Limbo
Synopsis
Detective Travis Hurley (Simon Baker) arrives in a small mining town in the Australian outback to investigate the unsolved murder of an Indigenous girl twenty years in the past. Armed with little evidence, he must attempt to gain the trust of the reclusive community. But the girl’s jaded family is reluctant to talk to any cop — especially a white one. Traversing the bleak stretches of road between the town’s opal caves and caravans, Hurley’s own demons combine with the traumas of the community to forge an unlikely and intimate bond.
In Limbo, Indigenous Australian filmmaker Ivan Sen exhibits a masterful eye for stunning black-and-white cinematography, illuminating the vast and unforgiving landscape and setting an eerie and desolate tone. This remote outback noir is both a detective story and a nuanced study of the prejudices faced by Australia’s Indigenous communities.
Screenings & Events
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Media
Film Credits
- David Jowsey, Rachel Higgins, Greer Simpkin, Ivan Sen
- Ivan Sen
- Ivan Sen
- Ivan Sen
- Simon Baker, Rob Collins, Natasha Wanganeen, Nicholas Hope, Mark Coe, Joshua Warrior
- Ivan Sen
- Bunya Productions
Sponsors
Film Supporters
Sara and James Star
Because We Have Each Other
Synopsis
In this wondrous and warm-hearted portrait, director Sari Braithwaite (ChicagoIFF winner [Censored]) follows a very unique Australian family. Middle-aged and deeply in love, thoughtful and witty couple “Buddha” Barnes and Janet Sharrock live in a dusty working-class Melbourne suburb, still caring for their five adult kids from separate marriages. Adding to the complexities of a mixed family is the fact that they are all neurodivergent, living with a range of conditions from autism to depression to extreme dyslexia.
Sharing their deepest thoughts, fears, and dreams, we get to know each of the family members as they confront their vulnerabilities. And of course life, in all of its joys, misfortunes, and traumas, gets in the way. Blending the mundane with the universal through intimate verité footage and poetic shots of starry nighttime skies, Because We Have Each Other is a tender chronicle of the most normal, extraordinary lives.
Screenings & Events
Virtual Screening
This film will be available to stream from October 16 at 12:00pm CT to October 22 at 11:59pm CDT, available only in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Learn more about streaming…
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Media
Film Credits
- Chloé Brugalé
- Patrick McCabe
- Jeremy Virag
- Janet Barnes, Buddha Barnes, Rebecca Sharrock, Jessica Sharrock, Kylie Barnes, Brendan Barnes, Dylan Barnes
- Munro Melano
- Robert Connolly, Robert Patterson
- Arenamedia
- https://becausewehaveeachother.com/
Sponsors
Documentary Program Sponsors
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Keep Stepping
Synopsis
In Sydney, Gabi and Patricia train to compete in Destructive Steps, Australia’s largest street dance competition. Both are pushing themselves mentally and physically in hopes that winning the contest will open new doors and possibilities for a better life. The film spans seven years and provides viewers with intimate access to the breathtaking artform of street dancing. Keep Stepping illuminates the multicultural, passion-filled subculture and tells a moving story about love, obsession, and the transformative power of dance.
Screenings & Events
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The Legend of Molly Johnson
Synopsis
On a small homestead deep in Australia’s Snowy Mountains, Molly Johnson is dead set on survival. With her husband away on a drove, the pregnant matriarch must fend for her family against the wild, threatening countryside. When her secret past gets the town talking, she is pushed to extremes. This blistering neo-western, reimagined from director Lea Purcell’s acclaimed play (itself an adaptation of Henry Lawson’s classic short story), is a riveting examination of race, family, and identity.
Screenings & Events
Post-Screening Discussion
Post-screening discussion with Aaron Carroll, First Secretary-Trade & Economic, Australian High Commission, Canada; Consul-General Chris Elstoft, Australian Consulate-General Chicago.
Post-screening discussion presented by:
Media
Sponsors
Film Partner
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The Australian Dream
Synopsis
The life and legacy of celebrated Australian rules football star Adam Goodes is inspirational not only for his remarkable play on the field but also for his courage and resilience off the field. Goodes, a player of Aboriginal heritage, faced racism and discrimination from players, fans and society at large but used his stature to expose, educate, and heal. Dynamic and potent, The Australian Dream draws on Goodes’ particular experience as the prism through which to tell a deeper, if all-too-familiar, story about race, identity, and belonging.