The bittersweet thing about short documentaries is their length and how when you’re watching a good one you don’t always want it to end. Such is the case with “The Shape of Air” directed by Rob Layton. It feels like a vacation. A laid-back beach vacation where you wander into a surf shop and encounter […]
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Back in July we named “Bundini” directed by Patrick Green one of our Top 10 Shorts to watch at the 2021 Melbourne Documentary Film Festival. What we didn’t tell you then is that it’s actually one of our favorite films of the entire festival and perhaps one of the most compelling shorts we’ve seen this […]
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Few subjects instill as much dread and fear as death. It can be a precarious subject to tackle in a film. Perhaps the most challenging aspect for a filmmaker is finding the right way to approach the topic while maintaining sensitivity and not being intrusive or grotesque. Sarah Marcuson’s short documentary “A Holy Duty” is […]
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Music documentaries are a great way to discover emerging artists. In “Angel.’” directed by Charlotte White, the songwriting process of Melbourne-based musician Indy Angel is explored and the effect of creative expression through music to help heal after trauma revealed. Affectionately filmed, the 11-minute short opens with Angel’s parents discussing what the singer was like […]
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Chad Sogas’ autobiographical short documentary “Rat Tail” starts out as a quirky nostalgic look back at his midwestern upbringing and the rat tail hairstyle he rocked for a decade, the braided locks still stored safely in his parents’ basement. The 15-minute film opens with a collection of loving home videos and photographs of Sogas’ childhood […]
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At just under 9 minutes long, “Raising Joey” wins hearts with its humbling look at the work of wildlife carers as they strive to rescue and rehabilitate injured and orphaned joeys following the devastating Australian bushfires of early 2020. Joined by renowned animal photographer Alex Cearns OAM, whose work often helps support and promote animal […]
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In recent years there have been a number of films made documenting the work of environmental and climate activists. Many tend to showcase the youth movement and their inspiring efforts to mobilize and be heard. Yet, young people aren’t the only ones who care about saving the planet. Cue the Knitting Nannas! Directed by Anne […]
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Directed by Greg Jacobs and Jon Siskel, “The Road Up” follows four individuals in Chicago as they participate in Cara, a job-training program that helps people overcome poverty by providing workforce training and personal coaching. As viewers see in the film, the program also helps participants develop confidence and instills in them an additional element […]
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I have a confession. I’ve never seen the film “Alien.” So while preparing to watch “Alien on Stage,” a documentary about a stage production of the movie, I wasn’t sure if I’d be completely lost or able to immerse myself in it as much as someone who has. Turns out, that was a ridiculous worry […]
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In addition to the huge lineup of feature and short documentaries screening at this year’s Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, there are a handful of compelling Web Series + Video Essays available to stream. The acclaimed and gorgeously shot, “The Beach” directed by Warwick Thornton is sure to be a standout for viewers who may have […]
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