The eyes of the sporting world are turning towards the Gold Coast, with the Queensland city hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games. That's great news if you're a fan of athletes and nations vying for glory, obviously — and, while it might not initially seem like it, it's great news for arts and culture lovers too. As well as the expected competitive endeavours, the Games also include a huge multi-arts festival across not only the Goldie but Brisbane too. So if sports isn't your thing, you can still join in the fun thanks to everything from beachside singing to art in strangers' houses — and these eight must-attend events. Top image: Yes, We Dance! by Artwork Agency.
Every December, fans of sparkling sights are gifted a luminous feast for their eyes. No, we're not talking about Christmas lights. Regardless of whether you're bathing in a festive glow or hardly fond of all the merriment, 'tis the season for the Geminids meteor shower to soar through the sky — starting on Monday, December 4 and finishing for 2023 on Wednesday, December 20. Even better: Down Under, it's at its peak on the evening of Thursday, December 14 and the morning of Friday, December 15. If you have a telescope at hand, it's clearly a great time to put it to use. Eager to catch a glimpse, even from just your backyard or balcony? Here's everything you need to know. [caption id="attachment_754955" align="alignnone" width="1920"] A composite of 163 photos taken over 90 minutes during the Geminids by Jeff Smallwood for Flickr.[/caption] WHAT IS IT? Lighting up the end-of-year skies, the Geminids meteor shower is considered the most spectacular meteor shower of the year. Again, Christmas lights aren't the only spectacle worth peering at this month. The Geminids is caused by a stream of debris, left by an asteroid dubbed the 3200 Phaethon, burning up in Earth's atmosphere — and it was first observed in 1862. Some years, you can catch as many as 150 meteors every 60 minutes, so this definitely isn't just any old meteor shower. [caption id="attachment_699423" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Jeff Dai.[/caption] WHEN TO SEE IT The 2023 shower kicks off on Monday, December 4, running through till Wednesday, December 20. As with every year, it's expected to be at its peak in Australia overnight mid-month — between Thursday, December 14–Friday, December 15, specifically. If you fancy a stint of stargazing, the best time to look up is on Thursday, December 14 from around 9pm in Brisbane, 10pm in Perth, 11pm in Sydney, 11.30pm in Adelaide and 12am in Melbourne. The best time to catch an eyeful will be after midnight, when the moon has set and its light will not interfere, but before sunrise. [caption id="attachment_882304" align="alignnone" width="1920"] ESO/G. Lombardi via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] HOW TO SEE IT For your best chances, it's worth getting as far away from bright lights as possible. This could be a good excuse to head out of the city to a clear-skied camping spot — and pray for no clouds. To see the meteors, you'll need to give your eyes around 15–30 minutes to adapt to the dark (so try to avoid checking your phone) and look to the northeast. The shower's name comes from the constellation from which they appear to come, Gemini. So that's what you'll be looking for in the sky. To locate Gemini, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). If you're more into specifics, Time and Date also has a table that shows the direction and altitude of the Geminids. The Geminids meteor shower runs from Monday, December 4–Wednesday, December 20, and will be at its peak during the night on Thursday, December 14–Friday, December 15. For further details, head to Time and Date. Top image: A composite of 88 photos taken over 60 minutes during the Geminids by Paul Balfe via Flickr.
Is it a store? Is it a gallery? In Fallow's case, it's both. The brooding Fortitude Valley boutique has been lining its Brunswick Street shelves with fashion, accessories and other artful items since it was founded in 2008, however, now their rejection of conventional retail has undergone a slight metamorphosis. Meet Fallow [art space], the collective's foray into the gallery world. Fallow's home away from home brings more than just cloth and curiosities to a new, short-term pop-up at 60 James Street — it dives head-first into the experimental creative realm. Open every day of the week until the end of the year, it boasts a curated showcase ranging from ceramics and jewellery to paintings and light installations. Christmas shopping, anyone? The aim? To not only let Fallow's customers wear art from their main store, but experience the collection firsthand in its many forms. That includes taste, sight, sound and smell. And if you're wondering where the edible part of the equation comes in, just hope you drop by when the gallery is handing out champagne truffles. Other than delicious treats, you'll also find concrete sculptures by Luke Mansini, pieces by renowned local jeweller Luke Maninov, and handcrafted leather sculptures by Lyn and Tony on display. Add artisan ceramics inspired by the Aussie landscape thanks to Made of Australia, and unisex fragrances by Mad et Len, and you won't look at shopping the same way. Find Fallow [art space] at 60 James Street, Fortitude Valley, until December 31, 2016. Visit their website, Facebook page and Instagram feed for further details.
The laughs started with an opening monologue that had Jimmy Kimmel exclaim "Ryan, you're so hot. Let's go camping together and not tell our wives". The cheers began with Messi, the Palm Dog-winning pooch from Anatomy of a Fall, being spotted sitting in the audience. And the tears commenced not with Da'Vine Joy Randolph's Best Supporting Actress speech — where she said that she really didn't think that she was supposed to be doing this as a career, which did indeed inspire waterworks — but before that, with Lupita Nyong'o's introductory tribute to The Holdovers' actor. That's how the 96th Oscars kicked off — already five minutes over, as Kimmel noted, because Hollywood's night of nights doesn't quite believe in time — on Monday, March 11, Down Under. From there, the highlights kept coming. The Boy and the Heron winning Best Animated Feature was another big standout. So were Mstyslav Chernov wishing that he'd never had to make Best Documentary-winner 20 Days in Mariupol, which nabbed Ukraine's first Oscar; Godzilla Minus One taking out Best Visual Effects for a team who went up on the stage holding Godzilla figurines; American Fiction writer/director Cord Jefferson's plea for more support for films that don't cost $200 million when he won Best Adapted Screenplay; and Poor Things' stunning look and lead performance getting so much love. The awards' big winner: Oppenheimer as predicted, picking up seven awards. But it took until almost 90 minutes in for Christopher Nolan's J Robert Oppenheimer biopic to collect any gongs, ensuring that other movies earned recognition, too. When it was the film's time to shine, it resulted in a dedication to the peacemakers everywhere from Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr thanking his terrible childhood. Yes, Barbie won best song, for 'What Was I Made For?'. Yes, Gosling's performance of 'I'm Just Ken' was a showstopper, complete with Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and America Ferrara singing along from the audience. And yes, everything from Wes Anderson nabbing his first-ever Oscar for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar to starting the In Memoriam tribute with footage from Navalny also happened. Kimmel calling out the fact that Gerwig wasn't nominated, Kate McKinnon thinking that the Jurassic Park movies are documentaries, The Fall Guy's Gosling and Emily Blunt bickering while paying tribute to stunt performers, John Cena appearing almost naked, and Twins and Junior co-stars (and past Batman villains) Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger co-presenting: that all occurred as well. That's how the ceremony panned out — with much to celebrate, plenty of banter and, as always among the films that go home empty-handed, disappointments as well. Killers of the Flower Moon, Past Lives and Perfect Days are all still excellent pictures, for instance, and can always call themselves Oscar-nominees. (It's always worth remembering that a plethora of stellar films don't even get nominations, which doesn't make them any lesser flicks, either.) Now that the Academy Awards are all done and dusted for 2024, here's the full rundown: who won and what else was in the running, that is. You can also check out what we predicted would and should win, nine winners that you can and should watch right now in Australia and New Zealand, and our full lists of where most of this year's contenders are screening or streaming in both Australia and New Zealand. Oscar Winners and Nominees 2024: Best Motion Picture American Fiction Anatomy of a Fall Barbie The Holdovers Killers of the Flower Moon Maestro Oppenheimer — WINNER Past Lives Poor Things The Zone of Interest Best Director Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer — WINNER Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Annette Bening, Nyad Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall Carey Mulligan, Maestro Emma Stone, Poor Things — WINNER Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Bradley Cooper, Maestro Colman Domingo, Rustin Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer — WINNER Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple America Ferrera, Barbie Jodie Foster, Nyad Da'Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers — WINNER Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Sterling K Brown, American Fiction Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer — WINNER Ryan Gosling, Barbie Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things Best Original Screenplay Anatomy of a Fall, Justine Triet and Arthur Harari — WINNER The Holdovers, David Hemingson Maestro, Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer May December, Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik Past Lives, Celine Song Best Adapted Screenplay American Fiction, Cord Jefferson — WINNER Barbie, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan Poor Things, Tony McNamara The Zone of Interest, Jonathan Glazer Best International Feature Film Io Capitano, Italy Perfect Days, Japan Society of the Snow, Spain The Teachers' Lounge, Germany The Zone of Interest, United Kingdom — WINNER Best Animated Feature The Boy and the Heron — WINNER Elemental Nimona Robot Dreams Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Best Documentary Feature Bobi Wine: The People's President The Eternal Memory Four Daughters To Kill a Tiger 20 Days in Mariupol — WINNER Best Original Score American Fiction, Laura Karpman Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, John Williams Killers of the Flower Moon, Robbie Robertson Oppenheimer, Ludwig Göransson — WINNER Poor Things, Jerskin Fendrix Best Original Song 'The Fire Inside', Flamin' Hot, Diane Warren 'I'm Just Ken', Barbie, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt 'It Never Went Away', American Symphony, Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson 'Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)', Killers of the Flower Moon, Scott George 'What Was I Made For?', Barbie, Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell — WINNER Best Cinematography El Conde, Edward Lachman Killers of the Flower Moon, Rodrigo Prieto Maestro, Matthew Libatique Oppenheimer, Hoyte van Hoytema — WINNER Poor Things, Robbie Ryan Best Film Editing Anatomy of a Fall, Laurent Sénéchal The Holdovers, Kevin Tent Killers of the Flower Moon, Thelma Schoonmaker Oppenheimer, Jennifer Lame — WINNER Poor Things, Yorgos Mavropsaridis Best Production Design Barbie Killers of the Flower Moon Napoleon Oppenheimer Poor Things — WINNER Best Visual Effects The Creator Godzilla Minus One — WINNER Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One Napoleon Best Costume Design Barbie, Jacqueline Durran Killers of the Flower Moon, Jacqueline West Napoleon, Janty Yates and Dave Crossman Oppenheimer, Ellen Mirojnick Poor Things, Holly Waddington — WINNER Best Makeup and Hairstyling Golda Maestro Oppenheimer Poor Things — WINNER Society of the Snow Best Sound The Creator Maestro Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One Oppenheimer The Zone of Interest — WINNER Best Documentary Short Subject The ABCs of Book Banning The Barber of Little Rock Island in Between The Last Repair Shop — WINNER Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó Best Animated Short Film Letter to a Pig Ninety-Five Senses Our Uniform Pachyderme WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko — WINNER Best Live-Action Short Film The After Invincible Knight of Fortune Red, White and Blue The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar — WINNER The 2024 Oscars will be announced on Monday, March 11, Australian and New Zealand time. For further details, head to the awards' website.
Brisbane's new favourite comic book store has done it again. Not content with filling their shelves with an interesting and eclectic range of illustrated tomes, they're also turning their attention to showcasing the city's underground art scene. Yes, they're all-round champs. From August 16, Phatsville Comix — aka Brisbane's long-running anthology — is in the Junky Comics spotlight. Select pages of original art from the influential yet under-acknowledged publication, chosen from 19 issues produced over 13 years, will deck the walls of the West End store. Of course, Phatsville Comix's books will also be available to buy, should you want to take something home with you. And if you head along at 4pm on opening day, you can also mingle with the talented artists, including Phatsville Comix founders Ben Sea, J-Stew, Glenn "Bad Teeth" Manders and Giles, plus Ben Hutchings, Glenno Smith, Jase Harper and Dean Rankine from the Australian comics scene.
Sydney WorldPride is bringing the party to town. Not only will it see our country's best gay clubs, bars and party spaces come to life but the celebrations will flow throughout galleries and art spaces, museums (hello Pride Shark!), boutiques, public parks, rainbow roads, and the sails of the Opera House. Our editors have picked their favourite Sydney WorldPride events but we've also enlisted a few locals to share some of the less obvious spots to celebrate. Enter Alex Greenwich. The Independent MP is a proud gay man and has used his public platform to push for equality and LGBTQIA+ rights throughout his career. For WorldPride, he's swapped his signature casual suit and shirt for a tuxedo exploding with green tulle in an installation hosted in the hallowed halls of the QVB. Alex is among a lineup of queer Australian legends currently being honoured for their contributions to the LGBTQIA+ community. The retail centre is temporarily changing up its name from the Queen Victoria Building to reflect each of these contemporary queens with a set of fabulous portraits befitting of any royalty on display shot by photographer Dream Syndicator. The queens in focus are trans icon and cabaret star Carlotta, queer activist Ken Davis (a member of the original Mardi Gras 78ers), Indigenous drag queen Felicia Foxx, and Alex along with Janine Middleton who, together, co-chaired Australian Equality and successfully fought for and helped achieve marriage equality in Australia. Who better than MP Greenwich — whose office is literally in the middle of Oxford Street — to give a few tips on where to go during Sydney WorldPride? And if you bump into him in a bar, he'll take a tequila and soda, thanks darl. What do you think about Sydney hosting WorldPride this year? "Sydney hosting WorldPride is such a great opportunity to showcase our city and diverse community to the whole world. During covid Sydney missed the world and the world missed Sydney and Sydney WorldPride is a nice way to welcome back the rest of the world. Sydney has the most beautiful and diverse welcoming LGBTQIA+ community and I'm grateful to be part of that community. I'm also grateful to have the opportunity to represent that community in parliament." If someone spies Alex Greenwich at a club or bar (and WorldPride is bringing to life some of the best), what drink should they buy you? (And what topic should they NEVER bring up?) "If I'm in a club, tequila and soda will probably be the drink of choice. I don't know about a topic that I wouldn't want some to bring up... I'll talk about any topic." What are the best queer venues in Sydney in your opinion? "I think there's such a great variety of queer venues in Sydney. I love Stonewall. The re-opening of ARQ is awesome. POOF DOOF at Kinsella's and smaller venues like Dulcies in the Cross." [caption id="attachment_679716" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The iconic Stonewall on Oxford Street[/caption] What are some of the best spots where an international visitor should go on a first-date during Pride? "There's so many great spots in Sydney to choose from. What I would say is to go to a swimming hole like the new cove in Barangaroo, grab food from a mini deli like Darlinghurst Deli and stop by a bottle shop, and go for a picnic and a swim." Where do you like having a late-night dinner or snack? "Chinatown is always a great destination for a late night dinner." Which local LGBTQIA+ owned businesses do you like to support? The great thing with Sydney is there are so many LGBTQIA+ owned businesses to support. I try to support them all but Claire's Kitchen on Oxford Street is an iconic dinner destination. What events are you most excited about for Mardi Gras and WorldPride? And what are the events you would say are not-to-be-missed? "I'm most excited for the Pride March Harbour Bridge Crossing . It will be historic and an opportunity to send a strong message about supporting LGBTQIA+ rights. I'm also looking forward to the Mardi Gras parade and marching in it again, the First Nations Gala at the Opera House, and the Opening Ceremony." [caption id="attachment_892180" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Miss First Nations perform at the First Nations Gala[/caption] Finally, Alex: how important is Kylie Minogue? "Kylie is obviously an icon of Australia and a strong supporter of the community and it's so wonderful that she is joining us for the celebration." For more inspiration for how to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration head to our events guide on the best of Sydney WorldPride.
"Remember, the force will be with you. Always." Back in 1977, in a little movie called Star Wars — now known as Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope — Obi-Wan Kenobi uttered these words to Luke Skywalker. They were meant as encouragement and reassurance, but they've also proven true for fans of the George Lucas-created franchise. This space-opera series has been with us ever since, including through prequels, sequels, spinoffs, theme parks and more, and it shows absolutely no signs of going anywhere soon. In this very time, in this very galaxy, someone is usually on a screen somewhere talking about the force, in fact — and expect it to get more than a few mentions in the latest Star Wars streaming series that's headed our way. This one's a big one, and exactly why is all there in the title. Help us Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're our only hope for a new step into the Star Wars realm come Wednesday, May 25 on Disney+. Ewan McGregor (Halston) once again dons the iconic Jedi master's robes, in a six-episode series that's set ten years after Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith. Bridging the gap in Obi-Wan's story between the prequels and the OG Star Wars flicks, it follows the fallout after Anakin Skywalker's (Hayden Christensen, The Last Man) turn to the dark side and reinvention as Sith Lord Darth Vader. And yes, Christensen is back as well as the villainous figure. [caption id="attachment_845698" align="alignnone" width="1920"] © 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] While Obi-Wan Kenobi won't hit your streaming queue for just over two months, Disney+ has just dropped the next best thing: the show's first teaser trailer. A word of warning: for a show that splashes Obi-Wan Kenobi's name across its moniker, its first sneak peek is a little light on Obi-Wan himself, but it does set the scene for the showdown between the Jedi and his former padawan that's obviously coming. The sandy expanse of Tatooine earns some attention, with Obi-Wan keeping an eye on the young Luke Skywalker. Across the rest of the galaxy, the hunt to find where Kenobi is hiding is well and truly on. Coming to Disney+ following fellow Star Wars dramas The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi sees Joel Edgerton (The Green Knight) and Bonnie Piesse return as Owen and Beru Lars, too — and also stars Moses Ingram (The Queen's Gambit), Kumail Nanjiani (Eternals), Indira Varma (This Way Up), Rupert Friend (The French Dispatch), O'Shea Jackson Jr (Just Mercy), Sung Kang (Fast and Furious 9), Simone Kessell (1%) and Benny Safdie (Licorice Pizza). Check out the trailer for Obi-Wan Kenobi below: Obi-Wan Kenobi starts streaming via Disney+ on Wednesday, May 25.
What does Brisbane have in common with music superstars Beyoncé, Björk, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, and also Oscar-winners Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton? An appreciation for fashion designer Iris van Herpen. The avant-garde Dutch talent has dressed them all, including creating the breathtaking Heliosphere dress that proved a showstopper on Beyoncé's Renaissance tour. The latter gigs haven't made it Down Under, but the Australian-exclusive Sculpting the Senses exhibition at the Queensland capital's Gallery of Modern Art will take you into the world of the haute couture figure who played a part in it. Fashion lovers have until Monday, October 7, 2024 to explore one of GOMA's big showcases for 2024, which continues to plunge the South Brisbane site into an enchanting and ethereal realm after Fairy Tales, its huge summer exhibition, did the same. Pieces by van Herpen can't be mistaken for designs by anyone else, sitting at the intersection of couture, art and design, while also exploring technological advancements such as 3D printing. In that field, she's widely considered the first to make a garment this way. From gowns to accessories, a massive 130 of van Herpen's pieces are now on display in the River City. Across nine chapters — some nodding to the dreamlike sheen that accompanies the designer's pieces, others focusing on skeletal structures, inspirations, and how the sea and the cosmos are an influence — Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses steps through the work of a creative who boasts stints alongside Alexander McQueen and Claudy Jongstra on her resume. It was almost two decades back, in 2007, that the Maison Iris van Herpen came to life in Amsterdam. Evoking her studio, complete with a cabinet of curiosities, is also part of GOMA's celebration. In this section of the exhibition, attendees will also see a space dedicated to fashion shows and unpack the various development stages of a dress. [caption id="attachment_966403" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Daniel Widrig (Collaborator) / United Kingdom b.1977 / Materialise (Collaborator) / Belguim est.1990 / Crystallization top and skirt, from the 'Capriole' collection 2011 / 3D-printed polyamide using selective laser sintering, eco-leather, cotton, nylon thread / Purchased thanks to the patronage of Doctor and Madam Léon Crivain, 2018 / Collection: Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. Courtney Mattison / United States b.1985 / Malum Geminos 2019 / Glazed stoneware and porcelain / Courtesy: The artist. Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Nicholas Koscinski (Collaborator)/ United States b.1992 / Futurama gown, from the 'Meta Morphism' collection 2022 / 3D-printed Bluesint (upcycled polyamide) using selective laser sintering, silver, silk, organza, tulle / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen atelier. © The artists / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] Hitting Brisbane after a run in Paris, co-organised by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and boasting the organisation's Dr Cloé Pitiot and Louise Curtis on curatorial duties alongside QAGOMA's Nina Miall and Jacinta Giles, Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses takes its name seriously. This is a feast for the eyes, clearly, but also comes paired with a soundscape by Dutch sound artist Salvador Breed — not just a collaborator of van Herpen's, but her partner — to enhance the experience. Among the specific fashion gems featured, the exhibition draws from 2010's water-themed 'Crystallization' collection, which took its cues from water being splashed at models; 2020's 'Sensory Seas', with hydrozoa such as the bluebottle an influence; and 2012's 'Micro' and 'Hybrid Holism', each teeming with microscopic detail that mimics the natural world — just for starters. Elsewhere, van Herpen's designs use X-rays, MRIs, neuroscience, mythology, alchemy, biotech, NASA's James Webb space telescope and more as guides. Visitors will equally spy a range of complementary pieces surrounding van Herpen's designs, weaving in Yayoi Kusama, Cai Guo-Qiang, Japanese art collective Mé and Kohei Nawa, for instance. Megan Cope, Philip Beesley, Anne Noble, Damien Jalet, Casey Curran, Rogan Brown, Ren Ri and Courtney Mattison also have works in Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses, as does the Living Architecture Systems Group. Natural history objects add yet another layer. The dramatic staging, especially when van Herpen's work is set against a black background, achieves the same. Similarly featuring: installations, videos and photographs. [caption id="attachment_966407" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses'. (l) Iris van Herpen / Netherlands b.1984 / Water dress, special project 2010 / Heat-moulded PETG / Collection: Groninger Museum, Netherlands / © Iris van Herpen. (r) David Spriggs / Canada b.1978 / Origins 2018 / PET film, acrylic Plexiglas, LED, acrylic paint, metal / Collection: Dr Pierre Miron / © David Spriggs. Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.[/caption] Top images: Installation view of 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses' including (front l-r) Symbiotic asymmetric dress, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen; Fractal Flows dress, from the 'Sensory Seas' collection 2020 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Perry Hall; and Cosmica gown, from the 'Shift Souls' collection 2019 by Iris van Herpen with collaborator Kim Keever / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA. Installation view of the Cabinet of Curiosities in 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses', Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: J Ruckli © QAGOMA. Iris van Herpen: Runway films 2017-23 (installation view, 'Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses') / Video, colour, sound, 57:51 minutes (total, looped) / Editor: Simona Gol / Music selection: Salvador Breed / Courtesy: Iris van Herpen Atelier / © Iris van Herpen / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA.
"Fan art" comes in a bizarre array of forms. Couch-dwelling admirers of films and television series have brought us such timeless works of art as Elvis murals made from burnt toast, life-size stormtrooper costumes and the burgeoning industry of "fan fiction". While this sort of fandom, at times bordering on obsession, tends to be fairly laughable, Spanish artist Iñaki Aliste Lizarralde has transformed her TV fixation into something truly fascinating, creating hand-drawn, blueprints of some of television's most beloved apartments. With these intricate aerial views fans can now take a virtual tour through the apartments of Sex and the City, The Big Bang Theory and Friends, while forever wondering how a bunch of characters that seem to divide their time fairly evenly between coffee houses and trendy bars manage to afford these fab pads. Friends - Chandler & Joey and Monica & Rachel's Apartments The Big Bang Theory - Sheldon & Leonard and Penny's Apartments Frasier - Frasier Crane's Apartment Sex and the City - Carrie Bradshaw's Apartment Original Batman TV series - Wayne Manor
Some cocktails sport names that just scream 80s, even if you weren't around then — or of drinking age at the time. What other decade could've loved a tipple called sex on the beach? Or, there's the Miami Vice, which does indeed share the moniker of a TV show of the era. And while it wasn't invented then, the mix of lemonade and beer that is the good ol' shandy sure did enjoy a mighty fine heyday back when shoulder pads were everywhere. With nostalgia for four decades back having quite the moment right now — see: screens filled with movies about Air Jordans, Tetris and Super Mario Bros — of course some of the top drinks of the 80s are in the spotlight again as well. In fact, they're the beverages of honour at Brisbane's new disco-inspired cocktail pop-up The 86 Club, which'll make its debut in May to celebrate the period in question. [caption id="attachment_707293" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Black Bear Lodge[/caption] This boozy addition to the River City's social scene actually takes its title from the hospitality term "86", which refers to something that's no longer available; however, it does a nice double duty with its nod to 80s as well. Bartenders and The 86 Club creators Andie Bulley, Blade Deegan, Liam Murphy and Martin McConnell definitely want you to revel in the decade — although, given that their new pop-up also takes its cues from disco, it's clearly gleaning inspiration from the 70s as well. The quartet have branched out from their jobs mixing drinks at Savile Row, The Gresham and Frog's Hollow Saloon, and are teaming up with brands such as Bacardi, Bombay Sapphire, Grey Goose, Patron, Marionette and Range Brewing on this side venture. The 86 Club will launch on Sunday, May 7 at Black Bear Lodge, with entry free but wallets required to sip your way through five reimagined 80s cocktails — sex on the beach, Miami Vice and the shandy obviously among them. For a soundtrack, DJ collective QUIVR will be on the decks spinning house and disco tunes. And yes, dancing beneath the disco ball with a cocktail in your hand is firmly on the menu. The 86 Club will host its first event from 7pm on Sunday, May 7 at Black Bear Lodge, with free entry — and we'll update you about further pop-ups when they're announced. Top image: Max MacInnes (@__highlandermax).
Singapore's Changi Airport is going all out this holiday season and giving travellers a rare reason to get to the airport early. In collaboration with Warner Bros, the airport has created a full-scale Harry Potter world, now open from November 16 through mid-February. The Wizarding World Holiday exhibition is spread across all three of the airport's terminals and brings to life some of the most iconic backdrops in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films — think Hogsmeade Village, Diagon Alley, the Whomping Willow and Newt Scamander's Menagerie (which is depicted in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald). Wander through a snowy Hogsmeade Village where you'll catch sight of Zonko's Joke Shop, Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, the Owl Post and the Honeydukes sweets store. Or head to Diagon Alley, where visitors can dress up in Hogwart's school uniforms from Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and create a GIF in front of a 'magical' mirror. There are also spell-casting lessons and Quaffle toss competitions — which let you 'ride' a broomstick and practise your Quidditch skills. Limited-edition Harry Potter-themed travel merch will be on sale in duty free, too. Plus, a snow and lights show will take place in terminal three each day. We reckon this is your best excuse to book a trip to Singapore (or organise a layover through Changi) these holidays. Wizarding World Holiday is located in Terminal 1-3 at Changi Airport until mid-February, 2019.
Being a fan of the world game means adjusting to world time zones, especially if you're keen to watch Australia's national women's soccer team take on the globe. When the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup took place Down Under, it was a rare tournament friendly to Aussie schedules. The 2024 Paris Olympics definitely don't fall into that category. Set your alarms, Matildas obsessives: the Tillies have qualified to chase a gold medal, but their first three games are all at 3am Australian time. The squad plays Germany, Zambia and the United States in the group stage. Their schedule from there depends on the results, aka if they make it through to the next rounds. First up is the Germany match on Friday, July 26 Aussie time. Then, come Monday, July 29, Zambia awaits. After that, on Thursday, August 1, the Matildas will take on the US. While they're competing at the Paris Olympics, none of these three games are actually in the City of Light. Instead, the first and third matches are in Marseille, while the second takes the Tillies to Nice. If you're watching along at home, Channel 9, 9Now and Stan Sport are your viewing destinations. Given the hour, that's definitely your cosiest option. But if you're keen to head out to watch the matches with a crowd, you do have some options thanks to Olympics live sites around the nation — although most won't be screening the action quite that early, so you'll be catching replays. In Sydney, the Tumbalong Park Sound Shell is your Olympics viewing spot, albeit only running from 12–11pm daily. In Melbourne, Federation Square is devoting its big screen to the games, normally running from 12–10pm daily but also showing the Tillies live — but you'll need to register for the latter. In Brisbane, head to South Bank; however, the screens will only be on from 6.30am–midnight. Yagan Square Amphitheatre in Perth will be celebrating green and gold from 7am–midnight. Some Westfield shopping centres are also getting into the action in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. As the entire country has known for months, Sam Kerr is injured — and, unlike at the Women's World Cup, isn't in the team as a result. But the squad is filled with high-profile names, including Steph Catley donning the captain's armband, plus Ellie Carpenter and Emily van Egmond as vice captains. Also in France representing the nation: Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Michelle Heyman, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine, Claire Wheeler and Tameka Yallop among the forwards and midfielders; Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Kaitlyn Torpey among the defenders; and Mackenzie Arnold and Teagan Micah as goalkeepers. Sharn Freier, Lydia Williams, Charlotte Grant and Courtney Nevin are the travelling alternates — and Williams is retiring from international football following the Olympics. The Matildas Group-Stage Matches at the Paris 2024 Olympics: Friday, July 26 — v Germany at 3.00am AEST Monday, July 29 — v Zambia at 3.00am AEST Thursday, August 1 — v United States at 3.00am AEST The Matildas' Paris 2024 Olympics matches place from Friday, July 26 Australian time — and you can watch via Channel 9, 9Now and Stan Sport. Images: Tiffany Williams, Football Australia.
This month, The Lakes Festival celebrates its tenth birthday. The festival is designed in homage to the Central Coast's lakes, waterways and community with a stellar program of 30-plus events dotted along the coast. The majority of the program is free to enjoy, too. Each year, it brings a smack of music, colour and culture to the Central Coast. From November 7–16, we're all invited to head north and make the most of the lineup. The highlight of the festival takes place on Saturday, November 8 with Light Up the Lake. Headlined by Ruby Fields, she'll share the stage with Dear Sunday, Dizzy Days, Chloe Parché, and Elaskia. As the sun sets, the sky will erupt with fireworks to, as the name suggests, light up the lake. Away from the main stage, food trucks and local restaurants will be serving hungry festival goers between sets. Aside from great music, The Lakes Festival is about honouring the waterways through sustainability. Naturally, that means everyone's favourite gardener, Costa Georgiadis, will be making an appearance. You can catch him and Lottie Dalziel (NSW Young Australian of the Year) at the Sustainable Future Festival at The Entrance on Saturday, November 15. Over the ten days, make the trip north and you'll be able to experience everything from floating yoga to artisan markets. There's something for everyone at the festival—even Pelican Time. Join a free talk with local volunteers who rescue and care for the area's beloved pelicans. Or, join a cooking class and learn to cook with native ingredients like pepperberry and saltbush. Stop by The Entrance Artisan Markets for local artwork and homemade scones. Spend a day following the Soundscapes Story Trail throughout the Central Coast where local writers and creators have written stories with the coast as the muse. Drive up to Canton Beach for a day at Sea Food Fest and devour fresh prawns in the sunshine. You can even operate an underwater drone or rover to scope out underwater habitats in Tuggerah Lake. Or, head down to Avoca Beach and join a free surf lesson or group surf. Carve out some space in your November, The Lakes Festival is sounding like summer's place to be. Check out the full digital program here. Lead Image: The Lakes Festival
If you like music and you like trivia, TV shows such as Spicks and Specks and Never Mind the Buzzcocks likely sit high on your favourites list, with both combining tunes, musicians and questions about them. But in Brisbane, you don't have to confine your music trivia fix to staring at a screen. One of the city's most reliably entertaining evenings out comes in the form of Not On Your Rider, the IRL quiz show that's also filled with well-known faces — but staged live in the River City, with Brisbanites invited not only to watch but to also play along. This pop-culture delight has been doing the rounds for a few years now — and testing its contestants via rounds of questions — and it's back again in 2023. From the end of March, Brisbanites can look forward to monthly shows at The Triffid. Yes, given there's an October 26 date on the list, you can probably expect another Halloween celebration. And, come December 14, a Christmas show as well. If you're not already acquainted with Not On Your Rider, it takes something that everyone loves — showing off their music trivia knowledge — and dials it up a few notches. Here's how it works: the event is hosted by The Creases' Aimon Clark, and features Velociraptor's Jeremy Neale and The Grates' Patience Hodgson as team captains. Also, while the two on-stage teams are always filled with musos, comedians, drag queens and other guests, anyone can buy a ticket, sit at a table and answer questions along with them. Previous events have boasted folks from Powderfinger, Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants, The GoBetweens, Dune Rats, DZ Deathrays, The Kite String Tangle, Butterfingers, Last Dinosaurs, The Chats and more, because you never know which music figures might be involved on the night. 2023's guests haven't yet been announced, but the past lineup has also spanned Robert Irwin, Kate Miller-Heidke, Ben Lee and Steven Bradbury, as well as Trent Dalton, Ranger Stacey, Mel Buttle and Ian 'Dicko' Dickson. And as for the quiz itself, it's accompanied by chats about the music industry, plus other mini games involving attendees. NOT ON YOUR RIDER 2023 DATES: Thursday, March 30 — The Triffid Thursday, April 27 — The Triffid Thursday, May 25 — The Triffid Thursday, June 29 — The Triffid Thursday, July 27 — The Triffid Thursday, August 31 — The Triffid Thursday, September 28 — The Triffid Thursday, October 26 — The Triffid Thursday, November 23 — The Triffid Thursday, December 14 — The Triffid Not On Your Rider's 2023 season runs from March 30–December 4 at The Triffid. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the Not On Your Rider website. Images: Dave Kan / Bianca Holderness.
A film festival that brings the best and brightest new Japanese movies to Australian cinemas each year is a film festival to cherish. Also ace: a film fest that features a solely digital lineup of flicks and TV shows from Japan that you can check out from your couch. So, while it isn't time for the IRL Japanese Film Festival for 2024 yet — it last hit locations around the country across September–November 2023 — the Japanese Film Festival Online will keep you entertained come winter. Both fests serve up a handy way to view the latest and greatest Japanese fare without hopping on a plane, but only the online version lets you do so from home. Running from Wednesday, June 5–Wednesday, July 3, 2024's version will feature 23 films and two TV dramas, the latter serving up 20 episodes. And, you'll be able to check out for four Japanese horror shorts, too, all of which initially debuted in 2023 at the first-ever Horror Film Competition in Japan. The other big drawcard: Japanese Film Festival Online screens its program for free. Accordingly, this lineup won't test your budget, whether you're keen on I Am What I Am, which stars Drive My Car's Toko Miura; Anime Supremacy!, about a new director and a hotshot facing off while making their own competing anime; Single8, a Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans)-influenced picture about Star Wars-loving teens making their own movie; or classic anime Kimba the White Lion from 1966. Film lovers will be catching the movies on the program between Wednesday, June 5–Wednesday, June 19. Fellow feature options include Father of the Milky Way Railroad, a biopic about poet and novelist Kenji Miyazawa; magazine drama Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction; Baby Assassins, where teen assassins are forced to give up the murderous life; and The Handsome Suit, about a magical outfit. TV fans will be tuning in from Wednesday, June 19–Wednesday, July 3, with 2017's Rikuoh starring Kôji Yakusho (Perfect Days), and stepping inside a traditional Japanese sock company — and 2015's Downtown Rocket based on Shitamachi Rocket novels about an ex-aerospace researcher who leads a factor that he inherited. While you won't pay a thing to watch, you do still need to register via the fest's website. Won't be in Australia at the time? The fest is available in 27 countries. "JFF Online 2024 is not just a film festival; it's a cultural bridge connecting fans of Japanese cinema across the globe," said The Japan Foundation in Sydney's Manisay Oudomvilay. "From the comforts of your home, you can traverse a wide array of genres — from heartfelt dramas and engaging documentaries to captivating anime stories. This festival celebrates the breadth and diversity of Japanese storytelling." "Our lineup includes films that challenge the norms, explore deep human connections, and celebrate the artistry of both seasoned and emerging Japanese filmmakers. We invite cinema lovers and Japanophiles alike from around the world to join us in this unique virtual celebration of Japanese cinematic artistry," continued Manisay. The 2024 Japanese Film Festival Online runs from Wednesday, June 5–Wednesday, July 3. For more information and to register to watch, visit the festival website. Top images: Single8 Film Partners / Jun Ikeido, TBS / Kenji Yamamoto / Anime Supremacy! The Movie Production Committee.
Bec Dean is co-director of Performance Space, one of Australia's leading development and presentation organisations for interdisciplinary arts. If you've ever marvelled at one of Carriageworks' stranger corners, you've seen their work. More than most, Bec spends her days seeking out the inventions, interjections and experiences that give colour to our lives. These are the five emerging artists she encourages us to keep a particular eye on. Michaela Gleave Jeff Khan (my co-director) and I just worked with Michaela Gleave on Our Frozen Moment, which was an installation of rain and light inside the gallery space here at Carriageworks. Michaela makes exquisitely beautiful, experiential work, but she undertakes her own fabrication of the complex system of pumps, pipes and reticulation required to make it rain on the inside. She also has an explosives license. She is true DIY. Eric Bridgeman Eric Bridgeman is a young artist from Brisbane, now working in Liverpool in the UK. We hope he may be back for our program SEXES in October. Eric head-on tackles issues that tend to simmer in our culture, from racism, to sexism, to homophobia…especially in sporting culture. He makes photos, performances and paintings that make everyone uncomfortable, and so they should be! James Brown James Brown is a composer and musician who has worked on many projects for Performance Space and PACT artists over the years. He is an artist that often gets credited as a part of new works but I think more and more that he should be the headline act. He is a brilliant and somewhat humble collaborator. Cigdem Aydemir Cigdem Aydemir is a photographer, performer and installation artist making difficult work that examines gendered and religious identity in Australia, and engages with certain right-wing attitudes about Muslim women and the burqa as a potential terrorist threat. We are hoping to commission a large-scale work by her later this year. Applespiel Applespiel is a collaborative team of eight young performers who premiered a new work with us at SHOW ON. It was a live rockumentary/rock concert called Applespiel Make a Band and Take on the Recording Industry. It’s pretty much what it says on the label, and they can write and play music too. I’ve never seen such a large group work together so harmoniously before. I expect way more shouting and discontent. It’s like they’ve all taken ego-supressing drugs…to make a performance that is all about an industry that thrives on fame, stardom and ego-mania.
Like commemorating the birth and life of famous figures? Like multicultural festivities that shed a light on diversity and harmony? If so, it's party time. Brisbane's annual Buddha Birthday Festival is back for its 20th year at South Bank — and yes, it is the biggest annual celebration of its kind in the world. The 2016 program certainly aims to prove that claim, courtesy of three jam-packed days of candle lighting, lion dances, dragon boat regattas, origami, calligraphy, fireworks and more. In fact, there's so much on the agenda that your best bet might be to head to South Brisbane and settle in for the long haul. 200,000 people are expected to do the same — and with more than 350 performers and 180 events on offer, you can't blame them. The festival isn't just about watching other people strut their stuff, though. With international food markets serving up culinary delights, tea ceremonies keeping you hydrated and meditation sessions taking care of your mental bliss, this isn't just a feast of fun and entertainment; it's a complete mind and body experience as well.
Brisbane's Riverside at the Gardens Market is turning 40, and to celebrate, they are holding a big birthday extravaganza on Sunday, October 19. Founded by Peter Hackworth in 1986, the market moved to the City Botanic Gardens in 2015 and has since become a beloved hub for locals. Taking place from 8am to 3pm, the anniversary event promises a day packed with plenty of activities, including live music, Brazilian dancing and puppet shows. Kids can also enjoy face painting and a balloon-twisting clown. While adults can peruse what Riverside at the Gardens Market does best, and that's its market stalls of global cuisine, fresh produce, fashion and artisanal goods. Brisbane's longest running market is also home to plenty of homemade goodies, like chutneys, honey, flower teas, as well as hand-painted silk scarves, hats, shirts and jewellery. For those looking for something special, Beech Mountain Distillery will showcase its new line of native botanical spirits, including the exclusive Botanica de Terra Australis gin. Guests can also enter a draw to win a goodie basket with every purchase made. To find out more about Riverside at the Gardens Market's 40th Birthday, head to the website.
During its 75-year run, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra has played many things. All the classical greats fall into that category, obviously. Sometimes, it's busy playing beloved film scores live as the movies screen, or teaming up with musicians well outside the classical realm, or providing tunes for sweeping operas. That longevity and adaptability is something worth celebrating, so that's exactly what QSO is doing on one huge evening. Even better: to mark its 75th year, the orchestra is hosting one big — and free — birthday concert. Taking place at QPAC's Concert Hall from 7.30pm on Friday, August 19, the gig will showcase the wide range of music that QSO has brought to life over the years — including everything from Tchaikovsky's 'Swan Lake' finale to Australian composer Sean O'Boyle's 'Concerto for Didgeridoo'. Also set to echo through the venue: 'Rákóczy March' and 'La damnation de Faust' by Berlioz, plus Respighi's 'Pini di Roma', as well as the very fitting 'Fanfare for the Seventy-fifth Birthday of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra'. The tunes will be played not only by Queensland's state orchestra, but with the help of guest artists; First Nations didgeridoo player Chris Williams will do the honours on 'Concerto for Didgeridoo', for instance. And, they'll be interwoven with interviews with musicians, all while historical imagery is projected throughout the Concert Hall. On conducting duties: Guy Noble and Johannes Fritzsch. Unsurprisingly, tickets are expected to get snapped up quickly when they become available from 10am today, Tuesday, July 19, via the QSO website. Whether you're a fan of classical music, you've only experienced QSO's efforts when it has played concerts dedicated to movie scores or you've always wanted to attend one of its gigs but haven't gotten around to it, heading along for free is a rare treat. And if you're wondering about the history of the QSO, it made its debut on March 26, 1947, with 45 members playing to a crowd of 2500 people at Brisbane City Hall. It now boasts 74 musicians, and is the state's largest performing arts organisation. Queensland Symphony Orchestra's free 75th birthday concert will take place from 7.30pm on Friday, August 19 at QPAC's Concert Hall, with tickets available from 10am on Tuesday, July 19 via the QSO website. Images: Peter Wallis.
It's official: silly season is here once again. And while it's always fun to give (and receive) gifts, the amount of people you're buying for can quickly stack up. Particularly if you're partaking in more than a few Kris Kringles and Secret Santas this year. Whether you scored your work bestie in your office pressie pool or got the formidable task of drawing your mum's name in the fam Kris Kringle even though she insists she doesn't want anything, you want to give great gifts. You also have to adhere to strict budgets, which can be both a blessing and a curse. In partnership with Cashrewards, we've tracked down some A-class items that will suit just about everyone on your gift list — and any budget. Better yet, if you're an ANZ cardholder, you could be eligible for even bigger cash back deals and extra benefits* as part of its Cashrewards Max program. All you have to do is sign in to your Cashrewards account (or sign up for one for free) and link your eligible ANZ debit or credit card. Once you've got your Cashrewards Max all set up, you can score a heap of cash back deals, including at all the retailers on this epic list. $20 AND UNDER Desktop Ping Pong Table ($15.75) A great shout for the office KK, this easy-to-assemble table tennis kit is available via Booktopia. It can be set up anywhere and easily tidied away when the boss walks past, too. Or, if you've got the balls (yes, pun intended), set up an office tournament and leave the memory of awkward Friday afternoon Zoom drinks far behind. This is an affordable, fun and easy option for your work bestie (or the office newbie) that offers just the right level of silliness for your end-of-year workplace festivities. Gingerbread Man Dig Toy ($19.99) There's bound to be at least one proud dog parent in your life — or maybe you want to bypass them and celebrate their adorable pooch directly. Either way, this festive chew toy is the perfect option for fur babies and their parents. Grab one from Petbarn for less than a lobster and voila! You're a thoughtful gift giver and bound to score some appreciative snoot-boopin' time with the pup. $50 AND UNDER Night Rescue Skincare Kit ($30) Got a skincare-obsessed friend? Or someone who just appreciates a good beauty regime? Surely after months spent in lockdown, we can all appreciate the relaxing indulgence of some self-care in the form of a face mask and a glass of wine. If you've got someone deserving of some TLC for Secret Santa, then nab this Laneige Night Rescue Skincare kit from Sephora. It includes three different types of nighttime face masks all designed to leave skin looking clean, refreshed and hydrated. Linen Napkins ($50) Chances are if you're in your late 20s or early 30s, you're already obsessed with Bed Threads. So, surely someone on your Christmas list is into it, too. If you're buying for a foodie then look no further than these lovely flax linen napkins. They're delicate, reusable and sustainable, plus they add a lovely touch of rustic elegance to any table setting. They also come in 11 different colours, so you can pick a hue that you think best suits your giftee's style. $80 AND UNDER Thumbs Up Retro Dance Mat ($60) We've all got that one mate who crushes DDR (that's Dance Dance Revolution for the uninitiated). So, you already know they'll be absolutely stoked with this gift. Essentially a light-up floor mat that lights up for you to follow a dance routine, the Thumbs Up Retro Dance Mat is always a hoot — and retro to boot. To make your life as simple as can be, the game is available from ASOS, too, so you can skip the Christmas shopping crowds all while knowing perfect gift is on the way. C&M James Nylon Cap ($80) There are some major normcore vibes going on with this C&M cap from Stylerunner, so if you know someone who loves Aussie-made minimalist designs, look no further. Lightweight, comfortable and stylish, this not-so-basic basic is perfect for beach days, bushwalks and brunches with the crew, making it a brilliant gift idea for pretty well anyone (including you). $100 AND UNDER [caption id="attachment_814550" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Smash Splash[/caption] Red Balloon Experiences ($99–100) If you're going all out and dropping a bit of cash for that special someone, then why not give them a gift they're sure to remember — an epic experience. Red Balloon has all sorts of great gift experience ideas lined up for thrill-seekers, or that person in your life who already has everything. Check out this Splash Room experience in Sydney or Melbourne, where they'll be covered in goggles and overalls, put in a room and given free rein to hurl paint balloons at the walls and create some amazing artistic explosions. If you're in Perth or Brisbane, why not check out one of Red Balloon's scenic helicopter tours so they can see some of the most beautiful parts of their city from way up in the clouds. Or, if you've picked out a wine lover, you can get them a Taste Your Birth Year winery tour in the Barossa (plane ticket's on them, naturally). For more information on Cashrewards Max and its current deals, head to the website. *Cashrewards Max is offered by Cashrewards, not ANZ. A Cashrewards account is not an ANZ account. T&Cs apply.
Since late March, Australians haven't been permitted to leave the country. For much of the past few months, we haven't been allowed to travel much further than our own homes, either. But, while one of those situations won't be changing anytime soon — other than the possible implementation of a travel bubble with New Zealand — the other is starting to ease in many Aussie states and territories. Despite the political rhetoric of recent months, opening Australia back up to Australian residents isn't as easy as it sounds. Indeed, with Victoria's COVID-19 case numbers increasing drastically in late June and early July, resulting in the reimplementation of stay-at-home requirements for all of metropolitan Melbourne for at least six weeks, relaxing interstate borders is proving particularly complex. Just where you can travel to depends on where you normally live and where you'd like to head — and if you're wondering what it means for your next road trip or local holiday, we've broken down the current restrictions for you state by state. Details in this article are correct as at Friday, July 17, and will be updated as new information is announced. [caption id="attachment_775040" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Port Stephens by Destination NSW[/caption] NEW SOUTH WALES Throughout Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic to-date, New South Wales was one of only two states that didn't impose any border restrictions upon domestic travellers — until now. Due to the rising case numbers in Victoria, NSW has closed the border between the two states for the first time in more than 100 years (the last time was in 1919 during the Spanish Flu). Effective since midnight on Tuesday, July 7, NSW has only closed its border with Victoria. Its borders remain open with all other Australian states and territories. Victorians wishing to enter NSW must apply for a border permit to travel from Victoria to NSW. To obtain a permit — which is valid for 14 days — you need to fall into a number of set categories, such as cross-border residents, students or those employed to provide critical services. Also, permits are not available to Victorian residents who are prevented from travelling due to public health restrictions, which means everyone living in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. Even with a permit, anyone who has been in Victoria in the 14 days before entering NSW will need to self-isolate for 14 days. You can do so at home — and the quarantine requirements apply not only to Victorians, but to NSW residents returning home. [caption id="attachment_751687" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lean Timms for Visit Canberra[/caption] AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY In the Australian Capital Territory, the border has also been closed to anyone travelling to the ACT from Victoria — unless you have an exemption. The closure came into effect at the same time as NSW's similar border restrictions. ACT residents can return home from Victoria, and must quarantine for 14 days; however, for everyone else, exemptions only apply in select circumstances: visiting a immediate family member who is critically ill or in palliative care, undertaking essential services work, attending a funeral of an immediate family member, providing urgent care to an immediate family member, receiving urgent medical care, and if you've left Victoria by air after transiting from another jurisdiction, but you did not leave the airport. The ACT does not have any restrictions in place for travellers from other Australian states and territories. VICTORIA Like NSW, Victorian has not closed its borders throughout Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic to-date. And, while other states and territories are closing off from Victoria, the state's borders are actually still open. That said, leaders of Australia's other states and territories have strongly advised that no one should be travelling to Victoria at present — and if you do, you may be required to quarantine on return to your home state. For Victorians looking to venture interstate, you aren't just restricted by the rules of whichever state or territory you'd like to travel to, but — if you live in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire — by Victoria's public health restrictions. As part of the reintroduced stay-at-home limits in place from 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 8, Victorians in these areas are only allowed to leave home for one of four reasons: for work or school (if you can't do this from home), for care or care giving, for daily exercise or for food and other essentials. Going on a holiday anywhere — locally, regionally in Victoria or interstate — is definitely not permitted. [caption id="attachment_743607" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whitehaven Beach by Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] QUEENSLAND From Friday, July 10, after much debate and discussion over the past few months, Queensland officially reopened its borders to interstate visitors from all states and territories — except Victoria, which is considered a COVID-19 hotspot. On Tuesday, July 14, the state added the Campbelltown City and Liverpool City local government areas in New South Wales to its hotspot list, too, which means anyone who has been in Victoria or those two NSW areas in the past 14 days cannot enter Queensland. People visiting from South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory and other parts of NSW need to complete a border declaration form to obtain a Queensland border declaration pass. On it, you need to certify that you haven't travelled to Victoria or the aforementioned NSW spots in past 14 days — and the government has advised it'll be checking these statements, and that making a false statement will be an offence. And, you will need to agree to get tested for COVID-19 if you develop any symptoms within 14 days of arriving in Queensland. With the Queensland border closing back in March, the state has had a permit in place for some time for those wishing to cross the border; however previous permits issued before noon on Friday, July 3 are now invalid. Instead, everyone wanting to enter the state must apply for the aforementioned Queensland border declaration pass. If you have been in Victoria or the Campbelltown City and Liverpool City local government areas in New South Wales in the past 14 days, the state government advises that you should not come to Queensland. In general, you are not allowed to access or quarantine in the state, and you will be turned away at the border. Whether you live in the above areas or have visited them in the last fortnight, you'll only be allowed into Queensland if you receive an exemption "for essential specialist workers, as well as for health, legal or compassionate grounds", but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk advises that "very few exemptions will be granted". If you do receive an exemption, you will be required to go into forced quarantine for 14 days, in a hotel, at your own expense. Queenslanders returning from Victoria, or the Campbelltown City and Liverpool City local government areas, will still be able to come home, but will also be required to go into forced quarantine for 14 days, in a hotel, at your own expense. [caption id="attachment_743719" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism WA[/caption] WESTERN AUSTRALIA At the height of Western Australia's COVID-19 restrictions, WA not only implemented a statewide border lockdown with the rest of the country, but internal travel restrictions within the state, barring travel from region to region. The latter have now largely been lifted for WA residents, who can mostly travel freely within the state — other than entering remote Aboriginal regions. Western Australia's statewide border lockdown is still in effect, however, with residents of all other states and territories banned from entering WA unless they fall into an exemption category, apply for a G2G Pass and, if approved, then self-isolate for 14 days. WA's roadmap to ease COVID-19 restrictions is currently in phase four — and, while removing the state's hard border was originally under consideration for phase six, which doesn't yet have a date, that plan was scrapped due to the situation in Victoria. At present, WA advises that "when an indicative date [for ending the border lockdown] is set in the future, it will be contingent on locally acquired infection rates in the eastern states. The WA hard border will only be removed when the WA Chief Health Officer is confident the spread of infection is controlled in the eastern states". [caption id="attachment_679107" align="alignnone" width="1920"] SATC[/caption] SOUTH AUSTRALIA After initially announcing in mid-June that it'd allow travellers from all interstate locations back in from Monday, July 20, South Australia has amended its plans in response to the situation in Victoria. As of midnight on Wednesday, July 8, it implemented a hard border with Victoria — only allowing Victorian residents to enter SA if they fall into the "essential traveller" category and agree to quarantine for 14 days. SA residents returning home from Victoria are still be permitted to enter the state, but also need to self-isolate for 14 days. Travel to SA from four Australian states and territories — Queensland, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and Western Australia — is already unrestricted and doesn't require a period of quarantine, although all visitors must receive pre-approval by completing the online Cross Border Travel Registration form. Travel to SA from New South Wales and the ACT is currently permitted, but only if travellers quarantine for a mandatory 14 days of self-isolation. All visitors must receive pre-approval by completing the online Cross Border Travel Registration form, too. [caption id="attachment_722075" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thalia Haven for Tourism Tasmania.[/caption] TASMANIA All non-essential visitors to Tasmania are already required to quarantine for 14 days at a Tasmanian government accommodation facility — and, before travel, to complete a Tasmanian Arrivals Form. Exemptions are available on compassionate or medical grounds. Tasmania has not advised when these restrictions will come to an end. New rules also came into effect from 12am, Thursday, July 9, for people travelling from Victoria. A hard border has been implemented, and "any visitors who have spent time in Victoria in the 14 days prior to travel are not permitted to travel to Tasmania. If visitors come from Victoria to Tasmania, they will be turned back". Exemptions apply for essential travellers and for compassionate reasons. Tasmanian residents who have spent time in Victoria in the 14 days prior returning to the state will also be required to quarantine in government-provided accommodation for 14 days, too. [caption id="attachment_769946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] NORTHERN TERRITORY In mid-June, the Northern Territory announced that it would end all mandatory quarantine arrangements for travellers from interstate from Friday, July 17; however, as has proven the case in other states, the NT has adapted its plans in response to the situation in Victoria and some areas of NSW. Anyone travelling to the territory from an identified COVID-19 hotspot — if you live in one, or have been to or travelled through one in the past 14 days — must still undertake 14 days mandatory supervised quarantine at your own cost. All Australians from other states, and other areas in NSW, can visit without going into mandatory quarantine for 14 days. All travellers must complete a pre-arrival border crossing application form up to 72 hours before you arrive, regardless of where you're visiting from. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Great Barrier Reef by Tourism and Events Queensland
Talk about living the dream: when Adelaide-born twins Danny and Michael Philippou unveiled their debut feature Talk to Me in 2023, a new Aussie horror sensation took the genre, and the world, by the hand to share its entertainingly eerie energy. After the movie's huge success, including for cult-favourite distributor A24, sequel Talk 2 Me was quickly greenlit. But the filmmakers who started out their careers behind the camera as YouTubers RackaRacka now also have something else in the works. Horror? Tick. A24 onboard? Tick again. The non-Talk to Me flick that'll combine the two, and also the Philippous (of course), is called Bring Her Back. Deadline reports that it will star The Shape of Water Oscar-nominee — and Wonka, Spencer, Paddington and Godzilla: King of the Monsters actor — Sally Hawkins. But that's about where the details end for now. The movie's plot hasn't yet been revealed, and neither have any other cast members. Expect to see the end result sooner rather than later, though, with production due to start during Australia's winter this year. Whatever Bring Her Back is about, it'll join not only Talk to Me and eventually Talk 2 Me on A24's horror slate, but also Beau Is Afraid, Bodies Bodies Bodies, X, Pearl, Men, Lamb and Saint Maud just from the 2020s alone. A24 have gone all-in on the Philippous after picking up Talk to Me in a Sundance Film Festival bidding war, when the Aussie flick about shaking hands with an embalmed palm, feeling the rush while being haunted, having your mates watch and film it, and dealing with the spooky consequences initially started getting global attention. Danny and Michael made their leap to the big screen after racking up a huge following with RackaRacka's viral videos, and via behind-the-scenes work on Australian films such as The Babadook. Their debut feature has proven a big box-office success, taking in US$10 million on its opening weekend in America alone, which placed it second among A24's films after Hereditary. There's obviously no trailer for Bring Her Back yet, but you can check out the trailer for Talk to Me below: Bring Her Back doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when more details are announced. Read our review of Talk to Me, and our interview with Danny Philippou. Via Deadline.
A chat with Moritz Mohr about Boy Kills World is a chat about the things that he loves. His DVD copy of Battle Royale comes up, and his DVD and Blu-Ray collection in general. So does spending "months and months and months" listening to the soundtrack to Park Chan-wook's Oldboy, and the fact that the iconic South Korean revenge thriller is now being turned into a TV series. Boy Kills World, the German filmmaker's first feature, is a movie eagerly and overtly made from the things that Mohr adores. "That's a very correct assessment of the situation," he tells Concrete Playground. "We — me and all my collaborators, the writers — we really put into that movie everything that we love. So it should feel like that because that's basically what it is," he continues. Accordingly, yes, Mohr and the Boy Kills World team are fond of vengeance stories, martial arts films and fight-to-the-death flicks. And, they've worked that affection into a wild ode to action cinema starring Bill Skarsgård (John Wick: Chapter 4), featuring the voice of H Jon Benjamin (Bob's Burgers) and produced by Evil Dead filmmaker Sam Raimi (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness). The involvement of each of those key figures also stems from enthusiasm. Skarsgård was the first actor cast, for a role that makes him a silent film star — Boy, the movie's protagonist, is an orphan who has spent his childhood training for a quest for retribution, and is also deaf and mute — and trades on his physicality as a form of expression as a result. It required him to get ripped, too. "I was like 'are you up for that? Are you up for the training and all?'. And he promised me he would be up for it," explains Mohr. Was he ever; the proof is in the movie. Boy doesn't speak, a choice that plays with the usual strong and silent action-hero archetype; however, viewers are still clued into his every thought and feeling thanks to Benjamin. He gives the flick Boy's inner monologue, and his involvement came about exactly as you'd expect. "I love H Jon. I love his comedy. I love Archer. I love Bob's Burgers. So that's the reason — that's the only reason, because I love him and I thought he would be a great fit," says Mohr. As for Raimi, getting him onboard — and getting compliments from him at Mohr's very-first meeting with him — had Boy Kills World's helmer thinking "oh my god, I can die now", he tells us. It's an inspirational result for anyone who has ever dreamed with their friends of making a movie, and specifically making the kind of movie you'd love to see yourself. Indeed, that's exactly the starting point for the film that premiered at 2023's Toronto International Film Festival, has scored a spinoff video game and is also seeing that button-mashing title get an animated series. [caption id="attachment_954583" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Julian Leshay[/caption] Story-wise, Boy Kills World plunges into a dystopian world that brings The Hunger Games to mind, complete with death as a televised spectacle. When Boy is a boy (Nicholas and Cameron Crovetti, Goodnight Mommy), he loses family at the hands of a despot (Famke Janssen, Locked In), then commits himself to revenge. Cue carnage once he's an adult, as brought to the screen with energetic glee — and with a cast that also includes Yayan Ruhian (The Raid, The Raid 2) as the Shaman who teaches Boy his ferocious fighting skills, plus Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey: A New Era), Sharlto Copley (Monkey Man), Jessica Rothe (the Happy Death Day franchise) and Andrew Koji (Warrior). How did Boy Kills World evolve from an idea bandied about in Berlin to bouncing through cinemas? What goes into making the movie a balancing act of action and comedy, and also genres and styles? With Mohr, we also discussed the above, adding complexity to vengeance tales, casting Skarsgård, directing a wordless performance and ensuring that the film goes on a helluva ride. On How Boy Kills World Went From Idea and Proof-of-Concept Short to Getting Sam Raimi Producing and Hitting the Screen "In 2016, there were five people in Berlin: producer, writer, director, fight choreographer and action guy. And we're like 'we really want to make something that we would watch ourselves', because we're all working in advertising and TV, and there's not much of an action scene in in Germany — there's basically no action movies, never have been. And we were like 'we want to do something and we want to feature the unique talent of our brilliant action designer Dawid Szatarski [an alum of Black Widow and Kingsman: The Golden Circle]. And that's why we shot this proof-of-concept trailer, which I think we shot for like five days. It took us a year to wrap it up. And at one point, I got a call from a friend who went to the AFM, the American Film Market in LA. He's like 'hey Moritz, do you want to come along? I'm kind of lonely and I have a couch'. So I was like 'yeah, sure, I'll finish the trailer, wrap it up, stop tinkering with it and just go over there and give it a shot, and see what happens'. When I arrived there I had like four meetings, and the first meeting was like 'this is a great trailer, cool — do you have a script?'. I was like 'no, I don't have a script yet'. So like 'oh sorry, then we can't help you'. And I thought that's how it would stay, basically because I knew everybody told me 'if you want to sell something, you need a script'. Yeah, well, I don't have one. We had a treatment, a five-pager or something. But through very nice people who kept connecting me to other people, about four days later I was in contact with Sam Raimi. And I met him. He's the nicest guy ever. We had this beautiful moment that I will probably remember forever: it was the first meeting and I was like 'I'm such a huge fan of yours' — he's just like 'and I'm a big fan of yours Moritz'. And I was like 'oh my god, I can die now. This is great'. So after that meeting, it's basically sort of a handshake agreement, we're going to do this together. Also Stuart Manashil [Irma Vep, Malcolm & Marie] and Roy Lee [Late Night with the Devil, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire]. Roy Lee, he's a great producer in his own right, he did the IT movies and Lego and The Ring remakes and all that. Then we found a studio, basically, developing a script — and then it just took us five little years and lots of lots of detours. When we finally found our final partners Nthibah Pictures in South Africa and Hammerstone studios, that were ready to put all the money we needed in the film and really make the movie as it was intended to be made — and really believed in us — that's when we started shooting in Cape Town three years ago." On the Film's Balancing Act in Mashing Up Genres and Styles, and Getting the Mix of Action and Comedy Right "That's what I was worried about the entire time — it was like 'alright, we've got the comedy, but we've also got the drama. And we've got the action, and putting that in in the right amount'. Can we cut this joke? Is the movie still funny enough? Can we linger on that dramatic scene a little longer, or is it dragging everything down? Or is it too much action? Are the action scenes too long? Obviously lots of that stuff is very subjective, but it's definitely something you're worried about the entire time." On Adding Complexity to Boy Kills World's Revenge Tale "I really think there's so many revenge movies out there that I just didn't want to add something that is exactly like anything else. And as a thinking human being, usually in a revenge movie you go like 'isn't that enough revenge now? You killed like 50 people. You don't think this is enough now for whatever happened to you?'. Because it is never black and white, right? And it shouldn't be. One of my favourite directors is Park Chan-wook and his revenge trilogy — and with every one of the three movies, he put a different spin on revenge. And that definitely heavily inspired me because it just shouldn't be that easy. If you add something to the great, great genre of revenge movies, I feel like you should these days put a slight twist to it." On Boy Being a Literally Silent Hero — and Unpacking the Trope in the Process "The whole voiceover concept was there pretty much from the start. It was like 'hey, let's combine this young hero with an old narrator voice', that split. It's definitely a disconnect for the audience that the audience has to get used to, but it also makes it special. That's what was, in the beginning, when pitching the project and developing it — besides everything else, besides the story and all — it was one of the things that was like 'oh yeah, that's what makes the whole thing special, that's what sets it apart'. That was very, very deliberate. I read a comment once that was like 'oh, they probably added the voiceover after the fact when they realised that the mute hero doesn't work'. I was really hurt at that moment. I was like 'oh, no, I hope people don't think that'." On Casting Bill Skarsgard as Boy "Bill's a terrific actor, obviously. He was basically the first person we cast, and the only caveat besides him being a great actor and obviously having a super-expressive face that felt very right for role, was that he had never done any action — or not as a lead in an action movie. For a moment I was like 'ohh, can he do that?'. And in my first call, I asked him about it. I was like 'are you up for that? Are you up for the training and all?'. And he promised me he would be up for it. And I was like 'alright, you're good enough for me'. And he really delivered on his promise. He started training in Stockholm. We sent somebody over to go through the basics, the punching and kicking, and then just the motions, and he really put in the work. Like, he got in shape. He got ripped. He trained. The action scenes are basically dance routines to a degree, where you have to remember the movements and the punches and all. So that just takes time, and he was fully, fully committed to this— and spent hours and hours and days and weeks in the gym with our guys creating these scenes." On the Direction That You Give Someone When Their Performance Is Purely Expressive with No Dialogue "It is absolutely, right. So this may sound very stupid, but it was literally – because, giving direction, usually you talk to the actors and then they give you their performance. And then most of the time, if you have good actors, you just go 'oh yeah, can you go a little bigger there in the end? Or take a break?' Just like small things. When I started directing people back in the day, I just talked at them, like 'oh, you need to do this, this and this' — 15 years ago, film school days, basically. But now I'm working with all these great actors, and you really work with what they give you. And you watching the first take is usually magic, or the rehearsal — when you're like 'ohhh, this is amazing. I could never have dreamed to get something like this. That's the perfect start to these scenes'. With Bill in particular, since there's no lines, it was usually very simple directions. We're basically just 'oh yeah, do a little more here, be a bit more expressive, be more intense — or less intense'. And that's the way to go, because I did not have a lot of work with Bill in that regard; he delivered on that." On Making the Film a Wild Ride Where It Feels as If Anything Could Happen "Balancing all that, that's the big task, and we had created a canvas for ourselves where we could do some crazy stuff — and since we created our own world, nobody told us how things should be, so we had all the freedom in that regard. There are some major tonal shifts in the movie, and I was definitely worried that the audience wouldn't be along for them or [would be] like 'oh my god, the tone of that movie is all over the place'. I was literally waiting for — I'm still waiting for somebody to just call me out on that. But I actually love movies where you don't know where they're going to go, and I think that's the most exciting kind of movie — where you can be actually surprised where it's going to go." Boy Kills World opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, May 2. Read our review. Film stills: Roadside Attractions.
It's Australia's most prestigious portrait award, it's now in its 101st year and it hands out $100,000 to its annual winner. Also, like the rest of us, it adores the one and only Taika Waititi. That'd be the Archibald Prize, which just unveiled its finalists for 2022, as well as its latest Packing Room Prize recipient. And yes, a 3D-style portrait of the Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Thor: Ragnarok filmmaker by Sydney-based artist Claus Stangl falls into both categories. Is there anything that Taika Waititi can't do? "He's the light in the dark and the levity we so often need," said Stangl, collecting the Packing Room Prize at a ceremony today, Thursday, May 5, at Sydney's Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Archibald Prize's hosts. In the process, he shared his excitement for the Waititi's upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder — again, like the rest of us — and chatted about how the portrait came to fruition. Waititi "just basically performed and did his Taika thing," Stangl noted. If you'd like to see the Packing Room Prize-winning work — which is chosen by the packing room team, hence the name — it'll be on display at the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney from Saturday, May 14–Sunday, August 28. Of course, it wasn't the only portrait in the spotlight at the finalists announcement. From 1908 entries, with an even 50/50 split between male and female artists, 52 works have been shortlisted for the Archibald, 34 for the Wynne and 29 for the Sulman (with the Wynne Prize recognising the best landscape painting of Australian scenery or figure sculpture, and the Sulman Prize awarded to the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project). [caption id="attachment_852690" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Archibald Prize 2022 finalist, Natasha Bieniek, Patricia Piccinini, oil on wood, 13.8 x 18.5 cm © the artist, image © AGNSW, Mim Stirling. Sitter: Patricia Piccinini.[/caption] Among the Archibald highlights: a portrait of artist Patricia Piccinini by Natasha Bieniek, Vincent Namatjira's self portrait with a dingo, Felix von Dallwitz's portrait of Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott, and Natasha Walsh's Dear Brett (the blue room), which references Brett Whiteley's 1976 Archibald-winning self-portrait. Other finalists include Avraham Vofsi's John Safran as David and Goliath, Paul Newton's portrait of Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness, Courtney Act and Shane Jenek painted by Kim Leutwyler, and Jordan Richardson's portrait of Benjamin Law. Across all three fields, 2022's shortlist also made history. This year's batch includes the highest number of Aboriginal finalists in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes — with 27 overall. [caption id="attachment_852691" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Archibald Prize 2022 finalist, Vincent Namatjira, Self-portrait with dingo, acrylic on linen, 136.5 x 121.5 cm © the artist, image © AGNSW, Mim Stirling. Sitter: Vincent Namatjira (self-portrait)[/caption] Speculation about who will be awarded the coveted art award — and, more often than not, the Archibald winner itself — usually causes much-heated debate. From 2018's five-time Archibald finalist Yvette Coppersmith's first win to Tony Costa's 2019 victory with his painting of fellow artist Lindy Lee — the first portrait of an Asian Australian to pick up the prize — it's hard a prize to pick. All that's really assured is that it'll be a portrait of a person by an Australian-based artist. In 2020, Vincent Namatjira's portrait of Adam Goodes did the honours, and also marked the first time the award has gone to an Indigenous artist. In 202, Peter Wegner's portrait of fellow artist Guy Warren nabbed the gong. 2022's Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize winners will be announced at 12pm on Friday, May 13. If you don't agree with the judges, you can cast your own vote for People's Choice, which will be announced on Wednesday, July 27. [caption id="attachment_852692" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Archibald Prize 2022 finalist, Jordan Richardson, Venus, oil on canvas, 122.3 x 183.4 cm © the artist, image © AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins. Sitter: Benjamin Law.[/caption] ARCHIBALD PRIZE 2022 DATES Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, NSW — May 14–August 28, 2022 Bunjil Place, Melbourne, Victoria — September 2–October 16, 2022 Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, NSW — October 22—December 4, 2022 Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW — 17 December, 2022–29 January, 2023 Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, NSW — 10 February–26 March, 2023 Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie, NSW — 8 April–21 May, 2023 Western Plains Cultural Centre, NSW — 3 June–30 July, 2023 If you can't make it to any of the above dates, you can check out the award winners and finalists of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes on the Art Gallery of NSW website. Top image: Packing RoomPrize 2022 winner, Claus Stangl, Taika Waititi. Acrylic on canvas, 245 x 195.1 cm © the artist, image © AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins. Sitter: Taika Waititi.
Another day, another must-try food hybrid. That's the lamington vodka, Iced Vovo cruffin and lasagne pie-filled world we now live in. The latest such combo comes courtesy of two homegrown brands that likely had a hefty part in your childhood sugar highs: lolly company Allen's and soft drink purveyors Kirks. You can do the math from there — yes, Allen's is releasing a range of confectionery inspired by Kirks' classic drink flavours. The brand's Pasito, creaming soda and lemonade varieties are getting the lolly treatment, all via little bottle-shaped gummies, and all in the same pack. Kids birthday parties will never be the same again. Mark mid-August in your diary if you know what you'll be snacking on from now on — for nostalgic reasons, because Pasito and Kirk's creaming soda are still particularly delicious no matter how old you are, or just because these Frankenstein's monster-style culinary mashups always tempt your tastebuds. The lollies will hit major supermarkets and convenience stores, and retail at $3.60 for a 170-gram pack. Clearly, you already know what you need to wash them down with. Also, if you're more of a Kirks' lemon squash or ginger beer fan — or ginger ale in Queensland, or Sno Drop in South Australia — there's no sign of those tipples getting a lolly equivalent just yet. Cross your fingers, though. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kirks Originals (@kirksoriginals) Allen's new Kirks-inspired lollies will hit major supermarkets and convenience stores from mid-August, for RRP $3.60 for a 170-gram pack.
Spending more time at home is much easier to stomach with a hefty rage of desserts on hand, or at least that seems to be Gelato Messina's pandemic motto. Over the past few months, the gelato fiends have served up plenty of tasty specials, including cookie pies in choc chip, red velvet, choc-hazelnut, and peanut butter and jelly varieties; 40 of its best flavours; and full tubs of both Iced VoVo gelato and Messina's own take on the classic Viennetta ice cream cake. This past week, it even whipped up a batch of sticky lamington-scroll hybrids. Next up (because this is a weekly occurrence, so it seems): Messina's version of Italy's famed cremino dessert. It's recreated with gelato, naturally. And it's another of Messina's limited releases, with tubs of the eye-catching creation available at all its stores for a very short period. Wondering what exactly Messina's cremino entails? It combines salted caramel gelato, gianduia fudge, fresh meringue and amaretti biscuits, when adds a layer of freshly piped and torched meringue on top. And if you haven't come across the cremino before, it's a chocolate from Piedmont in the country's north, it dates back to the 19th century and it's made up of three layers, with gianduia chocolate featuring heavily. The latest release in Messina's new 'Hot Tub' series, the cremino gelato can only be ordered online on Monday, August 24, with a one-litre tub setting you back $30. You can then go into your chosen Messina store to pick up your tub between Friday, August 28–Sunday, August 30. If you're in Melbourne, remember that you can only venture to shops within five kilometres of your house — and only once a day — to get essentials, including food. Gelato Messina's cremino gelato tubs will be available to order on Monday, August 24, for pick up between Friday, August 28–Sunday, August 30 — keep an eye on the Messina website for further details.
Last-minute shopping, over-indulging at celebratory shindigs, and pretending not to be annoyed about receiving another pair of socks: they're all a part of every Christmas. For kids and adults alike, so is many a seasonal-themed movie. If it has Santa or Christmas in the title, it's optimal viewing at this time of year. The folks at South Bank certainly think so, and have thrown together their yearly Christmas Cinema Series brimming with merriment. But these free films aren't just for families. Any Yuletide movie held under Brisbane's starry skies and by the water at River Quay Green at this summery time of the season is perfect for, well, everyone. Pack a picnic and enjoy double features every night from Saturday, December 17–Thursday, December 22. The familiar but still festive and fun lineup includes Elf, A Boy Called Christmas, Last Christmas, Arthur Christmas, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The Holiday, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Happiest Season . Among a varied lineup catering for all ages, there's also Ghostbusters II, Daddy's Home 2, Elliott: The Littlest Reindeer and The Star. Attending is free, and the family-friendly flicks screen at 6pm, with each evening's second session showing at 8pm.
Almost synonymous with the proud Aussie spirit, R.M.Williams boots are representative of far more than sturdy footwear. Made on demand in the Adelaide workshop, a pair of RMs delivers quality craftsmanship, trend-surpassing style and excellence in both form and function — all from an Australian owned and operated business. In celebration of R.M.Williams' 90th birthday — a milestone indicative of its long-held icon status — the brand released a limited-edition capsule collection. The release features an exclusive range of boots in the iconic Craftsman and Lady Yearling styles — both renowned for being made from a singular piece of leather and passing through over 80 pairs of hands in their making — which come adorned with commemorative 90th anniversary tugs. Also in the collection is the Jerrawa belt complete with a celebratory plaque (a detail that graces the boots, too). Although the boots and belts are the hero pieces of the range, the exclusive apparel and lifestyle offering from the outback originals are just as worth coveting. Joining the leatherwear is an assortment of tees, made in collaboration with the world's first climate-positive cotton company Good Earth Cotton, and sweatshirts — all of which are emblazoned with the 90th anniversary branding. Plus, if you're keen to try your hand at leatherwork, you can buy the all-new Makers Kit, which is stocked with supplies to handcraft a durable leather cover for The Bushman's Handcrafts, the book authored by RM himself. If you're a legacy fan of the company or you're simply looking to get your first piece, the brand reaching nonagenarian status offers a momentous occasion for your purchase. As the legendary bootmaker Reginald Murray Williams explained, "If you make something good, people will make a track to your door. We made simple things that people wanted and kept them simple." And come the people did. To secure your slice of Australian history, shop online or in store.
Local brothers Dan and Andy have opened a one-stop shop in Hawthorne for all of your grocery needs (and more). Stocked full of market fresh produce daily, the Hawthorne Garage also offers customers a range of high quality foods. Fresh bread, top meats, deli goods and unique fine foods are available, as well as a range of gluten-free and organic foods to satisfy all customers needs. This includes the need for a fresh coffee or a beautiful bunch of flowers. Working out of the old garage building on Hawthorne Road the brothers have honoured the history of the place by keeping classic aspects of the garage such as the service list at the front of the building. The rest has been impeccably restored creating an impressive space that is focused on providing top quality foods and customer service. Dan and Andy's Hawthorne Garage285 Hawthorne Rd (Cnr Orchard St), Hawthorne (Map)www.hawthornegarage.com.au6am-8pm daily
If you've got a hard earned thirst for some spiffy new beer merch, the folks at Victoria Bitter have you covered. The famed Carlton & United Breweries beer has released a new range of branded VB gear for your wardrobe, your head and even your bedroom wall. Dropped this week, the collection's got a definite retro edge, in a nod to the brew's lengthy history quenching the thirst of hardworking Aussies. There are crewneck jumpers, t-shirts, beanies and caps, all emblazoned with that instantly recognisable logo. And yep, these threads are sure to get a serious workout over the upcoming festival season. Alongside the clothes, you'll find a trio of old-school full-colour VB poster prints, vintage-inspired stickers and VB stubby coolers, both in regular size and ones big enough to hold your longneck. What's more, you can feel extra good about your purchase, knowing that the t-shirts and jumpers are all manufactured and printed in Melbourne, by an ethical clothing-accredited manufacturer. Victoria Bitter's new line of 'Big Cold Gear' is available for purchase online.
The service industry is something of a crucible for millions of Australians. Ask anyone, and they probably spent some time as a teenager or student working in retail or hospitality. It's mandatory for anyone looking to gain some valuable life lessons while they're learning basic employment skills and saving some cash. Love it or hate it, we've all got to do it at some point. Gruelling as it sometimes is, the service industry is of immense importance. Who else can make the world's coffees, package their orders, cook their dinners — and do it all while putting a smile on the faces of customers? The simple act of good service makes all the difference for any business; it's a key ingredient to building up a customer base and ensuring loyalty and word of mouth to keep that base growing. Maybe what the world needs is a shortlist — a pocket guide, if you will — to the secrets of good service. If you're an aspiring business owner or an existing member of the service industry, you could probably use some tips from the pros on what good service can and should look like. We made a few calls, and we've got your good service guide right here. RULE 1: DON'T OVERCOMPLICATE IT Service, like anything, is easy to overthink and overcomplicate. But at the end of the day, it's all about the basic fundamentals. In hospitality, you might overthink the prioritisation of good food vs good service, but Alex Brawn of Cremorne's Amatrice Rooftop Restaurant and Caffe Amatrice understands that one takes precedence. "The reality is that we need to be nailing both. But going out to a cafe or restaurant is about an 'experience', and we all like to leave feeling good — and that mostly comes down to good service. Looking after our guests, making them feel good, that's what hospitality is about." "It's a common gripe for people where they try a restaurant, and the food and ambience were amazing, but the service was terrible, and they declare "I will never go again". So it goes to show that it doesn't matter how good your food is, or how expensive or beautiful your fit-out is, if you have poor service then you [as a business] just won't be successful long term." RULE 2: DON'T SHY AWAY FROM BEING PERSONAL It's absolutely key to maintain an professional attitude in any line of work, but in the case of service and hospitality, making things personal can go a long way to keeping a customer happy. It's the little things like smiling, remembering a name, or if you're able, going the extra mile in your service. Brawn, who's also a part of the team at the Williamstown waterfront spot, Sebastian Beach Grill & Bar, puts it plainly: "We keep it simple, just focusing on friendly, genuine service that makes people happy. Remembering regulars' names and having a chat about how their day is going — just those little things that make our guests feel a little bit special." "Recently, a family dined at Sebastian to celebrate an 80th birthday. The host of the dinner was telling her family how she remembered being in San Sebastian many years ago and having a special cheesecake. Our team overhead this conversation and arranged for a Basque cheesecake with a candle…looking after our guests and making them feel good is the key to good hospitality." RULE 3: GOOD SERVICE IS A PARACHUTE IF PRODUCTS FAIL The fact of the matter is this: it's hard to crack an original idea these days. If you're planning to open a bar, restaurant or café, you need something memorable. Good food and drinks are newsworthy and get tongues wagging, but if people don't have a good time consuming those products, you're going to burn out before you know it. Slipstream Brewing Co. is one of Queensland's most awarded breweries, so it is safe to say that director Elisa Stanley-Hunt knows all about the balancing act of products and services. "Great service fosters a welcoming atmosphere, encourages repeat customers, and helps build a strong reputation — especially in the early days. Even if the food isn't perfect yet, exceptional service can turn a first-time visitor into a loyal customer. That said, quality food is a close second. Once service is dialled in, focusing on a menu that's consistent, delicious and suits your brand will solidify your success. Ideally, both should go hand in hand, but if you lead with service, your customers will be more forgiving as you refine your offerings." RULE 4: LEARN TO SPOT A TELL We've already established the importance of personal service, but the ability to listen for and spot little details in a customer's preferences, routines and interests can elevate just another meal into a truly memorable experience. You likely know how good it feels to have a regular barista remember your coffee order, for example. For Andrew Garling of Fortitude Valley's Mr Valentine, that attention to detail is paramount. "Good service at Mr Valentine is anticipating a customer's needs from the moment they walk in the door, nothing more, nothing less. When you spend long enough serving people, they give you small cues as to what they need. We try and take those cues and act on them before they ask. These can be as small as taking a to-go box to a table as they are finishing before they ask, making a coffee when you see a regular walking from afar…they're all very simple things that make our customers feel important, and they cost us nothing to provide...the transaction is the last thing we think about." RULE 5: SAVE TIME ON THE TECHNICALITIES What we've learned here is that good service, above all, comes down to authenticity and human interaction. A smile, listening for special occasions, paying attention to what makes your regulars tick. What you don't want to do is take away from precious staff-to-customer contact time by having to fiddle with terminals and tablets, so having a smooth system to take care of the nitty-gritty makes a world of difference; ask any business owner. That's especially true when products like Square make things as easy for the customer as for the operator. Alex Brawn experiences that often; "the simplicity of the Square POS and EFTPOS units means we spend less time looking at a screen and more time looking after our guests." Andrew Garling agrees: "[Square] allows us to do the things we talked about before and leave the transaction as the last thing to worry about…we can tailor the use of software and [the] hardware experience so the customer has the smoothest possible transaction." Find out how Square can kickstart your business at squareup.com.
"Abbe May plays a scorching guitar — she is the f***ing s**t!" -Nic Harcout, MTV USA Still riding high after the tremendous success of 2011's Design Desire, one of Australia's most criminally under-appreciated artists is back with a brand-new album. And she's launching it by way of a national tour, heading to every state to seduce you firsthand. Or maybe punch you in the face. Or maybe even seduce you by punching you in the face. Abbe May might come from a tiny coastal town in the very southwest of WA, but over the course of four records she has built herself up to the precipice of world domination. Her last album was nominated for the Australian Music Prize and was roundly praised by nearly every person with ears who heard it, its dark, gnarly guitars oozing sultriness, her voice shining in the darkness like a switchblade at midnight. But May promises surprises on her new album, abandoning the '70s-psych influence of Design Desire in favour of "synth-driven doom pop". As May herself declares, "Kiss My Apocalypse is unashamedly sexual and would almost be romantic if it weren't for the vitriol." "Pop is sexy when done well and it's incredibly difficult to do it well if you try too hard," she says. "We wanted to get away from music that took itself too seriously. I'm so tired of this whole shoe gaze, it-cost-a-lot-of-money-to get-a-haircut-that-looks-like-I-haven't-brushed-my-hair-in-months type shit. 'Artists' in denial that they are basically just entertainers. Being an entertainer is more meaningful if you ask me. It's not such a selfish pursuit." For almost any other artist, a major shift in sound away from the most successful album of your career would be a death sentence, crippling you just as you were poised to make a real splash. But Abbe May isn't just any artist. And when you consider that her first two albums drew heavily from (a) Deep South devil blues, then (b) Hawaiian-inspired rockabilly, a fourth major shift on her fourth album could be just what we were all waiting for. https://youtube.com/watch?v=bDJx-yLk3d0
When That's Not Me begins, it's with a black screen and an Oscar speech — and then a toilet and a can of air freshener. Polly Cuthbert (Alice Foulcher) is practicing for the acclaim and awards she hopes will come, but it's clear the aspiring actress still has a way to go. But hey, she's determined. Working at a cinema, turning down soap operas, and waiting to audition for Jared Leto's new HBO show are part of her slow-and-steady approach to carving out a serious career. And it might've worked, if her identical twin sister Amy hadn't started living out Polly's wildest acting fantasies instead. That's Not Me is more than just the title of this smart, funny and perceptive Australian comedy from writer-director Gregory Erdstein and writer-star Foulcher. It's also what Polly finds herself telling her sibling's fans when they start accosting her wherever she goes. Moreover, in a movie that explores the reality that lifelong dreams don't always work out as planned, it offers audiences a clever reminder: there's nothing wrong with not having the life and job you thought you would when you were a kid. Call it a quarter-life-crisis portrait, a faking-it-without-making-it character study, or a not-quite-slacker story. Whichever label you choose, they all fit the bill. As familiar as all of that may sound, the film also deserves to be described as earnest, astute, insightful and thoroughly amusing. Brimming with well-observed scenarios, characters and emotions, it's the kind of movie that makes you feel like you might've seen it all before, only to delight you as you realise you haven't. Frankly, it's the type of flick you could easily imagine remade around an unhappy New Yorker. And yet despite that, it wears its local-and-proud-of-it heart on its sleeve — even while making jokes about the stereotype that no one watches Aussie films. Indeed, this is a movie that is both universal and unmistakably Australian – and that's just one of many delicate balancing acts that That's Not Me achieves. Gags about Jared Leto and the superficial nature of the film industry sit alongside jabs at Neighbours and Home and Away, as well a brief appearance from Andrew O'Keefe. It takes a similar amount of skill to plot a story filled with highs and lows, while maintaining an awareness that life usually exists somewhere in between. The movie's look and feel further blends a variety of elements, from a fond but never rosy view of Melbourne, to music that leans towards the '80s without wallowing in nostalgia, to pacing that feels brisk but never rushed. Of course the biggest juggling task sits with Foulcher, and not just because she's playing twins. Rather than filling the movie with sisters in the thick of sibling rivalry, this is really a flick about Polly's unrealised dreams, and Foulcher gives her character all of the dimensions you'd expect — plus some you might not. Her character's not always sympathetic, but she's certainly relatable, with the actress delivering an immensely likeable and layered turn. If there's any justice, this gem of a film will be remembered in the exact same way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C-78QW3xq8
"Getting the chance to design a world-class steakhouse from scratch is a dream come true," says Michael Tassis. "With the original Fatcow, we inherited the old Cha Cha Char space and had to make it our own. This time, we're taking a site that's never been a restaurant before and turning it into the ideal version of Fatcow." Tassis' hospitality portfolio also includes Yamas Greek + Drink, Massimo, Opa Bar + Mezze, Fosh and Longwang (and will gain an overwater restaurant and bar, plus a landing cafe, as part of Kangaroo Point's new green bridge). In West End, Rich & Rare has steaks taken care of, too. But Fatcow was a beef-eating favourite in its original digs at Eagle Street Pier — and the aim is to repeat the feat now that it has moved to Fortitude Valley. It was back in late 2023 that Tassis Group announced that Fatcow on James Street — which was known as Fatcow Steak & Lobster during its CBD days — would return this year. It lost its previous site, where it had operated since December 2020 in the spot that was formerly home to fellow upscale steak joint Cha Cha Char, when the Brisbane CBD precinct was torn down to make way for an upcoming new $2.1-billion waterfront precinct. Now, since Wednesday, May 8, the new Fatcow is welcoming in patrons. The restaurant has relaunched in the Fortitude Valley spot that Space Furniture and David Jones each used to call home. The design led by Allo Creative and Clui Design harks back to steak-slinging eateries in the mid-20th century, complete with a bar made out of solid marble. Patrons can also peer through a window to the chef's grill to see where the culinary magic happens. Two private dining rooms are also on the premises at Fatcow 2.0, but just eating at a booth here means stepping into your own world. Each one comes with a floor-to-ceiling curtain that screens off the rest of the restaurant. That's another luxe touch at the steakhouse's new digs. Also on the list: wagyu tasting boards and a gold-wrapped 400-gram rib fillet on the menu. Neither comes cheap; the first costs $285 for three types of steak and three sides, and the second — aka the Golden Fatcow — is $190 for a 150-plus-day grain-fed black angus cut from the Riverina region that's wrapped in gold leaf. Under Head Chef Garry Newton, a Fatcow alum who also has Herve's and Rich & Rare on his resume, the new Fatcow's signature dishes also span a $199 steak-and-lobster combo and the butcher's choice, which varies in price. If it wasn't already apparant, this is a treat yo'self type of restaurant. All up, the menu features more than 16 steaks. You can also tuck into mains such as wagyu burgers, buckwheat risotto and lamb shoulder. Caviar is among the options, as are oysters fresh from Brisbane's only live oyster tank, raw scallops and beef tenderloin tartare as entrees, and tank-fresh lobster. The restaurant is taking a 24-hour approach to seafood — that's how long, maximum, the journey from the trawler to your plate will be. As for dessert, choices include a chocolate tart, lime sorbet and basque cheesecake, plus ten cheeses that come served in 50-gram pieces. To drink, a 300-strong wine list combines local and international drops, and cocktails are also among the beverages. Find Fatcow on James Street at 10 James Street, Fortitude Valley — open daily from 11.30am–late. Head to the restaurant's website for more details.
Popularity and greatness aren't the same thing, especially in art, but it's always nice when one — or some — of the movies that are getting audiences flocking to cinemas are among the year's best. 2023 managed that feat with Barbie and Oppenheimer. Across 2024's first six months, Dune: Part Two is leading the charge, and spicily. So, if you did see the latest trip to Arrakis at your local picture palace, you saw one of the highlights of the year so far. The newest exploits of House Atreides and the Fremen fuel just one of 2024's standouts starring Zendaya. Tennis love-triangle drama Challengers, the other, is also merely one of the new flicks this year to feature Josh O'Connor, too — as folks who caught Italian gem La Chimera know. As with every year, this turn of the calendar has been filled with filmic variety, including among the movies that we should all be talking about well into the future. Some won Oscars. Others would've in different years. Some unpack icons. Others demonstrate why particular actors are icons. Some whisk audiences back to the past. Others feel like reliving a memory. Even at 2024's midpoint, whittling down the top silver-screen releases so far isn't an easy task. It's true now as it always is no matter the year: more than 15 excellent features have debuted on screens Down Under between January–June, whether they were brand-new around the world or just new to us after premiering elsewhere in 2023. The absolute best of the best demand an immediate rewatch. They delight, surprise, challenge and engage. Give them another spin — or, if you missed them to-date, a first look — and you're in for a helluva ace viewing experience. Perfect Days When Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' enjoyed its initial sublime movie moment in Trainspotting, it soundtracked a descent into heroin's depths, including literally via the film's visual choices. For three decades since, that's been the tune's definitive on-screen use. Now drifts in Perfect Days, the Oscar-nominated Japan-set drama from German filmmaker Wim Wenders (Submergence). This slice-of-life movie takes its name from the song. It also places the iconic David Bowie-produced classic among the tracks listened to by toilet cleaner Hirayama (Kôji Yakusho, Vivant) as he goes about his daily routine. Fond of 60s- and 70s-era music, the Tokyo native's picks say everything about his mindset, both day by day and in his zen approach to his modest existence. 'Perfect Day' and Nina Simone's 'Feeling Good' each also sum up the feeling of watching this gorgeous ode to making the most of what you have, seeing beauty in the everyday and being in the moment. Not every tune that Hirayama pops into his van's tape deck — cassettes are still his format of choice — has the same type of title. Patti Smith's 'Redondo Beach', The Animals' 'The House of the Rising Sun', Otis Redding's '(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay' and The Rolling Stones' '(Walkin' Thru the) Sleepy City' also rank among his go-tos, all reflecting his mood in their own ways. If there's a wistfulness to Hirayama's music selections, it's in the manner that comes over all of us when we hark back to something that we first loved when we were younger. Perfect Days' protagonist is at peace with his life, however. Subtly layered into the film is the idea that things were once far different and more-conventionally successful, but Hirayama wasn't as content as he now is doing the rounds of the Japanese capital's public bathrooms, blasting his favourite songs between stops, eating lunch in a leafy park and photographing trees with an analogue camera. Read our full review. Love Lies Bleeding In Love Lies Bleeding, a craggy ravine just outside a dusty New Mexico town beckons, ready to swallow sordid secrets in the dark of the desert's starry night. Tumbling into it, a car explodes in flames partway through the movie, exactly as the person pushing it in wants it to. There's the experience of watching Rose Glass' sophomore film emblazoned across the feature's very frames. After the expertly unsettling Saint Maud, the British writer/director returns with a second psychological horror, this time starring Kristen Stewart in the latest of her exceptionally chosen post-Twilight roles (see: Crimes of the Future, Spencer, Happiest Season, Lizzie, Personal Shopper, Certain Women and Clouds of Sils Maria). An 80s-set queer and sensual tale of love, lust, blood and violence, Love Lies Bleeding is as inkily alluring as the gorge that's pivotal to its plot, and as fiery as the inferno that swells from the canyon's depths. This neon-lit, synth-scored neo-noir thriller scorches, too — and burns so brightly that there's no escaping its glow. When the words "you have to see it to believe it" also grace Love Lies Bleeding — diving into gyms and in the bodybuilding world, it's no stranger to motivational statements such as "no pain no gain", "destiny is a decision" and "the body achieves what the mind believes" — they help sum up this wild cinematic ride as well. Glass co-scripts here with Weronika Tofilska (they each previously penned and helmed segments of 2015's A Moment in Horror), but her features feel like the result of specific, singular and searing visions that aren't afraid to swerve and veer boldly and committedly to weave their stories and leave an imprint. Accordingly, Love Lies Bleeding is indeed a romance, a crime flick and a revenge quest. It's about lovers on the run (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's Katy O'Brian pairs with Stewart) and intergenerational griminess. It rages against the machine. It's erotic, a road trip and unashamedly pulpy. It also takes the concept of strong female leads to a place that nothing else has, and you do need to witness it to fathom it. Read our full review, and our interview with Rose Glass. The Zone of Interest Quotes and observations about evil being mundane, as well as the result when people look the other way, will never stop being relevant. A gripping, unsettling masterpiece, The Zone of Interest is a window into why. The first film by Sexy Beast, Birth and Under the Skin director Jonathan Glazer in more than a decade, the Holocaust-set feature peers on as the unthinkable happens literally just over the fence, but a family goes about its ordinary life. If it seems abhorrent that anything can occur in the shadow of any concentration camp or site of World War II atrocities, that's part of the movie's point. It dwells in the Interessengebiet, the 40-square-kilometre-plus titular area that comprised and surrounded the Auschwitz complex, to interrogate how banal genocide was to those in power; commandant Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel, Babylon Berlin), even gloats that his name will be remembered and celebrated for its connection to mass extermination. Höss was a real person, and the real Nazi SS officer overseeing Auschwitz from 1940–43. His wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall) and five children are similarly drawn from truth. But The Zone of Interest finds its way to the screen via Martin Amis' fiction novel of the same name, then hones its interest down from the book's three narrators to the Höss family; a biopic, it isn't, even as it switches its character monikers back to reflect actuality. This is a work of deep probing and contemplation — a piece that demands that its viewers confront the daily reality witnessed and face how the lives of those in power, and benefiting from it, thrived with death not only as a neighbour but an enabler. Camp prisoners tend the Höss' garden. Ashes are strewn over the soil for horticultural effect. Being turned into the same is a threat used to keep the household's staff in line. All three of these details, as with almost everything in the feature, are presented with as matter-of-fact an air as cinema is capable of. Read our full review. Anatomy of a Fall A calypso instrumental cover of 50 Cent's 'P.I.M.P.' isn't the only thing that Anatomy of a Fall's audience won't be able to dislodge from their heads after watching 2023's deserving Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or-winner. A film that's thorny, knotty and defiantly unwilling to give any easy answers, this legal, psychological and emotional thriller about a woman on trial for her husband's death is unshakeable in as many ways as someone can have doubts about another person: so, a myriad. The scenario conjured up by writer/director Justine Triet (Sibyl) is haunting, asking not only if her protagonist committed murder, as the on-screen investigation and courtroom proceedings interrogate, but digging into what it means to be forced to choose between whether someone did the worst or is innocent — or if either matters. While the Gallic legal system provides the backdrop for much of the movie, the real person doing the real picking isn't there in a professional capacity, or on a jury. Rather, it's the 11-year-old boy who loved his dad, finds him lying in the snow with a head injury outside their French Alps home on an otherwise ordinary day, then becomes the key witness in his mum's case. Also impossible to forget: the performances that are so crucial in telling this tale of marital and parental bonds, especially from one of German's current best actors and the up-and-coming French talent playing her son. With her similarly astonishing portrayal in The Zone of Interest, Toni Erdmann and I'm Your Man's Sandra Hüller is two for two in movies that initially debuted in 2023; here, she steps into the icy and complicated Sandra Voyter's shoes with the same kind of surgical precision that Triet applies to unpacking the character's home life. As Daniel, who couldn't be more conflicted about the nightmare situation he's been thrust into, Milo Machado Graner (Alex Hugo) is a revelation — frequently via his expressive face and posture alone. If Scenes From a Marriage met Kramer vs Kramer, plus 1959's Anatomy of a Murder that patently influences Anatomy of a Fall's name, this would be the gripping end result — as fittingly written by Triet with her IRL partner Arthur Harari (Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle). Read our full review. Priscilla Yearning to be one of the women in Sofia Coppola's films is futile, but for a single reason only: whether she's telling of teenage sisters, a wife left to her own devices in Tokyo, France's most-famous queen, the daughter of a Hollywood actor, Los Angeles high schoolers who want to rob, the staff and students at a girls school in the American Civil War, a Manhattanite worried that her husband is being unfaithful or Priscilla Presley, as the writer/director has across eight movies to-date, no one better plunges viewers into her female characters' hearts and heads. To watch the filmmaker's span of features from The Virgin Suicides to Priscilla is to feel as its figures do, and deeply. The second-generation helmer is an impressionistic great, colouring her flicks as much with emotions and mood as actual hues — not that there's any shortage of lush and dreamy shades, as intricately tied to her on-screen women's inner states, swirling through her meticulous frames. Call it the "can't help falling" effect, then: as a quarter-century of Coppola's films have graced screens, audiences can't help falling into them like they're in the middle of each themselves. That's still accurate with Priscilla, which arrives so soon after Elvis that no one could've forgotten that the lives of the king of rock 'n' roll and his bride have flickered through cinemas recently. Baz Luhrmann made his Presley movie in Australia with an American (Austin Butler, The Bikeriders) as Elvis and an Aussie (Olivia DeJonge, The Staircase) as Priscilla. Coppola crafted hers in North America with a Brisbanite (Jacob Elordi, Saltburn) in blue-suede shoes and a Tennessee-born talent (Cailee Spaeny, Mare of Easttown) adopting the Presley surname. The two features are mirror images in a hunk of burning ways, including their his-and-hers titles; whose viewpoint they align with; and conveying what it was like to adore Elvis among the masses, plus why he sparked that fervour, compared to expressing the experience of being the girl that he fell for, married, sincerely loved but kept in a gilded cage into she strove to fly free. Read our full review, and our interview with Cailee Spaeny. Robot Dreams Heartbreak is two souls wanting nothing more than each other, but life having other plans. So goes Robot Dreams, another dialogue-free marvel from Spanish filmmaker Pablo Berger, who had audiences feeling without words uttered with 2012's Blancanieves — and showed then with black and white imagery, as he does now with animation, that he's a master at deeply expressive visual storytelling. His fourth picture as a director was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards. In most years, if it wasn't up against Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron, it would've taken home the Oscar. It earns not just affection instead, but the awe deserved of a movie that perfects the sensation of longing for someone to navigate life with, finding them, adoring them, then having fate doing what fate does by throwing up complications. Usually this would be a boy-meets-girl, boy-meets-boy or girl-meets-girl story. Here, it's a dog-meets-robot tale. The time: the 80s, with nods to Tab and Pong to prove it. The place: a version of Manhattan where anthropomorphised animals are the only inhabitants — plus mechanised offsiders that, just by placing an order and putting together the contents of the package that arrives, can be built as instant friends. Eating macaroni meals for one and watching TV solo in his small East Village apartment each evening, Dog is achingly lonely when he orders his Amica 2000 after seeing an infomercial. As he tinkers to construct Robot, pigeons watch on from the window, but they've never been his company. Soon exuberantly strutting the streets hand in hand with his maker, the android is a dream pal, however, this kismet pairing isn't what gives Robot Dreams its name. Read our full review. Civil War Civil War is not a relaxing film, either for its characters or viewers, but writer/director Alex Garland (Men) does give Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog) a moment to lie down among the flowers. She isn't alone among this stunning movie's stars on her stomach on a property filled with Christmas decorations en route from New York to Washington DC. Also, with shots being fired back and forth, no one is in de-stressing mode. For viewers of Dunst's collaborations with Sofia Coppola, however — a filmmaker that her Civil War co-star Cailee Spaeny just played Priscilla Presley for in Priscilla — the sight of her face beside grass and blooms was always going to recall The Virgin Suicides. Twenty-five years have now passed since that feature, which Garland nods to as a handy piece of intertextual shorthand. As the camera's focus shifts between nature and people, there's not even a tiny instant of bliss among this sorrow, nor will there ever be, as there was the last time that Dunst was framed in a comparable fashion. Instead, Civil War tasks its lead with stepping into the shoes of a seasoned war photographer in the middle of the violent US schism that gives the movie its name (and, with January 6, 2021 so fresh in everyone's memories, into events that could very well be happening in a version of right now). The US President (Nick Offerman, Origin) is into his third term after refusing to leave office, and the fallout is both polarising and immense. Think: bombed cities, suicide attackers, death squads, torture, lynchings, ambushes, snipers, shuttering the FBI, California and Texas inexplicably forming an alliance to fight back, Florida making its own faction, journalists killed on sight, refugee camps, deserted highways, checkpoints, resistance fighters, mass graves and, amid the rampant anarchy, existence as America currently knows it clearly obliterated. (Asking "what kind of American are you?" barely seems a stretch, though.) The front line is in Charlottesville, but Dunst's Lee Smith is destined for the White House with Reuters reporter Joel (Wagner Moura, Mr & Mrs Smith), where they're hoping to evade the lethal anti-media sentiment to secure an interview with the leader who has torn the country apart. Read our full review. La Chimera It's a film about searching for treasure, and it is indeed a treasure. La Chimera is also dreamy in its look and, while watching, makes its viewers feel as if they've been whisked into one. There's much that fantasies are made of in writer/director Alice Rohrwacher's fourth feature, which follows Corpo Celeste, The Wonders and Happy as Lazzaro — God's Own Country breakout and The Crown star Josh O'Connor leading the picture as a British archaeologist raiding tombs in 80s-era Italy chief among them. Thinking about Lara Croft, be it the game, or the Angelina Jolie (in 2001 and 2003 flicks)- or Alicia Vikander (2018's Tomb Raider)-led movies, is poking into the wrong patch of soil. Thinking instead about the way that life is built upon the dead again and again, and upon unearthed secrets as well, is part of what makes La Chimera gleam. Rohrwacher's latest, which also boasts her Happy as Lazzaro collaborator Carmela Covino as a collaborating writer — plus Marco Pettenello (Io vivo altrove!) — resembles an illusion not just because it's a rare mix of both magical-realist and neorealist in one, too (well, rare for most who aren't this director). In addition, this blend of romance and drama alongside tragedy and comedy sports its mirage-esque vibe thanks to being so welcomely easy to get lost in. As a snapshot of a tombaroli gang in Tuscany that pilfers from Etruscan crypts to try to get by, it's a feature to dig into. As an example of how poetic a film can be, it's one to soar with. The loose red thread that weaves throughout La Chimera's frames, intriguing folks within the movie, also embodies how viewers should react: we want to chase it and hold on forever, even as we know that, as the feature's 130 minutes tick by, the picture is destined to slip through our fingers. Read our full review. The Taste of Things Cooking is an act of precision. It's also one of feeling. On the movie that nabbed him the Best Director award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Trần Anh Hùng (Éternité, Norwegian Wood) helms with the same care, spirit and emotion that his characters display in the kitchen. The Taste of Things' audience has a front-row seat to both, as this 1885-set French picture begins with dishes upon dishes being whipped up and the feature's gaze, via cinematographer Jonathan Ricquebourg (Final Cut), lenses their creation intimately and sumptuously. The film's extraordinary opening 30 minutes-plus, as the camera is trained on the stove and counter with slight detours around the room to collect or wash ingredients, is meticulously crafted and at the same time instinctual. Think: the sensations of observing the finest of fine-dining chefs and being a child watching your grandmother make culinary magic, as nearly every kid has, all rolled into one appetising introductory sequence. In the home of gourmand Dodin Bouffant (Benoît Magimel, The King of Algiers), and in its heart, his personal chef Eugénie (Juliette Binoche, The New Look) is so skilled and fastidious that she'd do small-screen hit The Bear proud; she's clearly a conjurer of the culinary arts, too. Hùng and Ricquebourg — the latter a well-deserving Lumiere Award-winner for his efforts here — are methodical with the choreography of setting the scene, while equally deeply immersed in the flow of the kitchen's tasks. As soundtracked by chirping birds, if this was The Taste of Things for 135 minutes and not just half an hour-ish, it'd remain a mesmerising movie. (A word of warning: eat before viewing, lest hunger pangs not just simmer but boil over.) Adapting 1924 novel The Passionate Epicure: La Vie et la Passion de Dodin-Bouffant, Gourmet by epicure Marcel Rouff as he scripts and directs, Hùng does more than fashion among the most-handsomely staged and shot imagery of a meal coming to life, but his approach to this entrée establishes the flavour. Read our full review. Dune: Part Two Revenge is a dish best served sandy in Dune: Part Two. On the desert planet of Arrakis, where golden hills as far as the eye can see are shaped from the most-coveted and -psychedelic substance in author Frank Herbert's estimation, there's no other way. Vengeance is just one course on Paul Atreides' (Timothée Chalamet, Wonka) menu, however. Pop culture's supreme spice boy, heir to the stewardship of his adopted realm, has a prophecy to fulfil whether he likes it or not; propaganda to navigate, especially about him being the messiah; and an Indigenous population, the Fremen, to prove himself to. So mines Denis Villeneuve's soaring sequel to 2021's Dune, which continues exploring the costs and consequences of relentless quests for power — plus the justifications, compromises, tragedies and narratives that are inescapable in such pursuits. The filmmaker crafts his fourth contemplative and breathtaking sci-fi movie in a row, then, after Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 as well. The vast arid expanse that constantly pervades the frames in Dune: Part Two isn't solely a stunning sight. It looks spectacular, as the entire feature does, with Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser (The Creator) back after winning an Oscar for the first Dune; but as Paul, his widowed mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson, Silo), and Fremen Stilgar (Javier Bardem, The Little Mermaid) and Chani (Zendaya, Euphoria) traverse it, it helps carve in some of this page-to-screen saga's fundamental ideas. So does the stark monochrome when the film jumps to Giedi Prime, home world to House Harkonnen, House Atreides' enemy, plus Arrakis' ruler both before and after Paul's dad Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) got the gig in Villeneuve's initial Dune. People here are dwarfed not only by their mammoth surroundings, but by the bigger, broader, non-stop push for supremacy. While there's no shortage of detail in both Part One and Part Two — emotional, thematic and visual alike — there's also no avoiding that battling against being mere pawns in an intergalactic game of chess is another of its characters' complicated fights. Read our full review, and our interview with Greig Fraser. The Promised Land The transfixing terrain of Mads Mikkelsen's face has been cast against formidably frosty and inhospitable climes before, weathering mirroring weathering. Sporting a piercing and determined glint in his eye, the Danish acting great has previously surveyed the Scandinavian landscape, too, seeing possibility where others spot peril. It was true in Arctic, in Valhalla Rising and now in The Promised Land: there's no stare as mesmerisingly resolute as his. When Ludvig Kahlen, Mikkelsen's latest character, insists that he can do what no one else has done — to begin with: settling the heath on the heather-covered Jutland moorland and building a colony for the king, a feat considered virtually impossible in the mid-18th century — doubting him isn't a possibility for anyone in the movie's audience. The BAFTA-nominated Another Round star has danced in historical drama territory for his countryman director Nikolaj Arcel in the past as well, with the pair reteaming after 2012's Oscar-nominated A Royal Affair. A different king sits on the throne in this film, Frederick V instead of Christian VII; however, the regal shadow remains inescapable. This time, Mikkelsen and Arcel tell not of a doctor influencing a monarch and a country, but of a soldier aligning his quest for a better future with a sovereign's wish, and learning what it means to chase a dream only to realise that you need something less tangible. Kahlen's attempt to farm land considered barren is equally a battle against entitlement and arrogance thanks to his clash with Frederik de Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg, Borgen), a cruel local magistrate who contends that the king's land is his own — and feels far enough away from Copenhagen for there not to be any consequences for his claim. Read our full review. Challengers Tennis is a game of serves, shots, slices and smashes, and also of approaches, backhands, rallies and volleys. Challengers is a film of each, too, plus a movie about tennis. As it follows a love triangle that charts a path so back and forth that its ins and outs could be carved by a ball being hit around on the court, it's a picture that takes its aesthetic, thematic and emotional approach from the sport that its trio of protagonists are obsessed with as well. Tennis is everything to Tashi Duncan (Zendaya, Dune: Part Two), Art Donaldson (Mike Faist, West Side Story) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O'Connor, La Chimera), other than the threesome themselves being everything to each other. It's a stroke of genius to fashion the feature about them around the game they adore, then. Metaphors comparing life with a pastime are easy to coin. Movies that build such a juxtaposition into their fabric are far harder to craft. But it's been true of Luca Guadagnino for decades: he's a craftsman. Jumping from one Dune franchise lead to another, after doing Call Me By Your Name and Bones and All with Timothée Chalamet, Guadagnino proves something else accurate that's been his cinematic baseline: he's infatuated with the cinema of yearning. Among his features so far, only in Bones and All was the hunger for connection literal. The Italian director didn't deliver cannibalism in Call Me By Your Name and doesn't in Challengers, but longing is the strongest flavour in all three, and prominent across the filmmaker's Suspiria, A Bigger Splash and I Am Love also. So, combine the idea of styling a movie around a tennis match — one spans its entire duration, in fact — with a lusty love triangle, romantic cravings and three players at the top of their field, then this is the sublime end product. Challengers is so smartly constructed, so well thought-out down to every meticulous detail, so sensual and seductive, and so on point in conveying Tashi plus Art and Patrick's feelings, that it's instantly one of Guadagnino's grand slams. Read our full review, as well as what Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist had to say about the film when they were in Australia. All of Us Strangers As Fleabag knew, and also Sherlock as well, Andrew Scott has the type of empathetic face that makes people want to keep talking to him. Playing the hot priest in Phoebe Waller-Bridge's (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) acclaimed comedy, he was the ultimate listener. Even as the Moriarty to Benedict Cumberbatch's (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar) Holmes, and with a game always afoot, conversation flowed. All of Us Strangers puts this innate air — this sensation that to be in Scott's company is to want to unburden yourself to his welcoming ears — at its tender and feverishly beating heart, this time with Paul Mescal (Foe) as one of his discussion partners. Dreamy and contemplative, haunting and heartfelt, and also delicate and devastating, the fifth film by Weekend and 45 Years writer/director Andrew Haigh, which is his first since 2017's Lean on Pete, is stunningly cast with Scott in seeing-is-feeling mode as its isolated screenwriter protagonist alone. That Scott is joined by Mescal, Claire Foy (Women Talking) and Jamie Bell (Shining Girls) gives All of Us Strangers one of the finest four-hander casts in recent memory. Awards bodies clearly agree, with nods going around for everyone (alongside wins for Best Film and Best Director, the British Independent Film Awards gave all four of the feature's core cast members nominations, with Mescal scoring the Best Supporting Performance trophy, for instance). Haigh isn't merely preternaturally talented at picking the exact right actors to play his on-screen figures, but it's one of his most-crucial skills, as every performance in his latest shattering picture demonstrates. It comes as no surprise that Scott, Mescal, Foy and Bell are all excellent. It's similarly hardly unexpected that Haigh has made another movie that cuts so emotionally deep that viewers will feel as if they've been within its frames. Combine these stars with this filmmaker, though, and a feature that was always likely to combine its exceptional parts into a perfect sum is somehow even more affecting and astonishing. Read our full review. How to Have Sex Movies don't have pores, but How to Have Sex might as well. Following a trip to Greece with three 16-year-old best friends who want nothing more than to party their way into womanhood — and to get laid, too — this unforgettable British drama is frequently slick with sweat. Perspiration can dampen someone when they're giddily excited about a wild getaway, finishing school and leaving adolescence behind. It can get a person glistening when they're rushing and drinking, and flitting from pools and beaches to balconies and clubs. Being flushed from being sozzled, the stickiness that comes with expending energy, the cold chill of stress and horror, the fluster of a fluttering heart upon making a connection: they're all sources of wet skin as well. Filmmaker Molly Manning Walker catalogues them all. Viewers can see the sweat in How to Have Sex, with its intimate, spirited, like-you're-there cinematography. More importantly, audiences can feel why protagonist Tara (Mia McKenna-Bruce, Vampire Academy) is perspiring, and the differences scene to scene, even when she's not quite sure herself. How to Have Sex also gets those watching sweating — because spying how you've been Tara, or her pals Em (debutant Enva Lewis) and Skye (Lara Peake, Halo), or lads Badger (Shaun Thomas, Ali & Ava) and Paddy (Samuel Bottomley, The Last Rifleman) in the neighbouring resort unit, is inescapable. Walker has been there herself, with parts of her debut feature as a writer and director drawn from her own time as a Tara, Em or Skye while also making the spring break and Schoolies-like pilgrimage from England to the Mediterranean. When the movie doesn't lift details directly from her own experience, it shares them with comparable moments that are virtually ripped from western teendom. One of the feature's strokes of genius is how lived-in it proves, whether Tara and her mates are as loud and exuberant as girls are when their whole lives are ahead of them, its main character is attempting to skip her troubles in a sea of strobing lights and dancing bodies, or slipping between the sheets — but not talking about it — is changing who Tara is forever. Read our full review, and our interview with Molly Manning Walker. Drive-Away Dolls No one might've thought of Joel and Ethan Coen as yin and yang if they hadn't started making movies separately. Since 2018's The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, their latest feature together as sibling filmmakers, the elder of the Coen brothers went with Shakespearean intensity by directing 2021's The Tragedy of Macbeth on his lonesome — while Ethan now opts for goofy, loose and hilariously sidesplitting silliness with Drive-Away Dolls. The pair aren't done collaborating, with a horror flick reportedly in the works next. But their break from being an Oscar-winning team has gifted audiences two treats in completely different fashions. For the younger brother, he's swapped in his wife Tricia Cooke, editor of The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and The Man Who Wasn't There, on a picture that couldn't slide more smoothly onto his resume alongside the madcap antics that the Coens combined are known for. Indeed, spying shades of the first of those two features that Cooke spliced in Drive-Away Dolls, plus Raising Arizona, Fargo and Burn After Reading as well, is both easy and delightful. As a duo, the Coen brothers haven't ever followed two women through lesbian bars, makeout parties and plenty of horniness between the sheets, though, amid wall dildos and other nods to intimate appendages, even if plenty about the Ethan-directed, Cooke-edited Drive-Away Dolls — which both Ethan and Cooke co-wrote — is classic Coens. There's the road-trip angle, conspiracy mayhem, blundering criminals in hot pursuit of Jamie (Margaret Qualley, Poor Things) and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan, Cat Person), dumb men (those crooks again) in cars and just quirky characters all round. There's the anarchic chases, witty yet philosophical banter and highly sought-after briefcase at the centre of the plot, too. And, there's the fact that this is a comedic caper, its love of slapstick and that a wealth of well-known faces pop up as the zany antics snowball. The Joel-and-Ethan team hasn't made a film as sapphic as this, either, however, or one that's a 90s-set nod to, riff on, and parody of 60s- and 70s-era sexploitation raucousness. Read our full review, and our interview with Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke.
On September 23, the September-long cultural feast that is Brisbane Festival sets up shop at the Riverstage for one of its musical highlights: an afternoon with London Grammar, James Vincent McMorrow and some special guests. One heads to Australia for the first time since releasing their second album in June. The other drops by for the third time in just over a year. Both will put on quite the ethereal show. They'll be joined by this year's Splendour hits The Kite String Tangle, plus Mansionair and Wafia. In fact, with everyone on the bill boasting a connection to the annual Byron event (even if London Grammar ultimately cancelled their 2014 appearance), consider this a taste of the fest to tide you over until next year.
Brisbane's Premiership win over Geelong didn't just light up the MCG — it also dominated Australian screens, drawing more than 6.1 million viewers across broadcast and streaming. According to figures released by the Seven Network, Saturday's Grand Final reached a national total TV audience of 4.08 million, up on last year's numbers, with a further 969,000 streaming the match on 7plus Sport — a 48 percent increase year-on-year. The post-match presentations pulled in 5.5 million viewers, while 3.9 million tuned in for the pre-game show. The result makes the AFL Grand Final 2025's most-watched program so far, surpassing the NRL's State of Origin decider, which reached 5.7 million Australians. Seven's Head of AFL and Sport Innovation, Gary O'Keeffe, said the numbers reinforced the sport's unrivalled pull. "We want to thank every viewer who has joined us across the season. From the opening bounce at the SCG, right through to the Grand Final post-match celebrations, Australians have embraced Seven and 7plus in record numbers," he said. Chris Jones, Seven's Director of Sport, called the audience record "a fitting end" to an incredible season. With an 81.1 percent share of commercial audiences on Saturday, plus 90.9 percent in live streaming and 86.7 percent in BVOD, the AFL Grand Final sets a high bar for Seven as it moves into a stacked summer schedule that includes the Bathurst 1000, Spring Racing Carnival, AFLW Finals and a home Ashes series. You can watch the 2025 AFL Grand Final back now via 7plus. Images: Getty Images
Once the site of Expo 88, and now a sprawling riverside precinct with everything from pools to eateries, South Bank is about to become a Christmas wonderland. When Friday, December 1 hits, festive cheer will take over the waterside parkland with activities for Brisbane's merriest residents. Chief among them: the return of the annual free outdoor Christmas cinema. Getting jolly by the river has meant settling in for themed films without paying a cent for years now, and 2023 is no different. With two screenings per night from Monday, December 18–Saturday, December 23 — at 6pm and 8pm — at River Quay, Christmas movie lovers can settle in for a selection of yuletide favourites, including Elf and The Holiday. Those dates will see the bulk of South Bank's Christmas festivities start raining down on the precinct, including a seasonal song-and-dance show, photo opportunities with Santa, carols by the river and live tunes performed on the lawn nightly, soundtracking bites and drinks from nearby eateries. When December kicks in, however, South Bank's Christmas tree will light up from that very day, with decorations set to dazzle the parkland until Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Another huge drawcard, especially if you're a last-minute shopper, is the return of The Collective Markets Christmas Edition from Friday, December 15–Saturday, December 23. Under twinkling lights, rows of stalls will sell everything from clothes to homewares — with a big focus on handmade goods — to help you find gifts for your nearest and dearest. While South Bank's Christmas antics light up the south side of the river in the inner city, the Brisbane CBD's already-announced festive lineup has plenty on offer across the water — including the return of The Enchanted Garden at Roma Street Parklands. Grinches, consider yourselves warned. Christmas at South Bank runs from Friday, December 1 — head to the South Bank website for further details.
Gelato Messina has whipped up a lot of of tasty specials in its time, and during the pandemic. Indulgent red velvet cookie pies, caramel scrolls with cheesecake gelato, Golden Gaytime-inspired Viennetta, 40 of its greatest gelato hits — they're just some of the OTT dishes that've been on the menu just over the past 18 months or so. Another that's proven particularly popular: Iced VoVo gelato. So, the dessert fiends are bringing back its frosty version of everyone's favourite childhood biscuit, and they're also turning it into a bavarian. What's better than turning an Iced VoVo into gelato? Taking that gelato and turning that into a bavarian, obviously. And, what's even better than that? Making something that can either be eaten frozen as a gelato cake, or defrosted as a mousse cake — or somewhere in-between if you'd like to go all semifreddo. Wondering what exactly an Iced VoVo bavarian entails? It layers coconut and raspberry mousse and raspberry gel over a coconut biscuit base, then tops it with raspberry marshmallow and desiccated coconut. And yes, the end result looks like the bikkies you know and love — but in frosty cake form. If you're keen to get yourself a piece — which'll cost you $38 — they're available to preorder online on Monday, September 20. And, because Messina's specials always prove popular, the brand is now staggering the on-sale times. Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am, Victorians at 9.30am, and New South Wales customers split across three times depending on the store (with pies from Circular Quay, Surry Hills, Bondi, Randwick and Miranda on sale at 10am; Brighton Le Sands, Tramsheds, Parramatta and Darlinghurst at 10.30am; and Darling Square, Newtown, Rosebery and Penrith at 11am). The catch? You'll need to peel yourself off the couch and head to your local Messina store to pick up your order. The pies will be available for collection between Friday, September 24–Sunday, September 26. Sydneysiders, remember to abide by lockdown restrictions when it comes to picking up your bavarian — with folks in most suburbs required to stick to their Local Government Area, or within five-kilometres from home, and a strict five-kilometre limit in place in LGAs of concern. Melburnians, under new eased lockdown rules that come into effect at 11.59pm on Friday, September 17, you'll be permitted to travel within a ten-kilometre radius to pick up food. Gelato Messina's Iced VoVo bavarians will be available to order from 10am on Monday, September 20, for pick up between Friday, September 24–Sunday, September 26. Head to the Messina website for further details.
On the Gold Coast, sun, surf and sand go hand-in-hand with high-rise buildings, busy bars and plenty of theme parks; however one patch of the city still keeps things relatively low-key. While The Spit at Southport is home to Sea World and the Palazzo Versace, it's also filled with parkland, naturally vegetated sand dunes, a huge expanse of beach and the sand spit that gives the area its name — and soon it'll all be part of Australia's biggest ocean park. Announced by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and expected to take up to a decade to come to fruition, the Gold Coast Ocean Park will span 201 hectares, with 140 hectares earmarked for park activities. The green space north of Sea World is set to retain its current natural splendour while adding other attractions, from a restored 4000-square-metre rainforest by the water to an underwater sculpture garden. Crucially, existing favourites and features will remain as part of the just-released draft master plan, including the kiosk, marine rescue and boat ramps. As for the extensive sand dunes, they'll benefit from improved cycle and walkways. Splitting the area into seven precincts — the top of The Spit, Wave Break Island, the Federation Walk coastal reserve, Muriel Henchman Park, a village centre, Philip Park and a southern gateway — The Spit is also set to boast light rail through to Sea World, a super yacht marina, a seaside promenade as well as a broadwater boardwalk, an island viewing platform, a waterslide park and a selfie tower. The list of features continues, complete with picnic and event spaces, bird lookouts, an Aboriginal cultural centre, a new resort and a public beach club, with the latter concept floating around in different guises for a while. If that sounds like a lot to fit into one place, that's because the entire space will eclipse Brisbane's South Bank eight times over, the city's Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens by two-and-half times, and also prove 12 times bigger than the public areas at Sydney's Barangaroo. On the world front, the Qld Government has its sights set on ranking among global landmarks — with New York's Central Park coming in at 340 hectares and Hyde Park London spanning 142 hectares. Parts of The Spit — specifically areas around Fisherman's Wharf and Sea — have been earmarked for commercial development, and a cruise ship facility is still a possibility for Philip Park. The potential terminal been long been one of the contentious aspects of The Spit's proposed redevelopment over the years, with the controversial project earning a hefty outcry of opposition. While the current blueprint is the result of more than 21,100 pieces of feedback and over 2500 folks dropping by consultation sessions according to the government, interested parties can still have their say until 5pm on Sunday, March 31. For more information about the Gold Coast Ocean Park and the Southport Spit draft master plan can be viewed online.
This winter, the seaside town of Queenscliff will be anything but sleepy. Playing host to the inaugural Low Light Festival, the Victorian spot will be brought to life across a month-long feast for all of the senses. A celebration of music, food, art and culture delivered by a huge lineup of homegrown and international talent, the event takes place over four weekends, running from June 22 to July 14. And if anything's going to pull you out of hibernation and down to the beach in the heart of a frosty Melbourne winter, it's this. Teaming up with the Icelandic Dance Company, along with local groups the Lighthouse Arts Collective and Bellarine Lighthouse Films, Low Light is set to screen exclusive Aussie premieres of three exciting new films. Catch the hypnotic ÖRÆVI or Life in the Undergrowth, with music by the legendary Sigur Ros, as it's screened under the stars, or immerse yourself in Gabríela Friðriksdóttir's compelling film Des Irae. Or, enjoy the goddess tale Union of the North, a collaboration between Matthew Barney, Valdimar Jóhannsson and Erna Ómarsdóttir, Music lovers will find their festival happy place within the Queenscliff Town Hall, as it hosts a series of one-night performances from the likes of acclaimed singer-songwriter Dan Sultan, folk-pop four-piece All Our Exes Live In Texas, and American alt-country star Justin Townes Earle. A tasty program of one-off food events will also feature throughout the festival, with highlights including a Bastille Day dinner with a French musical twist, and a four-course progressive feast showcasing the region's best produce and chefs. And you'll get even more of a taste for this charming corner of the world with a series of local art exhibitions, creative workshops, gin and whisky tastings, and heritage walks. Queenscliff is located about a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, or you can catch the ferry across from Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula. Low Light events feature Friday through Sunday across each week of the festival — perfect for a day trip or that winter weekend getaway.
Fact #1: Brisbanites love going out for breakfast. The booming breakfast scene is prompting locals to ditch dinner splurges in favour of their earlier, sunnier counterpart. Fact #2: Brisbanites love their fitness. You can barely swing a cat in this city without hitting a boutique gym, cross fit centre, HIIT workout station, boot camp group, boxing ring or personal trainer. So, you might ask how does one navigate the convergence of these two often conflicting lifestyle choices? We love to exercise and also to venture out for brekkie, but might not want to delve into in the pancake vs. waffle debate every time. Luckily local restauranteurs and cafe owners have cottoned on to this trend, so we've handpicked the best healthy breakfast venues in Brisbane (including spots you might not have given thought to before) to satisfy calorie conscious folk. Mondo Organics This West End hideaway seeks to educate patrons about the benefits of organic eating with both a café and cooking school on site. Sourcing high quality produce and offering a menu that changes seasonally, you can expect whole egg omelettes with superfood fillings, free range bacon and poached eggs and deliciously juicy garlic mushrooms that provide your daily dose of B vitamins. 166 Hardgrave Rd, West End; (07) 3844 1132; www.mondo-organics.com.au Sourced Grocer What was once the dream of childhood friends Jerome Batten and Louis Joseph is now realised as a neighbourhood grocery and café in the heart of Teneriffe. A bustling hub for early risers and weekend breakfasters, Sourced Grocer is all about providing good, nourishing food, sourced locally and delivered fresh to your tastebuds. Choose from options like bircher muesli with berries and zingy Granny Smith apple; or wholesome homemade toast served with piles of fresh avo and lemon, smoked salmon or omega 3-packed sardines. 11 Florence St Teneriffe; (07) 3852 6734; www.sourcedgrocer.com.au Double Shot Espresso The duo behind Double Shot Espresso are well versed in the hospitality trade, having been in the game for years (head chef Michael De Laurence also mentored Matt Moran, a small but significant fact fully realised on your first bite). The menu is split into breakfast and 'eggs and things', making it easy to navigate the lighter options. The focus is on simple, delicious food prepared fresh using high quality ingredients and produce; from a fruity bircher, berry granola or greek yoghurt served with stewed rhubarb and ginger compote; to the 'Parisian Breakfast' of boiled egg, toast and preserves, yoghurt, fresh berries, a glass of orange juice and tea or coffee. (Plus we all know that French women don't get fat…) 2/125 Oxlade Drive, New Farm; (07) 3358 6556 Nutrition Station The perfect pit stop for city suits making the mad dash to work, either straight off the train or post gym sesh. Situated at the Queen Street Mall entrance of the Wintergarden complex and open seven days a week, Nutrition Station's menu is designed by internationally recognized dietary nutritionist and resident 'diet doctor' at Men's Health, Moodi Dennaoui. Expect to find a series of protein and supplement-packed shakes, super smoothies, froyo and nu bowls of acai and pitaya. Wintergarden 171-209 Queen St, Brisbane; 0401502242; www.nutritionstation.com Felix Espresso Tucked away in Burnett Lane this tiny venue serves a select menu of fresh, locally sourced, organic dishes made with love on site. Grab your daily dose of healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats with the fresh avocado on organic sourdough topped with homemade labna and lemon pepper, or dive into a 'Bircher Jar' filled with chia seeds, gluten free Maleny yoghurt, fresh fruit and nuts. 50 Burnett Lane, Brisbane; (07) 3161 7966 Kitchen Sanitarium A Brisbane CBD icon, Kitchen Sanitarium has been serving up wholesome, healthy breakfasts for over a century. Offering vegan, nut free, gluten free and low GI menu items, dishes here come packed with fibre, antioxidants and superfoods. Enjoy free range eggs, organic sourdough or the kitchen's own muesli with superfood chia granola (a signature blend of sesame seeds, chia seeds, almonds, pepitas, honey and rolled oats), while you people-watch before that 9am meeting. Riverside Centre 145 Eagle Street, Brisbane; (07) 3221 7988; www.kitchensanitarium.com.au; image credit: Kitchen Sanitarium Primal Pantry As far as paleo and gluten free cafés go, Primal is definitely up there, promising diverse, interesting and tasty options for breakfast. There are plenty of 100% grain-free muesli, toast and pancake options (all made with nuts, eggs or coconut as alternatives) and regular specials like almond porridge with mixed berry compote and nut crumb. And if you're still dubious of the paleo diet, the 'Caveman Plate' bursting with meat and protein is sure to sway you… Cnr Florence & Macquarie Street, Teneriffe; (07) 3252 5960; www.primalpantry.com.au Kiss the Berry These guys are seriously #killingit with a huge social media following and hungry hoards lining up at their Eagle Farm Markets stall every Sunday. Their focus is on the power of the acai bowl, with a signature blend of frozen acai berries, strawberries, banana and a dash of apple juice topped with crunchy golden granola. All you have to do is choose a serving size, fresh fruit toppings and add a sprinkling of your chosen superfood. A healthy gem in a sea of carb-loaded market stall temptations, city folk can now get their acai fix at the just-opened Kiss the Berry café on Creek Street. Eagle Farm Markets and 9 Creek St, Brisbane; www.kisstheberry.wordpress.com Photography: Mimi Hyll
UPDATE: MARCH 14, 2020 — Organisers have announced that Westpac OpenAir will no longer go ahead in Brisbane in April "in line with the advice of Australia's Chief Medical Officer and Prime Minister to cancel non-essential gatherings of 500-plus people". It will be rescheduled to a later date this year " the near future when current health concerns have passed". To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Perched right by the river, boasting views of the Story Bridge and CBD, and filled with plenty of grass, the Howard Smith Wharves precinct lawn was always going to become one of Brisbane's go-to hangouts. Picnics, parties and beer festivals have all popped up there, plus exercise sessions, too — and, come April, so will the city's newest openair cinema. Already a favourite in Sydney for two decades — and running in Zurich, Basel, Rio, Sao Paulo, Lisbon, Madrid and Okinawa over the past 30 years as well — Westpac OpenAir is finally making the leap to Brissie. Between Sunday, April 5–Sunday, April 26, it'll screen 22 nights of movies on one mighty big screen and with one helluva backdrop. The screen is as much an attraction as what it'll be playing. Measuring 170 square metres, it'll reach three storeys high. And, it'll be set against the river, so the city's skyline will form quite the striking background — so if whatever flick you're watching doesn't do it for you, you can always marvel at the surrounding sights. That said, OpenAir's film lineup boasts plenty of exciting titles. Kicking things off is the Keira Knightley-starring Misbehaviour, about the 1970 Miss World competition in Britain, while, at the other end of the season, Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan will eat their way around yet another country in The Trip to Greece. Both flicks will screen before they hit regular cinemas, too — as will Coogan's other new movie, satire Greed, plus Australian music biopic I Am Woman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5KKS9xBzPc For those fond of catching classics under the stars, Pretty Woman and Dirty Dancing are both on the bill, as is an ANZAC Day session of Gallipoli. Otherwise, Brisbane cinephiles can catch up with the likes of The Invisible Man, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker on OpenAir's spectacular screen — or Little Women, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), Jojo Rabbit and A Quiet Place Part II. Food trucks will also be onsite from 5pm each night and, if you're looking for some pre-movie dinner, Felons Brewing Co, Greca, Stanley, Yoko, Ciao Papi and Betty's Burgers are right next door. Westpac OpenAir's debut Brisbane season runs from Sunday, April 5–Sunday, April 26 at Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City. For further details — and to buy tickets from 9am on Monday, March 23 — visit the cinema website.
It's summertime, which means plenty of days hanging at the beach, or in the park, and relaxing in the sun. And while summer reads are an essential part of any good trip outside, some days we're left either squinting against the glare or fighting that inevitable sunglasses tan. On those days, reach for your headphones and check out one of these podcasts instead. From true tales of murderous doctors to mind-boggling stories of viral Reddit threads, these podcasts will keep you entertained and informed this summer — whether you're relaxing at the beach or commuting on a train. SERIAL SEASON THREE The cult-favourite podcast Serial returned for its third season in September 2018, having been silent since season two aired back in 2015. Season three focuses on the entire criminal justice system in the US — and, more specifically, on the inconsistencies and failures of the courts in Cleveland, Ohio. Host Sarah Koenig (This American Life) and her crew spent one year in the Cleveland courts, where they recorded not only in courtrooms but also in judge's chambers, prosecutors' offices and back hallways, plus outside the courthouse in family members' houses, streets and prisons. Koenig witnessed an onslaught of court offences, including extra charges, pressure to plead guilty, shabby police work, "eleventh hour" evidence and dozing jurors and a judge — all ending with outsized prison sentences. Again, the story unfolds week-by-week, but this time follows different cases each time in the nine-episode season. Listen to Serial Season Three here. SLOW BURN SEASON TWO A Slate Plus production, Slow Burn explores "subplots, strange details, and forgotten characters" of contemporary political history in the United States. While season one focused on Nixon's Watergate scandal of the 1970s, season two (released in August 2018) investigates the 1998 impeachment of President Bill Clinton — during which Clinton was accused of having sexual relations with his intern Monica Lewinksy, and was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice for lying about it under oath. Host Leon Neyfakh explores this story of political and sexual scandal in depth, finding modern-day parallels, including similarities to the #MeToo movement. Whether you remember the scandal or not, the podcast explores it in a new, 2019-appropriate, light. Listen to Slow Burn here. DR. DEATH Dr. Death follows the deeply disturbing true story of Christopher Duntsch, a Texas neurosurgeon who was convicted of gross malpractice and sentenced to life in prison in 2017. A whopping 33 of his patients were left seriously injured from his operations — two of which died on the operating table. Created by Wondery — the network behind another wildly popular podcast, Dirty John — and hosted by the award-winning health and science reporter Laura Beil, the ten-episode season finished this December. It explores a medical system that fails to protect patients and the horrors that can await in the operating room because of it. Listen to Dr. Death here. NO MAN'S LAND No Man's Land dives into stories of some of the most trailblazing and game-changing, yet lesser known, women of history. The first season aired in November, with five episodes out so far. Some of the women featured include mid-1900s poet Sylvia Plath; investigative journalist and civil rights activist from the late 1800s, Ida B Wells; and Cuban-American artist Ana Mendieta. The latest episode examines the originators of women's social clubs, and the resulting groups' power and influence. Host Alexis Coe is also the in-house historian for the podcast's creators, The Wing — a networking company that runs community spaces for women. Listen to No Man's Land here. THE TEACHER'S PET A must-listen for fans of murder-mystery, The Australian-created podcast The Teacher's Pet looks into the 1982 disappearance of Lynette Dawson — the wife of rugby league player and teacher Chris Dawson. The podcast unveils large amounts of evidence that had not been previously collected or examined by police, including details of the couple's marriage, Lynette's disappearance and Chris Dawson's affair with a 16-year-old student. Late last year, the podcast was awarded the 2018 Gold Walkley Award, one of Australia's most prestigious journalism awards. Hosted by award-winning Australian journalist Hedley Thomas, the 14-episode podcast aired in May, with two additional episodes added at the end of December following Chris's arrest and release after being granted bail. More episodes are also expected to air as new leads are unearthed, so this is the ideal time to get into this podcast. Listen to Teacher's Pet here. THE WITCH HUNT SEASON TWO As the title indicates, The Witch Hunt investigates famous witch hunts in history, both "literal and metaphorical" — starting, of course, with Salem, Massachusetts in season one. In season two, which aired back in April 2017, the focus is on the 'satanic panic' of the late-1900s, when the imagined existence of satanic ritual abuse in the States led to a pandemic of fear and paranoia. The eight episodes feature interviews with the likes of award-winning investigative journalist Jordan Smith (The Intercept) and Historical Blindness podcast host Nathan Lloyd. The Witch Hunt explores scapegoating of all kinds, too, including topics like child abuse allegations and Dungeons and Dragons (yes, the board game). Listen to The Witch Hunt here. CALIPHATE The New York Times' podcast Caliphate follows reporter Rukmini Callimachi, whose career focuses on Islamic extremism. The investigative podcast centres around the fall of Mosul — when the Iraqi Army was defeated by the Islamic State in 2014. The ten-chapter season asks questions like "who is it that ISIS appeals to, and how?" and "who are we really fighting"? Callimachi speaks with recruits, former and returned ISIS members, and detainees, as well as enslaved victims of the Islamic State. Released in April 2018, the powerful series unveils the reality of being a terrorism reporter on the front line and sheds light on the nature of ISIS violence. Listen to Caliphate here. ENDLESS THREAD While some people like to focus on internet's ability to isolate, WBUR and Reddit have combined forces to explore the ways in which it creates shared experiences and connections between people — on all sides of the globe. Endless Thread digs through Reddit communities to uncover stories that reveal the true potential of the internet, and some of them are fascinating, hilarious and horrifying. The podcast is hosted by Ben Brock Johnson (Marketplace Tech, Codebreaker) and WBUR's producer Amory Sivertson (Modern Love: The Podcast). It launched in January 2018 and continues to air every Friday. It promises to be more than cat videos, but also full of cat videos, and covers everything from miraculous near-misses (including a pilot landing a plane sans windshield) to a viral flyer selling a Soylent sculpture. Whether you love or hate Reddit, this one is worth the listen. Listen to Endless Thread here. LADIES, WE NEED TO TALK Exploring topics of work, health and sexuality, Ladies, We Need To Talk is created by women for women. It's an ABC Radio Podcasts production and was the winner of the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards for Best Lifestyle and Heath Podcast. Hosted by Australian TV presenter Yumi Stynes, the ongoing episodes delve into topics like anxiety, hormones, being judged by looks instead of intelligence and society's obsession with youth. Styne — who's joined on the show by a lineup of influential female Aussies — shares personal stories and discusses the struggle for women to balance work and private life. Ladies, We Need To Talk also encourages listeners to call in and share their own stories. Listen to Ladies We Need To Talk here. HEAVYWEIGHT The award-winning podcast Heavyweight just completed it's third season in December and continues to be a firm favourite amongst audiences and critics alike. It's hosted by comedian and author Jonathan Goldstein (This American Life, WireTap), who considers himself something of a "therapist with a time machine". He presents an usual podcast that tells the stories of ordinary people who have a major regret in life. In each episode, Goldstein guides a different person back to a pivotal crossroad in their life and helps them confront and, hopefully, overcome it. For example, in the first episode, Goldstein attempts to reunite his 80-year-old dad, Buzz, with his older brother. Heavyweight also encourages email submissions for the show. So, if you have a moment in time you want to get back or change, might as well try your luck — who knows, we might be hearing you in a future episode. Listen to Heavyweight here.
'The mormons are coming', posters popping up all around Brisbane promised last year. Until May, the mormons are officially here. Brisbanites have been waiting for years for The Book of Mormon to come to town, but it seems that we already want more. While the musical's first Queensland run has only just started, a return season has been announced for 2020. If you haven't nabbed tickets to the current slate of shows, don't worry — Trey Parker and Matt Stone's hit musical will bring its hilariously irreverent self back to QPAC's Lyric Theatre from January 3, 2020. The production spent a year in Melbourne, then did the same in Sydney, and initially slated three months for Brisbane; however it clearly wasn't long enough. Tickets for the 2020 season will go on sale on Monday, March 25 and, given that The Book of Mormon has been enjoying sell-outs everywhere it has played, it's certain to prove a hot ticket. In Sydney, it set a record for the highest grossing musical in the city's history, and did the same at Melbourne's Princess Theatre. Written by South Park and Team America's notoriously puerile creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, together with Robert Lopez of genius grown-up muppet show Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon is probably one of the most lauded comedies ever to have centred on the Church of Latter Day Saints, African missions, AIDS, bum jokes and super ironic racism. If it wasn't so smart and so funny, few would forgive it. But since it is, The Book of Morman has picked up nine Tonys, four Olivier Awards and a Grammy since it debuted in 2011, and has been called "one of the most joyously acidic bundles Broadway has unwrapped in years". If you've been envious of the throngs seeing the musical in New York, Chicago, London, elsewhere in Australia or in Brisbane at the moment, then you'll be plenty excited that you'll now get another chance to go learn all the idiosyncratic details of Mormonism, meet war criminal General Butt-Fucking Naked and know the true meaning of the hakuna matata-like saying 'Hasa Diga Eebowai'. The Book of Mormon plays QPAC's Lyric Theatre until May 31, 2019, then returns from January 3, 2020. Tickets for the return season go on sale on Monday, March 25 from BookOfMormonMusical.com.au. Image: Ryan Bondy, Zahra Newman, Nyk Bielak and company in The Book of Mormon, AUS 1411. (c) Jeff Busby.
What do Picnic at Hanging Rock, Romper Stomper, Wake in Fright, Puberty Blues, The Devil's Playground and Mystery Road all have in common? As well as being exceptional Australian movies, they've all made the jump to the small screen, too. Television shows based on all of these great flicks have reached TVs over the past decade, in fact — and now a series inspired by 1999 classic Two Hands looks set to join them. Screen Australia, the country's screen development, production and promotion support agency, has just announced that it's providing funding for the new TV version of Two Hands. At the moment, the series has the same working title as the Heath Ledger- and Rose Byrne-starring hit flick, and also boasts the same creative driving force, with writer/director Gregor Jordan (Dirt Music) working on developing his stellar crime film into a television show. Like the movie, the series will be an action-charged comic revenge thriller. Obviously, it can't star Ledger, who catapulted to fame thanks to his iconic role. Whether any other original cast members might pop up, if the show will link in with the feature or be set in the same world, or if it'll act as a small-screen remake — these are all questions that it's too early to answer. The same goes for whether Powderfinger's 'These Days' will feature on the soundtrack, and then get stuck in everyone's heads for years again afterwards. Jordan is developing the series with help from writers Melissa Bubnic (Shameless), Gretel Vella (The Great), Sarah Bassiuoni (The Heights), Greg Haddrick (Pine Gap) and Meyne Wyatt (play City of Gold), as well as producers Justin Davies (Psychoville) and Marian Macgowan (The Great), plus executive producers Tim White (The Luminaries) and Chris Oliver-Taylor (Glitch). Need a refresher on the original movie? Haven't seen it yet, somehow? As well as starring a fresh-faced Ledger and Byrne, it's one the best Australian films of the 90s, and one of the best Aussie movies in general, too. It follows Jimmy (the one and only Ledger), an ex-street kid and strip-club bouncer who is charged with delivering some cash for his boss (Bryan Brown, Hungry Ghosts). That doesn't turn out as planned, so soon he's on the run — alongside Alex (Byrne, worlds away from her recent role in Physical), the girl of his dreams. If you're suddenly and understandably now keen to watch Two Hands, the movie, it's currently streaming via Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Binge, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Check out the trailer for the film below: The Two Hands TV series has just received development funding from Screen Australia, so it doesn't yet have an airdate — but we'll update you with further details as they come to hand.
American historical drama gets so contemporaneous as to become current affairs with Zero Dark Thirty, the film about the CIA's hunt for and killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal, who worked together on the Oscar-winning Hurt Locker, reunite for another epic about a different type of war. It starts in 2001, when two planes hit the World Trade Center, and chilling documentary footage recalls the pain caused that day. Two years later, rookie Maya (Jessica Chastain) is sent to join a specialist team at a CIA black site in Pakistan, where a detainee, following torture and deception, discloses the name Abu Ahmed. Operations come and go for the next eight years, but Maya comes to fixate on that one name, whom she believes to be Bin Laden's right hand. Zero Dark Thirty is stunningly well made, with a controlled level of tension that works on a scale of high to higher. It remains nail-bitingly riveting over two hours and forty minutes. Interestingly, the structure is almost like three films, or at least, a film with three clearly defined acts. Each passing act (complete with the appearance and disappearance of its own high-calibre cast, including Jennifer Ehle, a buff Chris Pratt, Joel Edgerton, and James Gandolfini) reinforces the intensity of Maya's perseverance, her lonely state of being in the right. The film has won widespread acclaim from critics, but from reading the news, you'd think everyone hated it. Many from the American right have criticised the film for its having supposedly improper access to classified documents and glorifying Obama, and many from the left have slammed it for advocating torture. Both stances seem an overreaction. Zero Dark Thirty does depict "enhanced interrogation techniques" — torture, to you and me — happening during the Bush administration, and it also depicts that torture was a favoured tactic of the CIA operatives you get to know here. That's probably accurate. Its attraction to these people in the field is the feeling that they're doing something and of expediting processes when delay can be fatal. The film also shows some of the problems with torture: it yields useful but also false information, and the act is viscerally depraved (even if it's not totally possible for the audience to sympathise with a tortured character whom we only see as dehumanised). The issue isn't that the filmmakers support torture, but that in Zero Dark Thirty, as in The Hurt Locker, they're concerned with hyper-positioning viewers into the perspective of American martial figures. They want you to feel their fear, sacrifice, and bravery — not for a moment the fear, sacrifice, or bravery that could be reflected back at them by the enemy. Many of us prefer to see films that have a different, more challenging purpose, but you can't deny that what Zero Drk Thirty sets out to do, it does excellently. Concrete Playground has 10 in-season double passes to give away to Zero Dark Thirty. To be in the running, make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EYFhFYoDAo4
This year, Australia's leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, is inviting audiences to experience a connection to Country in a whole new way. The company's newest stage production, Illume, will tour nationally from June to September 2025, bringing Bard-Bardi Jawi culture and storytelling to the stage. Developed by Mirning woman and Bangarra Artistic Director and Co-CEO Frances Rings, the show is an exciting kaleidoscope of images, music and movement. It explores light as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds, the impacts of light pollution, and puts forward the question: 'Is the deep wisdom passed down from elders enough to illuminate a path forward from the shadows of a dark future?'. [caption id="attachment_1007624" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] It's also the first time a Bangarra mainstage production has been created in partnership with a First Nations visual artist – Goolarrgon Bard man, Darrell Sibosado. Sibosado is known for his pearl shell carvings and large-scale geometric installations, with works shown at the Biennale of Sydney and QAGOMA, and held in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria and Art Gallery of South Australia. In Illume, his visual language shapes the entire production, from costume and set design to lighting patterns that ripple across the stage, creating a shimmering world that draws directly from his Bard-Bardi Jawi heritage. "I think [Frances' work] and my work will work very well together, there is a similar energy," Sibosado says. "It's always about the rhythm and everything of my own Country." [caption id="attachment_1002105" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cass Eipper[/caption] On top of Sibosado's artistic influence, what makes the production special is the way it came to life through Bangarra's Cultural Creation Lifecycle, a process that involves years of community engagement, transfers of knowledge, and on-Country visits. This unique Cultural Creation Lifecycle is the foundation of all Bangarra's work and can take anywhere from 3 to 4 years from start to finish. With each production, the process begins with people, place and story, then involves multiple stages of research, development and input from cultural leaders. [caption id="attachment_1002103" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cass Eipper[/caption] For Illume, the Bangarra creative team made multiple trips to draw inspiration, including travelling to Lombadina on the Dampier Peninsula in Western Australia. There, they met with local cultural consultants, spent time listening and observing, and sought permission to bring elements of their stories into the work. Rings and her collaborators consider the Cultural Creation Lifecycle an essential part of the creative process. Rather than drawing from archives or second-hand sources, the company builds work through lived experience. By being on Country, surrounded by the landscape and people who shape the story, they're able to create something that's authentic and respectful. [caption id="attachment_1002106" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] In Illume, that deep connection to Country is felt in every moment, from the stunning set details to the choreography led by Rings, and the score by Brendon Boney, an Wiradjuri/Gamilaroi man and longtime Bangarra collaborator. The end result is a performance that's immersive, powerful and grounded in place. It promises to bring audiences closer to the stories of Bard-Bardi Jawi Country in a way that's creative and entirely original. Bangarra will tour Illume nationally from June to September 2025, with stops in Sydney, Perth, Albany, Canberra, Brisbane, Darwin and Melbourne. Whether you've followed Bangarra's work for years or you're seeing the company for the first time, Illume is a chance to experience a unique creative collaboration that brings Country to the stage in your city. Illume tour dates: Gadigal Country Sydney Opera House – Wednesday, June 4 to Saturday, June 14 Whadjuk Noongar Boodja Heath Ledger Theatre, Perth – Tuesday, July 10 to Sunday, July 13 Kinjarling Albany Entertainment Centre – Friday, July 18 Ngunnawal Country Canberra Theatre Centre – Friday, July 25 to Saturday, July 26 Meanjin QPAC, Brisbane – Friday, August 1 to Saturday, August 9 Garramilla Darwin Entertainment Centre – Friday, August 15 to Saturday, August 16 Wurundjeri Country Arts Centre Melbourne – Thursday, September 4 to Saturday, September 13 Bangarra's 'Illume' tours nationally from June to September 2025. Head to the website for more information or to book your tickets. Images courtesy of Bangarra Dance Theatre By Jacque Kennedy
Hello, sunshine and goodbye cold winter nights — that's right, summer is right around the corner, which means we can finally get our tan on at the beach or enjoy a sunny Sunday (boozy) brunch. There are a lot of things to take into consideration when planning a day out in the heat, so we've joined forces with Mr Black to compile a list of things for you to take note of to further elevate your summer experience. From revamping your picnic setup to stocking up on ready-to-drink Mr Black Espresso Martinis, here's your cheat sheet on how to be best prepared for the warmer days ahead. [caption id="attachment_870994" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chloe Smith[/caption] UPGRADE YOUR PICNIC GEAR WITH A MULTI-PURPOSE BASKET Picnics usually happen on the spur of the moment, so having a multi-purpose basket on hand — like one of these sturdy, insulated ones by Picnic Season — is always a good idea. Consider opting for one with sturdy straps to keep cutlery, cups, plates and more in place, as well as a built-in thermally-insulated cooler bag to store your cold drinks (like a pack or two of Mr Black Espresso Martinis). A good rule of thumb: have a basket on hand that looks bigger than what you think you'll need. [caption id="attachment_870827" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Declan Blackall[/caption] INVEST IN A PICNIC TABLE WITH DRINK HOLDERS If there's one thing more heartbreaking than dropping your picture-perfect sanga on the ground, it's spilling your drink all over your picnic setup. To avoid potential disaster (and clutter), consider investing in a picnic table that comes with drink holders. Whether it's for your canned espresso martini or – if you're taking a break from alcohol – iced latte, a table like this one from Temple & Webster will save you from cleaning up a mess. Trust us, you'll thank us later. CATCH THE SUN WITH A SUNSET APP — AND MAKE SURE THERE'S PLENTY OF SUNSCREEN Admit it, there's a 99% chance that you've got at least one sunrise or sunset photo on your phone or camera. To make life a little easier for you and not disappoint your next sunrise or sunset adventure, download the Sun Chaser app to keep track of when the next Instagram-worthy sunrise or sunset will happen in your current location. The platform provides details like the intensity of the clouds and how colourful the light rays will be on any given day. And if you're chasing the sun, don't forget the sunscreen, too! [caption id="attachment_870828" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Declan Blackall[/caption] OVERSTOCK ON THE ICE (ESPECIALLY TO KEEP YOUR CANNED ESPRESSO MARTINIS COOL) The weather has been exceptionally unpredictable recently, so you've got even more reason to be prepared for the unexpected. Despite what your weather app says, you'll never know how hot the day could get. So if you're at the beach (or basically anywhere outdoors) this summer, always bring more ice than you need — especially if you're storing drinks that are best consumed cold, like a Mr Black Espresso Martini. [caption id="attachment_870830" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Declan Blackall[/caption] KEEP IT INTERACTIVE WITH ACTIVITIES LIKE FINSKA, KUBB OR A FRISBEE While sunbathing, eating and drinking sound like the perfect combination, why not kick it up a notch by taking part in an activity with your crew? Stick to the classics like Finska or Kubb, which will without a doubt unleash everyone's competitive side while also getting the endorphins going. You could also go for a laid-back activity like frisbee to get your fur baby involved as well. [caption id="attachment_871154" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption] SEATING, BLANKETS AND CUSHIONS KEEP THINGS COSY AND COMFORTABLE Don't neglect your comfort. Be sure to always have a quality picnic blanket if you plan to spend the day at the garden or beach — we love the colourful, waterproof and eco-friendly designs by Central Coast maker Saltwater Picnic Co (pictured above). Spruce your setup with cosy cushions and extra blankets in case you decide to extend your stay. [caption id="attachment_870834" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Declan Blackall[/caption] PREPARE ONE-BITE FOOD THAT'S EASY TO EAT Some of you might love to go the extra mile and prepare a hearty spread when you're out and about. However, if you aren't in the mood to go through a 12-step recipe, you could always put together something simple like a hearty, veggie-filled sandwich or wrap. After something sweet that won't melt? On the morning of your trip, chop up fresh seasonal fruit and store them in a reusable container, with an ice block or two to keep it cool. [caption id="attachment_870835" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artur Lewandowski (Unsplash)[/caption] A GOOD SPEAKER TO CREATE THE PERFECT VIBE Music not only brings people together, but it's the easiest way to set a mood. Which makes a speaker an essential item to bring when you're out with your crew. If you want to go the extra mile, curate a playlist for the day, too. If you currently don't have a portable speaker, look into the Marshall Emberton Portable Bluetooth Speaker or a UE MEGABOOM 3, which bring both style and good vibes to any gathering. [caption id="attachment_870847" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Declan Blackall[/caption] MAKE SURE THERE'S REAL CUTLERY AND GLASSWARE (PERFECT FOR ESPRESSO MARTINI O'CLOCK) Sipping on an espresso martini out of a lovely glass just hits different and you can't deny that. Treat yourself and your crew by elevating your picnic setup with stainless steel flatware, ceramic plates and wine or cocktail glasses for an upgraded experience. This is where your multi-purpose basket will come in handy as you won't need to worry about your cutlery and glassware shattering into pieces during your commute. Looking for more easy ways to elevate your summer gatherings — especially when espresso martini time hits? Head to the Mr Black website. Top image: Declan Blackall
Your trip finally made it out of the group chat, but now the struggle is on to keep the friendships intact after the trip. It's almost impossible to imagine anyone having a bad time on the Sunshine Coast, but where you choose to call home while you're there can make all the difference. In partnership with Visit Noosa, we've compiled a guide to some of the top-notch accommodation options around the region — from one-bedroom studios on Noosa's main strip and luxe hotels with ocean views to easygoing resorts with kid-friendly activities and multi-bedroom homes. [caption id="attachment_965601" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netanya[/caption] For Style Savants Stay in the heart of the action at Netanya Noosa. The sophisticated resort is sandwiched between the bustle of Hastings Street and the tranquillity of Main Beach, so you'll be in a prime position to experience the best of the area. There are serviced apartments to suit all types of groups, ranging from poolside studios for solo travellers and couples to two-bedroom beachfront rooms with a rooftop terrace and even a three-bedroom penthouse villa with views across Main Beach and Laguna Bay. Each self-contained apartment features king beds, a kitchenette and flexible housekeeping options, while the resort offers concierge services, laundry facilities, on-site parking, Tesla airport transfers and a heated beachfront pool. [caption id="attachment_965595" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Noosa Springs Golf Resort[/caption] For Wellness Fanatics If shopping or lounging by the beach doesn't quite cut it for you, book in at the Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort for wellness activities galore. Spend your days working on your handicap at the 18-hole golf course, playing tennis, doing laps in the heated pool or taking part in one of the many daily exercise classes at the fitness centre before unwinding at the spa. Alongside classic treatments such as massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps, there's also a flotation pool and thermal suite with a hydromassage pool, infrared sauna, steam room and blitz shower. [caption id="attachment_965597" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sofitel Noosa[/caption] For Luxury Lovers Level up your stay at the five-star Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, conveniently located on Hastings Street. Sofitel combines attentive service with luxe rooms and stellar facilities, including a day spa, the hatted Noosa Beach House Restaurant, a swim-up pool bar and the Riviera Bar. If you can tear yourself away from the resort, Main Beach is only a two-minute walk away, while Noosa National Park and Sunshine Beach are just five minutes by car. [caption id="attachment_965596" align="alignnone" width="1920"] RACV[/caption] For Families If you're travelling with the whole family, RACV Noosa Resort has you covered. It offers everything from one-bedroom apartments to multi-storey, three-bedroom villas that sleep up to eight people. Keep the kids entertained (and maintain your sanity) with the resort's wide range of facilities, which include heated pools with water slides, a games room, playground, spa, tennis court, restaurant, bar and free shuttle service to Noosa Junction, Hastings Street and Main Beach. During the school holidays, you can even entrust your kids to the qualified professionals at the Kids Club Care service, who will host games and activities for your little ones between 5.30–8.30pm, so you can enjoy a romantic dinner without the little ones. [caption id="attachment_965600" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clubb Coolum[/caption] For Surf Buffs Go straight from rolling out of bed to rolling into some of the Sunshine Coast's legendary waves at Clubb Coolum Beach Resort. The relaxed resort has a range of two- to three-bedroom apartments with views of the water and is located right by Coolum Beach. The lesser-known beach is only a 30-minute drive from Noosa Heads and boasts various wave types for all skill levels. If you're starting out, Coolum Surf School is a five-minute walk from the hotel. After hitting the surf, you can keep your heart rate up at the outdoor pool, gym, games room or tennis court before kicking back in the sauna or whipping up a feast at the barbecue. [caption id="attachment_965598" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tingirana[/caption] For Cosy Couples It's all about embracing the coastal aesthetic at Tingirana Noosa, where you can don your best sun hat while cosying up with a mystery novel on a blue-and-white striped recliner at the beachfront pool. Choose from one-bedroom studios overlooking Hastings Street or one- to two-bedroom apartments and penthouses facing Noosa Beach. Each comes equipped with a kitchen, a private balcony overlooking the water and a barbecue. Guests also get direct beach access and can use the resort's infinity pool, gym, restaurant (which offers room service) and parking. [caption id="attachment_965599" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zinc[/caption] For Long-Term Stays If you're planning to enjoy the Sunny Coast for a longer stretch (because why wouldn't you?), opt to rent a holiday unit from Zinc Properties. The company has a range of two-bedroom apartments available in Noosa Heads, complete with parking, kitchens, private balconies and extras like an outdoor barbecue, a pool, hot tub and water or hinterland views. And if you decide to extend your stay indefinitely, there are even apartments and houses for rent or sale on the Zinc Properties site. [caption id="attachment_965602" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Niche[/caption] For Bigger Groups Prefer the privacy of your own place? Niche Holidays has you covered with over 80 stylish properties around Noosa. From two-bedroom apartments with direct access to Main Beach to a five-bedroom Mediterranean-style villa with a pool and a sprawling eight-bedroom home with a private jetty, Niche Holidays has a property for every type of group — with enough bedrooms and private breakaway spaces for when group tensions start to rise and your social battery runs low. Start planning your Noosa getaway and find out more at the Visit Noosa website. Images: Tourism Noosa
