North American Premiere
During Australia’s apocalyptic bushfires in the Black Summer of 2019-2020, unprecedented destruction hit the countryside, destroying land, animals, and homes. While exploring the environmental causes and potential solutions, there’s a focus on the importance of the people at the heart of the matter. Many of the affected regions relied on volunteers—which comprised 90% of Australia’s firefighters—who put their lives and livelihoods on the line to save their communities. Celebrating the firefighters’ heroism and selfless courage, directors Justin Krook and Luke Mazzaferro then look at the aftermath, exploring the mental trauma and emotional toll of surviving where friends and family didn’t. Despite devastation and inner strife, there’s a hopeful recognition of camaraderie and duty between strangers as people work together to rebuild and recover from the wreckage. The film is a clarion call about the increasingly dangerous effects of climate change, and the communal spirit and bravery of those who stand together in the midst of a crisis serve as an inspiration.
Q&A Oct 3 & Oct 5
Media Partner
Australia
2021
English
Book Tickets
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Whispers in the Woods
A luxuriant, healing immersion in nature with ravishing wildlife photography, this is the cinematic equivalent of "forest bathing," a trip deep into the Vosges, France, with photographer Vincent Munier (The Velvet Queen), his father and his son.
King Arthur's Night
John Bolton's film of Niall McNeil and Marcus Youssef's musical staging recreates Camelot at Harrison Hot Springs. It's a self-referential piece which joyfully reframes a classical narrative through the prisms of disability, inclusivity, and imagination.
Vivaldi and Me
Venice, 1716. Composer Antonio Vivaldi teaches at an orphanage for abandoned girls, and establishes a deep rapport with violinist Cecelia — but their collaboration is threatened by her impending arranged marriage.
Rose of Nevada
This disconcerting film from the director of Bait and Enys Men feels like a message from another era: two men sign on to a Cornish fishing trawler, but when they return to port they are welcomed into the community 30 years before they left...
Camp
Reeling from two devastating tragedies, Emily (Zola Grimmer) takes refuge at a summer camp for troubled youth, where she has been offered a position as counsellor. She finds friendship, but also something more unexpected, something truly troubling...
Credits
Executive Producer
Rob Galluzzo
Producer
Michael Hilliard, Camilla Mazzaferro, Casey Ventura
Screenwriter
Justin Krook, Luke Mazzaferro, Nick Worthington
Cinematography
Josh Flavell
Editor
Scott Walmsley
Original Music
Matteo Zingales
Directors
Justin Krook
Documentary filmmaker Justin Krook received a Grammy nomination for his first feature, the Netflix original I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (2016), which examines the life and career of DJ Steve Aoki. His subsequent feature Machine (2019) premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
Filmography: The Human Experiment (2004); Echoboom (2006); I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (2016); Machine (2019)
Luke Mazzaferro
Luke Mazzaferro is a writer, producer, director, and a founding partner of FINCH, an Australian independent film production company. His feature documentary Machine (2019) premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival. He has previously worked with director Patrick Hughes on a variety of projects, including the modern western Red Hill (2010).