinema Australia Podcast. This episode is a little different from usual, as it features two interviews originally recorded for my radio segment on 2RRR and the Community Radio Network. I thought I’d also publish them here for your listening pleasure. It’s also worth mentioning that I’ve been quite…
There’s no other way to say it: in terms of quality, 2025 has been a lacklustre year for bigger-budget, government-funded feature films in Australia. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve seen some great commercial films in general release and on the festival circuit, like Birthright, We Bury the Dead, Ellis Park and Beast of War, which…
With an acting career spanning three decades across film, television, and theatre, Australian screen icon Susie Porter needs no introduction. Beloved for her performances in acclaimed television series such as East West 101, Puberty Blues, and Wentworth, as well as in films like Paradise Road, Welcome to Woop Woop, and Two Hands opposite the late…
With four major film and television projects under his belt this year, 2025 is officially shaping up to be the year of Mark Coles Smith. On the small screen, Mark has impressed audiences as journalist Justin Guthrie in the Netflix megahit Apple Cider Vinegar, and once again stepped into the famous customised Akubra of Detective…
Three bloody and brutal shark horror films have been released in Australia this year, all putting their own spin on the well-explored sub-genre. First, we were treated to Matthew Holmes’ excellent period piece Fear Below, which sees a ragtag team of 1940s pearl divers go head-to-head with an aggressive bull shark while trying to retrieve…
It’s been more than two decades since Kate Woods made her feature debut with the beloved Australian classic Looking for Alibrandi. Since then, Woods has been busy in the United States, directing episodes of acclaimed series including The Lincoln Lawyer, Law & Order: Organised Crime, The Umbrella Academy, Bosch: Legacy and The Lost Symbol. In…
Welcome to the latest episode of the Cinema Australia Podcast. In this episode, I’m joined by the inspiring Peter Skinner to discuss his debut feature film, Two Ugly People. There’s not much point in me gushing here about how much I love this film, because I do enough of that throughout this interview. But I…
I’m a sucker for a great two-hander, and Australia makes so many of them. But how many two-handers have you seen in which the two leads each share an additional role — a third character? That’s what we get with Samuel Van Grinsven’s excellent and atmospheric sophomore feature film, Went Up the Hill. The film…
Cinema Australia 