Documentary

EOS: Easter in Art

Shot on location in Jerusalem, United States and throughout Europe, the film explores the different ways artists have depicted the Easter story through the ages and thus depicts the history of us all.

Citizen K

The strange case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky — once believed to be the wealthiest man in Russia — who rocketed to prosperity and prominence in the 1990s, served a decade in prison, and became an unlikely martyr for the anti-Putin movement.

In Search of Chopin

The latest in British documentary filmmaker Phil Grabsky's In Search Of series, looking at the life of Polish pianist and composer: Frédéric François Chopin, whose grave in Paris remains a place of pilgrimage and whose music continues to sell out concert halls worldwide.

The Leunig Fragments

A revealing documentary portrait of Michael Leunig: Australian cartoonist, writer, painter, philosopher, poet, and playful provocateur.

For Sama

A love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of Waad al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while cataclysmic conflict rises around her. Her camera captures incredible stories of loss, laughter and survival as Waad wrestles with an impossible choice– whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter’s life, when leaving means abandoning the struggle for freedom for which she has already sacrificed so much.

In Search of Mozart

Made to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, IN SEARCH OF MOZART is the first feature-length documentary on Mozart's life. Produced with the world's leading orchestras and musicians, told through a 25,000 mile journey along every route Mozart followed, this detective story takes us to the heart of genius. Throughout, it is the music that takes center stage, with the jigsaw of Mozart's life fitting around it. With rigorous analysis from musicologists and experts such as Jonathan Miller, Cliff Eisen, Nicholas Till, Bayan Northcott and the late Stanley Sadie, a new, vivid impression of the composer emerges. It dispels the many common myths about Mozart's genius, health, relationships, death and character, to present a new image, very different from Milos Forman's 'Amadeus'.

Frida: Viva La Vida

Frida - Viva La Vida is a cinematic documentary that highlights Frida Kahlo’s two souls: the woman, fiercely independent and tormented by love, and the artist, free from the leashes of her physical bounds. Acclaimed actress and director Asia Argento will join us to uncover the two faces of the iconic artist through Frida's own words: letters, diaries and private confessions. 

The Biggest Little Farm

With a host of loveable animal characters, this family-friendly film follows the inspiring story of one couple’s attempt to live in harmony with nature against all odds.

In Search of Beethoven

In Search of Beethoven offers a comprehensive documentary about the life and works of the great composer. Over 65 performances by the world's finest musicians were recorded and 100 interviews conducted in the making of this beautifully crafted film. Eleven interviews are included in the Extras and Six complete movements.

Wrinkles the Clown

In Florida, parents can hire Wrinkles the Clown to scare their misbehaving children.

Western Stars

The incomparable Bruce Springsteen performs his critically acclaimed latest album and muses on life, rock, and the American dream, in this intimate and personal concert film co-directed by Thom Zimny and Springsteen himself.

Suzi Q

Story of trailblazing American rock singer-songwriter Suzi Quatro, who helped redefine the role of women in rock 'n' roll when she broke out in 1973.

Ailo's Journey

Ailo’s Journey narrates the struggle of a little wild reindeer to survive its first migration. Throughout his journey, the frail and vulnerable wild reindeer will have to overcome the ordeals that mark the first year of his existence. His awakening to the wild world is a true Christmas tale in the heart of the stunning landscapes of Lapland.

I Am No Bird

Four very different women from Australia, India, Mexico and Turkey prepare for their weddings, each one with different significance.

Pavarotti

Featuring never-before-seen footage, concert performances and intimate interviews, filmmaker Ron Howard examines the life and career of famed opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

The Eulogy

The tragic story of child prodigy pianist-composer Geoffrey Tozer, inspired by former Prime Minister Paul Keating’s searing eulogy for the artist.

Amazing Grace

The late director Sydney Pollack's behind-the-scenes documentary about the recording of Aretha Franklin's best-selling album Amazing Grace finally sees the light of day more than four decades after the original footage was shot.

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool

An insightful bio-doc of the legendary Miles Davis, the man and musician, packed with revealing newly released archival footage and interviews with friends like Quincy Jones.

The Australian Dream

The Australian Dream is a documentary that uses the remarkable and inspirational story of Indigenous AFL legend Adam Goodes as the prism through which to tell a deep and powerful story about race, identity and belonging.

Advocate

Lea Tsemel defies convention at every turn. The legendary and controversial Israeli human rights lawyer has devoted her life to the battle for Palestinian rights. This real-life legal drama is also an intimate portrait of an astonishing woman.

Anthropocene

From lithium lakes in Chile to the flooded streets of Venice and psychedelic potash mines in Russia, Anthropocene travels the globe, using breathtaking cinematography to track the impact of humans on the planet. Narrated by Oscar winner Alicia Vikander.

Dive: Rituals in Water

Three female directors explore the sensory world of newborns in this delightful depiction of an unconventional infant swim class. “Baby whisperer” Snorri Magnusson has pushed the boundaries of what we believe tiny humans are capable of, and his students love every second.

Midnight Family

Race through the sprawling streets of Mexico City with the kind-hearted Ochoa family, who operate a private ambulance service in a highly cut-throat and competitive climate.

Midnight Traveler

When the Taliban put a price on Afghan director Hassan Fazili’s head, he is forced to flee with his filmmaker wife and their two young daughters. Using smartphones, the family chronicle their 5000 kilometres, three year journey in search of safety.

One Child Nation

Director Nanfu Wang is a member of the One Child Generation. After becoming a mother herself, she travels back to China to uncover the untold history of the policy, breaking open decades of silence.

Sea Of Shadows

This fast paced eco-thriller takes us aboard the Sea Shepherd, as they race to save the vaquita, the world’s smallest porpoise from extinction in a black market controlled by Mexican cartels.

Shooting The Mafia

A journey through the life, loves and artwork of Italian photojournalist Letizia Battaglia, who challenged the ruthless Sicilian Mafia with her fearless photographs.

Talking About Trees

A ragtag gang of veteran Sudanese filmmakers fight to bring cinema back to the people after years of government repression.

The Magic Life Of V

A young woman finds the courage to face her past through the strange and magical world of Live Action Roleplaying.

Diego Maradona

Constructed from over 500 hours of never-before-seen footage, this documentary centers on the career of celebrated football player Diego Maradona who played for SSC Napoli in the 1980s.

Moonscape

Moonscape is a free and freely downloadable high-definition documentary about the first manned Moon landing. Funded and produced by space enthusiasts from all over the world, it shows the full, unedited Apollo 11 landing and moonwalk, using only the original TV and film footage and the original audio and photographs. All this material has been scanned, digitized and restored from the best available sources. The live TV broadcast, the 16mm color film footage shot on the Moon and in Mission Control, and the Hasselblad 70mm color photographs taken by astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, have been fully synchronized with the audio recordings (including the onboard and Mission Control recordings) and are presented in real time, as they happened, with full subtitles in English or Italian.

Moonwalk One

The history of the making of Moonwalk One, NASA's original Apollo 11 documentary film with the director, Theo Kamecke.

Apollo 11

A look at the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon led by commander Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin.

Armstrong

Dramatic, moving and deeply human, ARMSTRONG offers the definitive life story of Neil Armstrong: from his childhood in Ohio to his first steps on the Moon, and beyond.

Hail Satan?

Mystify: Michael Hutchence

Warren Miller's Face of Winter

Watch the world’s best skiers and riders cover ground in some of the most legendary destinations to honor a face that launched a thousand quips and got us all started on this long, crazy ride. Visit some of Warren’s favorite locations from Switzerland to Chamonix, British Columbia to Alaska, Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, and more.

2040

Damon Gameau embarks on a journey to explore what the future could look like by the year 2040 if we simply embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet and shifted them rapidly into the mainstream.

They Shall Not Grow Old

A documentary about World War I with never-before-seen footage to commemorate the centennial of the end of the war.

John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection

An immersive film essay on tennis legend John McEnroe at the height of his career as the world champion, documenting his strive for perfection, frustrations, and the hardest loss of his career at the 1984 Roland-Garros French Open.

Undermined: Tales from the Kimberley

Kimberley Traditional Owners question what meaningful negotiation looks like and offer humanising portraits of those at the centre of this battle in Australia’s spectacular north-west corner, which governments aspire to make "the future economic powerhouse of Australia". With the highest percentage of Aboriginal people living on Country in Australia, what will this mean for the Kimberley’s custodians, lands and cultures, and will they survive these pressures?

Free Solo

Live beyond fear.

Pick of the Litter

A dogumentary

Kusama - Infinity

Now one of the world’s most celebrated artists, Yayoi Kusama broke free of the rigid society in which she was raised, and overcame sexism, racism, and mental illness to bring her artistic vision to the world stage. At 88 she lives in a mental hospital and continues to create art.

The Coming Back Out Ball Movie

In the middle of Australia’s divisive marriage equality vote, Melbourne hosted a gala event to honour and celebrate its LGBTIQ elders. These are their stories.

Spitfire

Inspiration of a nation

Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas

“A very sweet, engaging and celebratory documentary with heft and beauty.” — The Globe and Mail

Love, Gilda

“Exuberant and moving. What made Gilda Radner special — and uproarious — was her spirit: open, smiling, generous, euphoric.” — Variety

The Museum

“Illuminating the essence of this complex institution… The Museum captures the extraordinary vitality and variety of the Israel Museum.” — The Jerusalem Post

Studio 54: The Documentary

Nothing this fabulous could last forever

The Oslo Diaries

A group of Israelis and Palestinians come together in Oslo for an unsanctioned peace talks during the 1990s in order to bring peace to the Middle East.

Itzhak

“Highly intelligent and warm portrait of the most haimische virtuoso who ever lived.” — Film Journal International

The Invisibles

“If this film were fully fiction, people wouldn’t believe it.” — Director Claus Räfle

The Waldheim Waltz

“Urgent…Incisive and astute. If it sounds like a dry history lesson, think again.”— Variety

Fahrenheit 11/9

Academy Award® winner Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine) is back, as he turns his attention to examine Donald Trump’s election win on November 9, 2016.

Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda

'A portrait of an artist that's nearly as powerful and necessary as the artist himself.'

Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist

The remarkable story of iconoclastic fashion designer Vivienne Westwood as she fights to maintain her brand’s integrity, her principles and her legacy.

The Gardener

A 20-acre private garden in the Quebec mountains inspires awe in its visitors.

McKellen: Playing the Part

The ever-charming actor appeals to young and old, national theatre lovers and franchise kids, the legendary; Sir Ian McKellen.

I Am Paul Walker

Explore the life and legacy of actor Paul Walker, the Southern California native who cut his teeth as a child actor before breaking out in the blockbuster Fast and Furious movie franchise.

Three Identical Strangers

They didn't know they were brothers. But someone did.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

A little kindness makes a world of difference.

Wayne

Guts is everything

Working Class Boy

To understand the man, you must meet the boy

RBG

HERO. ICON. DISSENTER. 

Whitney

The voice that defined a generation

Jill Bilcock: Dancing The Invisible

An unprecedented feature documentary about one of the world’s leading film artists – Australian film editor Jill Bilcock

The Gospel According to André

A Film About André Leon Talley

Gurrumul

GURRUMUL is a portrait of an artist on the brink of global reverence, and the struggles he and those closest to him faced in balancing that which mattered most to him and keeping the show on the road.

Earth: One Amazing Day

An astonishing journey revealing the awesome power of the natural world. Over the course of one single day, we track the sun from the highest mountains to the remotest islands to exotic jungles.

Buena Vista Social Club Adios

In 1996, Cuban bandleader Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, British producer Nick Gold, and American guitarist Ry Cooder convened in Havana to produce a Cuban-Malian collaboration. wo decades since that fateful first session, we catch up to these master musicians.

Abramovic In Brazil - The Space In Between

arina Abramovic travels through Brazil, in search of personal healing and artistic inspiration, experiencing sacred rituals and revealing her creative process.

Meal Tickets

A band of best friends, a roadie that wanted to be a rockstar, a documentary ten years in the making.

Faces Places

Director Agnès Varda and photographer and muralist JR journey through rural France and form an unlikely friendship.

The Final Year

Greg Barker gives an unprecedented look at the shaping of US foreign policy by following key members of outgoing US President Barack Obama’s administration.

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

“A thoroughly engaging, eye-opening showbiz doc.” - The Hollywood Reporter

Ben-Gurion, Epilogue

“Offers a rare intimate look at what went on inside Ben-Gurion’s heart and mind.” - Variety

School Life

John and Amanda teach Latin, English and guitar at a fantastical stately home-turned-school. Nearly 50-year careers are drawing to a close for the pair who have become legends with the mantra: “Reading! ’Rithmetic! Rock ’n’ roll!” But for pupil and teacher alike, leaving is the hardest lesson.

Warren Miller's Line of Descent

Ride along on a stunning cinematic journey as we travel near and far, descending some of North America’s deepest lines in Jackson Hole, Montana, Silverton, Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows, and Steamboat

Blue

99% of all living space on Earth occurs in the Ocean. But the seas are under threat.

Mountain

An epic cinematic and musical collaboration between Sherpa filmmaker Jennifer Peedom and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, that explores humankind's fascination with high places. Narrated by Willem Dafoe.

I Am Not Your Negro

Working from the text of James Baldwin’s unfinished final novel, director Raoul Peck creates a meditation on what it means to be Black in the United States.

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness

Behind-the-scenes work of Studio Ghibli.

An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power

A decade after An Inconvenient Truth brought climate change into the heart of popular culture comes the riveting and rousing follow-up that shows just how close we are to a real energy revolution.

Chicken People

CHICKEN PEOPLE is a chirpy feature documentary that follows American breeders Brian C, Shari and Brian K as their chickens compete for the ultimate title of Grand Champion at the Ohio National Poultry Show. Enter their fascinating world as they share their passion for poultry, and how competing provides a place for their dreams to roost. CHICKEN PEOPLE is a heart-warming look at the ultimate best-in-show of chicken perfection.

Kedi

Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis of Istanbul freely for thousands of years, wandering in and out of people's lives, impacting them in ways only an animal who lives between the worlds of the wild and the tamed can. Cats and their kittens bring joy and purpose to those they choose, giving people an opportunity to reflect on life and their place in it. In Istanbul, cats are the mirrors to ourselves.

Risk

Director Laura Poitras turns her camera on another controversial figure: the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange.

Warren Miller’s Here, There & Everywhere

Film #67 from Warren Miller, featuring skiers and snowboarders at locations including Glacier Country, Montana, Switzerland, Deer Valley Resort, Greenland, and more.

McLaren

The story of New Zealander, Bruce McLaren, who founded the McLaren Motor Racing team, showing the world that a man of humble beginnings could take on the elite of motor racing and win.

The Eagle Huntress

Follow Aisholpan, a 13-year-old girl, as she trains to become the first female in twelve generations of her Kazakh family to become an eagle hunter, and rise to the pinnacle of a tradition that has been typically been handed down from father to son for centuries.

The Coming War On China

The Coming War on China reveals what the news doesn't - that the United States and the world's second economic power, China (both nuclear armed) are on the road to war. Pilger's film is a warning and an inspiring story of resistance. Releases in Sydney Feb 16th and Canberra Feb 26th

Nick Cave: One More Time With Feeling

Documents the writing, recording and performing of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ sixteenth studio album, Skeleton Tree.

Aida's Secrets

Family secrets, lies, high drama and generations of contemporary history unspool in this international story that begins with World War II and concludes with an emotional 21st-century family reunion. Izak was born inside the Bergen-Belsen displaced persons camp in 1945 and sent for adoption in Israel. Secret details of his birth mother, an unknown brother in Canada and his father's true identity slowly emerge in this extremely personal investigative film.

Monsieur Mayonnaise

Artist and filmmaker Philippe Mora (Mad Dog Morgan; The Howling II; Swastika) is producing a graphic novel about his late father, Georges, widely known in Melbourne as a beloved contemporary art patron and owner of bohemian eateries Mirka Café, Café Balzac and the Tolarno Restaurant and Galleries. Less known, however, is Georges' astonishing history as part of the French resistance during World War II, his friendship with renowned mime Marcel Marceau (Philippe's godfather), and how together they saved thousands of Jewish lives with a fiendishly simple trick involving baguettes and mayonnaise.

Rabin In His Own Words

20 years after his assassination, Yitzhak Rabin himself tells his dramatic life story.

Poi e: The Story of Our Song

Written and directed by Tearepa Kahi (Mt Zion) and starring Maaka Pohatu (The Modern Maori Quartet, Two Little Boys) the film tells the story of musician Dalvanius Prime and the origin of the song “Poi E”, a ground-breaking fusion of 1980s pop and traditional Maori music. “Poi E”, composed by Dalvanius and Ngoingoi Pewhairangi and performed by the Patea Maori Club, remains the only song in Te Reo Maori to reach No 1 in the charts, over 30 years since its 1984 release.

THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK - THE TOURING YEARS

A compilation of found footage featuring music, interviews and stories of the Beatles 250 concerts from 1963 to 1966.

Chasing Great

Chasing Great is an insightful portrayal that weaves Richie McCaw's life story into his final season as an All Black, revealing the determination and mental toughness of an international sporting legend who still sees himself as an 'ordinary guy' from small town New Zealand.

Life Animated

At three years old, a chatty, energetic little boy named Owen Suskind ceased to speak, disappearing into autism with apparently no way out. Almost four years passed and the only stimuli that engaged Owen were Disney films. Then one day, his father donned a puppet—Iago, the wisecracking parrot from Aladdin—and asked “what’s it like to be you?” And poof! Owen replied, with dialogue from the movie. Life, Animated tells the remarkable story of how Owen found in Disney animation a pathway to language and a framework for making sense of the world.