Following our screening of his phenomenal documentary Ghosthunter at LAFF19, Ben Lawrence returns with his equally brilliant debut feature HEARTS & BONES. Hugo Weaving stars as a battle-scarred war photographer who sparks up an unlikely friendship with a Sudanese refugee, only to find that their pasts are entwined.

We think this intriguing drama would make a perfect opener for #LAFFatHome, and you can even recreate the LAFF experience thanks to this virtual Q&A with director and stars, courtesy of Madman Entertainment and the Sydney Film Festival. Just like the real thing!
Click for Virtual Q&A

We may have had to cancel our ANZAC Day screening due to Covid-19, but you can now watch DANGER CLOSE from the comfort of your own home. This riveting film tells the incredible true story of an inexperienced battalion of 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers who were surrounded by 2,500 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers in one of the most infamous ANZAC battles of all time.

Also high on our list for this year’s festival was another debut, this time actress Rachel Griffiths’ first foray into feature film directing, RIDE LIKE A GIRL. Based on the true story of Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne, the film stars Teresa Palmer and Sam Neil.

After the film, check out this pre-recorded Q&A with Payne and Griffiths, recorded in October 2019.

Another recent UK release is PALM BEACH, the latest film from Rachel Ward (Beautiful Kate). A reunion drama set on Sydney’s northern beaches, it features a stellar ensemble cast that includes Bryan Brown, Richard E. Grant, Sam Neill, Greta Scacchi, and Jacqueline McKenzie.

We also love to bring you great comedies and horrors, and LITTLE MONSTERS is a wonderful mixture of both. Written and directed by Abe Forsythe (NED, DOWN UNDER), it stars Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o (12 YEARS A SLAVE, BLACK PANTHER) as a twee teacher whose primary school field trip goes south when her class is caught up in a zombie outbreak. This is a zom-rom-com with a distinctly Aussie flavour - don’t miss Josh Gad (Olaf from FROZEN) as a seriously unhinged children's entertainer!

If you’re after something a little darker, we recommend BROTHERS’ NEST, which reunites the Jacobson brothers for a film far blacker than their debut collaboration, Kenny (2006). Here they play on-screen brothers who hatch a plan to get their inheritance a little earlier than normal, with support from the marvellous Kym Gyngell, Lynette Curran and Sarah Snook. 

We always strive to bring you great documentaries, and if you missed our Australia Day screening back in January, recent events prove there’s never been a better time to catch (or revisit) THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM. An exploration of racism, sport, and identity related via the lives and stories of journalist Stan Grant and AFL legend Adam Goodes, this powerful documentary pulls apart some of the myths and stereotypes about Indigenous Australia, and exposes the racism that bubbles away just below the surface of Australian society.

Following the film, join Adam Goodes, Stan Grant and director Daniel Gordon for a special pre-recorded Q&A, thanks to Dogwoof.
Click for Q&A

If you missed it’s cinema run earlier this year, this stark reimagining of the Ned Kelly legend from Justin Kurzel (Snowtown, Macbeth) is certainly one to catch. Adapted from Peter Carey’s novel, TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG stars George McKay as the legendary bushranger, with capable support from Essie Davis, Russell Crowe, Nicholas Hoult and Earl Cave.

And after the film - once you've caught your breath - check out this extended Q&A with director and stars, courtesy of Picturehouse Entertainment.
Click for Q&A 

A much darker colonial tale is told in another relatively recent release, THE NIGHTINGALE, a harsh revenge thriller set during the Black Wars in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). Jennifer Kent’s follow-up to The Babadook follows a young Irish convict (Aisling Franciosi), who teams up with an Aboriginal tracker (Baykali Ganambarr) to hunt down the British officers who murdered her family. This brutal yet brilliant portrait of colonial trauma would be a perfect candidate for the late-night slot at #LAFFatHome.

#LAFFatHome is also a perfect time to catch up on (or rewatch) previous LAFS/LAFF films you might have missed. Some of our previously scheduled films (including a few sellouts!) are now available to stream in the UK. This includes Ladies in Black (2018) Bruce Beresford’s wonderful department store drama portrait set in 1950s Sydney, which is available now on Netflix or via major streaming platforms. Also available now on most major platforms is the outrageous 1970s-set comedy Swinging Safari (2018), written and directed by Stephan Elliott (Priscilla) and starring Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce. (Unfortunately there is still no word on when UK audiences will get to see one of our most requested films, Top End Wedding, but fingers crossed for a UK digital release in the not too distant future!)

Every LAFF also features a classic film or two celebrating an anniversary, and 2020 was no different with The Big Steal (Nadia Tass, 1990), Breaker Morant (Bruce Beresford, 1980), The Club (Beresford, 1980), and Looking for Alibrandi (Kate Woods, 2000) all featuring high on our shortlist. The beauty of #LAFFatHome, however, is that you are free to programme your own personal faves, and Laila has spent hours creating an exhaustive list of Australian films (and TV shows) currently available to stream in the UK. The list is available below, but no doubt we’ve missed a few, so do get in touch with other recommendations.