When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Brisbane is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you celebrate the little things that bring a sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Brisbane. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine. This week, pick some leaves from South Bank's free herb garden, enjoy ice cream from a slice of watermelon and spend a Sunday brunching and book shopping. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
After introducing its cookie pies to the world last month, followed by serving up an OTT red velvet one, Gelato Messina is bringing the decadent dessert back for a third round with the OG chocolate chip flavour. Hang on, a cookie pie? Yes, it's a pie, but a pie made of cookie dough. And it serves two–six people — or just you. You bake it yourself, too, so you get to enjoy that oh-so-amazing smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through your kitchen. These pies are now available for preorder — so if you missed out last time, here's your chance to get yourself a piece of the pie. On its own, the indulgent choc chip pie will cost $20. But to sweeten the deal, the cult ice creamery has created a few bundle options, should you want some of its famed gelato atop it. For $28, you'll get the pie and a 500-millilitre tub, while with a one-litre tub or a 1.5-litre tub, it'll cost $34 and $39 respectively. The catch? You'll have to peel yourself off the couch and head to your local Messina store to get one. You can place your preorder now via Bopple, with pick up times available between Thursday, May 14 and Sunday, May 17. You can preorder a Messina cookie pie via Bopple to pick up from all NSW, Vic and Queensland Gelato Messina stores (except The Star) from May 14–17.
Brisbane's balmy spring weather, a varied spread of seafood and a day spent embracing both: that's what's on the menu at The Prince Consort on Sunday, November 10, 2024. From 12pm, the Wickham Street spot is going all in on the ocean's finest by hosting the returning Spring Fling Seafood Festival. The fest will be serving up everything from prawns and paella to sashimi and a heap of other seafood bites, with multiple stations set up around the place. Roaming oyster shuckers will be wandering about, too, while live cooking demonstrations are also on the menu — and you can try your hand at the prawn-peeling competition. Entry is free, but bookings are encouraged if you're keen to add a seafood platter for two — which features half-shell scallops with devilled butter and salmon roe, Moreton Bay bugs, beer-battered fish, prawn cutlets, cooked prawns, natural oysters, salt and pepper calamari, sashimi, chips, salad and more — to your fest. And yes, Brisbane is rarely short on seafood festivals — but just like everything that you can eat on the day at this one, you can never have too much of a good thing.
The BrisStyle Indie Twilight Markets is a haven for lovers of everything handmade and unique. You are sure to find something you love at these quirky markets as there will be a plethora of stylish and gorgeous jewellery, trinkets, art and accessories amongst other goodies. What sets these markets apart from others is their successful fusion of the hustle and bustle of city life with the relaxed vibe of South-East Queensland. Christmas parade performers will be wandering throughout the markets, sprinkling a little bit of magic in King George Square. These gorgeous markets are held from 5-9pm, under twinkling stars and close to the magnificent Christmas tree. Support local artists by purchasing a few Christmas presents and soak up the festive atmosphere at the BrisStyle Indie Twilight Markets.
Give your Monday blues the boot with a dose of razzmatazz at the Queensland Ballet — and we don't mean watching Swan Lake while sipping champagne (though that isn't without its merits). We're talking about getting your body moving. Ham it up with a Broadway jazz class, get your swing on with a lesson in jazz dance or find your groove in a contemporary session. The school offers casual classes, so you're welcome to pick and mix as you see fit. Whichever style you choose, you'll be under the guidance of a cracking dancer and choreographer, be it award-winning Nerida Matthaei, or another dexterous member of the Queensland Ballet Company.
Brisbane's streets are about to look a whole lot brighter — and sport a lot more paint, feature giant murals aplenty and showcase a heap more art in general. The reason: the returning Brisbane Street Art Festival, which'll take over the city from Saturday, May 7–Sunday, May 22 for its sixth and largest physical event. When it comes to splashing art across the streets, spraying some paint around and stencilling up a storm, this festival offers a firm reminder: no, Banksy isn't the only artist worth celebrating and never has been. Indeed, the street art scene has been thriving in Brisbane for years, which is why this fest even exists. 2022's BSAF will also feature international artists for the first time since 2019, helping put 50 new large-scale murals around the place — even if only temporarily. That includes Miss Birdy, Iñigo Sesma and Fivust, with the talent lineup spanning folks from the USA, Spain, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia and New Zealand. They'll be painting up a storm alongside Australian artists such as Sofles, Lisa King and Rachael Sarra. [caption id="attachment_848396" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Aleja Hine by @mellumae[/caption] Also on the list: everyone from 23rd Key, Bronik, Drapl and GERM to Gus Eagleton, Katherine Viney, MAUY and Yin Lu. Over the festival's 16-day run, their efforts will be complemented by a range of art events — including Scribble Slam, a Brisbane-themed photography exhibit and a big party at Felons Brewing Co — and workshops. One place you'll want to head to is Northshore, where BSAF is taking over an entire warehouse and using it as its headquarters. Dubbed Superordinary Northshore, it'll host 12 mural activations, plus plenty of events — including the fest's opening party. Yes, that means there'll be impressive large-scale artworks by the river — and at Howard Smith Wharves and South Bank as well. Also getting a new coat of paint: the Queen Street Mall, RNA Showgrounds and the Valley mall, and that's just a glimpse of the venue list. [caption id="attachment_715977" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Drapl and Treazy by Aimee Catt[/caption] BSAF is bringing Tools of the Trade, an exhibition from Hong Kong, our way as well. It steps through the history of street art and graffiti, but views it through the tools that artists use to create their work. And if you're keen to learn a new skill, the aforementioned workshop lineup has doubled since last year, and now features everything from yarn bombing to tufting. The 2022 Brisbane Street Art Festival runs from Saturday, May 7–Sunday, May 22. For more information, head to the event's website. Top images: Cam Scale; Gus Eagleton and Jordache by Lincoln-Savage; Sheep Chen and Adnate by Joshua Taten.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Brisbane is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you celebrate the little things that bring a sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Brisbane. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine. This week, cuddle some cats at a dedicated cat cafe, cool off at some old-school baths just outside the CBD and get someone else to cook Sunday roast for you. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
It's the movie that was always going to be made, the re-enacted version of one of the most heartbreaking small-town murder mysteries and biggest miscarriages of justice the United States has seen. It's also the movie that never should have been made, for the devastating true tale as told in four documentaries now — the Paradise Lost trilogy, and West of Memphis — can't be embellished, fictionalised or bested. Yet exist Devil's Knot does, a cinematic facsimile of the originals, albeit with an ample dose of star power. Though the potency of the facts remains, the sensationalist and the sentimental combine in an attempt to craft a cautionary case of tragedy crippling a community not just in its initial appearance but in the way it is then handled. Two trios drive the story: eight-year-old schoolboys who meet a gruesome fate, and teen outsiders marked for their difference. In the wake of the crime that rocked Arkansas, panicked locals start braying for the blood of Damien Echols (James Hamrick), Jason Baldwin (Seth Meriwether) and Jessie Misskelley Jr (Kristopher Higgins). For private investigator Ron Lax (Colin Firth), discrepancies complicate the reported information. As grief-stricken mother Pamela Hobbs (Reese Witherspoon) watches on, the untimely demise of her son becomes a circus fuelled by a determination to convict and a disregard for competing theories. Alas, though dead children, blamed adolescents and bureaucratic bungling make for strong material, Devil's Knot places its emphasis on Lax and Hobbs, unconvincing figures of focus rendered as observers, not participants. Their sympathetic access point isn't needed given the strength of what lies beneath, nor are Firth and Witherspoon's overplayed performances. Another issue plagues the adaptation of Mara Leveritt's 2002 text of the same name: only relating part of the puzzle. Many real-life developments occurred after the book's publication; that the outcome is relegated to the film's endnotes robs it of its conclusion. With a wealth of data to draw upon, something had to give, and the problem of recreating oft-seen scenes was always going to be difficult to overcome. Director Atom Egoyan and his writers — Deliver Us From Evil duo Paul Harris Boardman and Scott Derrickson — just can't strike the right balance, indulgent in what they include and troubled by what remains absent. What emerges in Devil's Knot is an unfortunate example of the right pedigree and intentions making the wrong moves, on a subject so scrutinised that any missteps would always stand out. With an auteur's eye on an inflammatory case, and with well-known actors wringing importance from the situation, the film wants to exemplify the kind of haunting deliberation of complexity the story demands, but its lingering gaze — narratively, emotionally and aesthetically — remains superfluously tied to its surface. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ofkn4zYrF5U
The late, great Jim Henson gave the world many things, including the Muppets in general, Sesame Street's loveable puppet characters, Kermit the Frog's memorable voice and all things Fraggle Rock. He also turned filmmaker three times, creating three of the great puppet movies of the 1980s — The Great Muppet Caper, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. While Labyrinth still earns plenty of attention for plenty of reasons — David Bowie being one of them, obviously — The Dark Crystal also deservedly holds a place in fans' hearts. Co-directed with his Muppets colleague Frank Oz, the fantasy-adventure flick follows a Gelfling called Jen, who is trying to bring back balance to his own world by finding and returning a broken shard from a powerful gem. Henson and Oz also worked their puppeting magic on the movie, of course. Over the years, a sequel has been mooted more than once, including one with Australian Daybreakers, Predestination and Winchester filmmakers Michael and Peter Spierig at the helm. No follow-ups have ever come to fruition, but Netflix has done the next best thing, reviving the beloved film for a ten-part series. Set to release at the end of August, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is a prequel to the movie — and yes, it uses puppets for its protagonists, not CGI, as the just-dropped first teaser shows in stunning detail. Seemingly picking up where the film left off, it's based on Dark Crystal companion novels Shadows of the Dark Crystal and Song of the Dark Crystal. Age of Resistance also boasts quite the cast, with Rocketman's Taron Egerton, Glass' Anya Taylor-Joy and Game of Thrones' Nathalie Emmanuel voicing three elf-like Gelflings. They're joined by a hefty list of names, so prepare to hear the vocal tones of Helena Bonham Carter, Natalie Dormer, Eddie Izzard, Theo James, Toby Jones, Shazad Latif, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mark Strong, Alicia Vikander, Mark Hamill, Jason Isaacs, Keegan-Michael Key, Simon Pegg, and Andy Samberg as well. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KYLwTGx7uU The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance hits Netflix on August 30.
Wynnum Fringe lives up to its name, giving Brisbane's bayside its own fringe festival. The fest is upon us for another year, and it just keeps getting bigger. First staged in 2020 as a three day event, then returning in 2021 for six days, the festival is back for a third go in the seaside suburb — this time, with almost three weeks of arts and culture on the lineup, running from Wednesday, November 16–Sunday, December 4. At Wynnum Fringe 2022, you'll find everything from cabaret and comedy to music and dance on the bill, and even a ferris wheel. The event is aiming to entice 35,000 folks along across its 19-day run, so you'll also find ample company at a range of venues. Highlights include the first-ever Wynnum Fringe Comedy Gala, with Mel Buttle, Damien Power, Luke Heggie and Chris Ryan taking to the microphone; more laughs from Dave Hughes, Akmal Saleh and Cal Wilson; and Marcia Hines getting her disco on in Velvet Rewired. There's also opening ceremony yana marumba (Walk Good) as part of the First Nations programming, Dolly Diamond's variety show High T and a one-night-only gig by Diesel, as well as an all-ages amateur dance eisteddfod led by Common People Dance Project, Head First Acrobats' circus performances GODZ and Crème de la crème, Dane Simpson's Didgeridoozy and a local Battle of the Bands. The 2022 festival also boasts a new garden hub at George Clayton Park, which is where Wynnum Fringe's spiegeltent will sit — and a ferris wheel, food trucks, pop-up daily gigs and roving entertainment. For drinks, the new fest base includes a cocktail-slinging container bar, too, complete with rooftop seating. Throw in a fancy dress parade for dogs — and program themes that change weekly, starting with an Indigenous focus, then taking on Euro vibes, then going all in on local talent — and there's no shortage of things to see and do.
You don't call yourself Pluto Jonze and expect to bypass the lofty pop-god connotations that come with such title. Fortunately, this indie-techno maestro has lived up to his name, proving he holds a certain catalyst to making perfect, pop-infused beats. With a sound that ranges from the ultimate hip-jiggling jams, to something of sweet, guitar-laced ballads, Jonze captures the entire 60s rock movement, and gives it a good run for it’s money. Now, on the Brisbane leg of his national tour, Pluto Jonze brings his stomping lo-fi guitars, luscious vocals and glorious strings to cosy, dance-ready Alhambra Lounge in the Fortitude Valley. All in celebration of his debut full length album ‘Eject’, Jonze will be laying down some of his hip-hoppiest tunes to ensure all gig-goers will be moving their feet and hips in a dangerously arousing, but all too appropriate fashion. Don’t miss seeing a man whose been blamed for stealing the shows he's supported, labeled as one of Australia’s biggest up and comers, and constantly proved that he’s an artist we’d all best keep an eagle eye on. Check out Pluto Jonze's 'Eject'
Why just go to a regular rave when you can party like one of your favourite pop-culture characters? It worked for Shrek, so now it's Hello Kitty's turn. Expect ample pink, plus fans of a certain fictional cat-like Japanese figure everywhere. Yuko Shimizu mightn't have had this in mind when she designed Sanrio's most-famous creation, but it's happening in Brisbane on Friday, December 15 anyway. This Hello Kitty celebration includes Hello Kitty-themed drinks, a Hello Kitty DJ set, a Hello Kitty meet and greet with said DJ, plus a free Hello Kitty-themed glitter station. Fancy taking snaps against a Hello Kitty balloon wall? Scoring Hello Kitty plushies as souvenirs? That's all also on offer at Wonderland Brisbane from 8pm. Your ticket also covers free Chupa Chups and glow sticks — but you will pay for your sips, which come with names like 'Wet Kitty Shots', 'Sanrio Slushies' and 'Hello Kitty Juice'. Cosplay is heartily encouraged, obviously, and that means more than just wearing a bow.
When you need an on-point get-up stat, there's one place in Brisbane you know can serve the goods — Sunday Social. This laneway boutique has been dressing the style savvy for years, and to celebrate their fourth birthday, they're throwing a little bash. The celebrations kicks of this Thursday at 6pm, and you can expect to pick up some outrageous bargains as well as a slice of cake if you say some pleases and thank yous. Sunday Social will also be launching their winter season stock, so expect jackets and turtlenecks galore among the streamers and balloons. There's no entry free — because what kind of party would that be — and you can get away without bringing a present. All you need is some cash for bargains, a couple of pals to ooh and aah at your outfit suggestions, and some birthday cheer.
Do you like scary movies? Do you think you know everything there is to know about them? If you answered yes to both questions, then consider your Wednesday evening sorted — you'll be heading along to Southside Tea Room's Halloween trivia night. Prepare to test your knowledge of all the frightening films you can think of, both of the thrilling and funny variety. The list quizmaster Zoe B will be drawing upon is rather epic, and while it remains mainstream-oriented, it ranges beyond the obvious (yes, we're talking about the Halloween franchise). Expect questions about everything from teen-oriented '90s efforts I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream to unnerving classics Rosemary's Baby and Nosferatu, plus the likes of the family-friendly Casper and The Addams Family, and zombie-focused Dawn of the Dead and Shaun of The Dead too. Basically, expect to be grilled all the creepy stuff you grew up watching, with bragging rights and prizes on offer for putting all those hours spent in front of a screen to good use.
These days, barely a week passes by without a new Mexican eatery joining Brisbane's restaurant scene. But don't dismiss the city's next addition as 'just another taco joint'. If you've been to Chingon Cantina y Taqueria in Melbourne, you'll know what we're talking about. Originally slated for a July opening, Chingon opened earlier this month in Brisbane's Eagle Lane. Their focus is on Mexican street food, including six different types of tacos, three kinds of salsa and fire-roasted corn on the cob. The taco lineup features pork and pineapple, chargrilled steak, orange and honey charcoal chicken, fish, garlic prawn and a vego option of roasted corn and capsicum. If you're already salivating at that lineup, you'll pleased to know that everything is available for both lunch and dinner every day except Sundays. Drinks-wise, expect plenty of citrus-focused cocktails to wash it all down with — and, yes, plenty of tequila as well. No, it's not a coincidence that the cantina is nestled in next door to US-themed dive bar Brooklyn Standard. Sharing the same owners (Adam Barton and Emmanuel Sakellarakis), it's actually the next step in their plan to turn the laneway into an American-focused food and drink haven. A Cuban-oriented joint is also in the works further down the track. Chingon Cantina y Taqueria Brisbane is now open in Eagle Lane, Brisbane for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday. For more info, visit chingonbrisbane.com.au.
If winter has left you unimpressed by the current state of your wardrobe — or if, y'know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you'll be pretty pleased to know that the Big Fashion Sale is back. Usually, it's a physical affair that takes place in Sydney and Melbourne; however like plenty of other events at the moment, the shopping extravaganza has hopped online — and gone national — for its current outing. The name pretty much says it all. Happening from Monday, August 31, this thing is big. You'll find a hefty array of lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from a huge lineup of cult Australian and international designers, both well-known and emerging — including Romance Was Born, Alexander McQueen, Isabel Marant, Max Mara, Kenzo, Ellery and more. With discounts of up to 80 percent off, and more than 700 items on offer, this is one way to up your count of designer threads while leaving your bank balance sitting pretty, too — whether you're keen on clothes, shoes, swimwear or accessories. The Big Fashion Sale's latest online sale kicks off on Monday, August 31 on the event's website.
If you've ever wondered what it's like to live in a treehouse, just like Brendan Fraser in George of the Jungle, Silky Oaks Lodge in Mossman is the place to bring that foliage fantasy to life. Wedged between the breathtaking Daintree Rainforest and peaceful Mossman River, Silky Oaks Lodge has six treehouse-inspired stays to choose from so you can sleep among the treetops of the tropics. Each accomodation option has been designed to embrace the property's natural surrounds and will indulge your senses in the lush rainforest that truly thrives in summer. If you want to wash off under an outdoor shower, wake up to floor-to-ceiling rainforest views and relax in a bath on your very own private deck while overlooking a cascading river, look sharp to Silky Oaks Lodge. The luxury ecolodge is currently closed for refurbishments and is due to reopen on December 15, 2021.
When it comes to spotting the show's 80s movie references, watching an episode of Stranger Things is like taking a quiz. Which poster will we spy on someone's wall? Which films will get a nod? Which flicks will you feel a need to watch immediately afterwards? How much do the Duffer brothers, aka the folks behind the series, love Steven Spielberg and Stephen King? As well as proving a rather fun viewing experience for movie buffs, all of Stranger Things' nodding and winking also serves another purpose. If you've been paying close attention while you binged and re-binged on the first two seasons, you probably know the program back-to-front. And, as a result, you're ready to enter the upside down of the trivia world — aka The Defiant Duck's latest evening dedicated to the show. Head along from 6pm on Wednesday, February 6 to slay the demogorgons — i.e. your fellow competitors — with your knowledge of Hawkins' geography, the recipe for Eggos and #justiceforbarb. Here's hoping that you'll be able to communicate your answers via Christmas lights.
There are plenty of luxury resorts around the Bundaberg region, but if you're wanting all the amenities without the flashiness (or high price tag), Kellys Beach Resort is the way to go. This collection of 40 self-contained villas is just a short walk from Bargara's main beach and is the perfect base for exploring Bundaberg and the Great Barrier Reef. As well the onsite restaurant, the resort also has a pool, spa, tennis court, barbecue area and access to snorkels and boogie boards.
There's never been a better reason to drink. Order a Negroni from participating bars during Negroni Week, coming up June 1–7, and you’ll earn $1 for charity. Yep, it’s as simple as that. Negroni Week, an international event, was initiated by Imbibe magazine two years ago. In 2013, 300 bars participated, but by 2014, that number had more than quadrupled, to 1,300. And this year, Imbibe has teamed up with Campari to take Negroni Week global. Consequently, it’s arriving in Australia for the first time. The Negroni was invented in 1919 in Florence, Italy. It came about when a Count named Camillo Negroni ordered an Americano (Campari, sweet vermouth and soda) in a local bar, but decided to add an extra kick. He asked the bar tender to replace the soda with gin, and lo, the Negroni was born. While other cocktails have gone in and out of fashion, the world has been sipping this delicately balanced and beautifully bitter concoction ever since. To find your nearest participating venue, visit the Negroni Week website, or if you just want to see the shortlist, check out our picks of the top five Negroni bars in Brisbane.
Don’t let The Zoo’s no steel-capped boots policy break your dancing stride, because this Fortitude Valley hub is playing host to one of this decade’s grooviest music group. The John Steel Singers have come a hell of a long way since their musical – and probably spiritual – “unearthing” in 2007, with numerous albums, EPs and kicking gigs under their belts. They represent everything we’ve come to expect from anything Triple J lays their hands on, be it gigs or performers – they’re tight, groovy, have guitars and are fun to look at and listen to. Regardless of they fact they’ve had a hard time finding a bass player, or are just terrible Gumtree'rs, The Singers are one of those bands that are actually taking bold musical steps, rather than sitting in the performed shadows of ‘genre’. And in terms of musical steps, these guys are running a marathon, and all the more reason to sprint over and check them out. Put on your grooviest outfit, pay some people some money, and get reading on how to make friends with the dancefloor to the sweet sounds of The John Steel Singers.
One side of the skinny space at The Dark Chocolatier on Adelaide Street is stacked eye-level to floor with little wooden crates holding everything from the pick and mix to small slabs and rocky road. All chocolate is made at the factory in, you guessed it, Noosa by a small team. Worth a sweet $4.50 per 100g, our top picks include the dark chocolate coated freeze-dried strawberries (have to be tasted the be believed), milk chocolate hazelnuts, dark cocoa-dusted almonds, dark chocolate blueberries and the mango-infused white chocolate coated macadamias.
It’s fairly rich these days to compare a band to both The Doors and Bowie, but these labels seem to only stick firmer with every performance by Brisbane’s own Mega Ogre. For two years they’ve been working the Brisbane music scene and now, with the support of Gung Ho’s Michael McAlary, they’ve got their first EP to show for it. In a night of celebration at Black Bear Lodge, these four musos slash synth dreamers will be launching their first-ever single 'TED (The Ethereal Darkness Beyond Planet Earth)' — a track reminiscent of aliens, dinosaurs, shadows, fuzzy jams and loopy riffs and wails. Tickets for this monster of a gig are going at $10.20 a pop, with the support acts Cull (Sydney) and Pool Shop ensuring you'll receive far more than your money’s worth. Remember, don’t wreck yourself before you Shrek yourself.
Come April, the eyes of the sporting world will turn 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 — 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 event will also feature a huge multi-arts festival, called Festival 2018. First announced last year, Festival 2018 mightn't boast the most exciting name, but it does promise a plethora of exciting programming across 12 days. Taking place from April 4 to 15, the fest will feature more than 1000 arts and cultural experiences, complete with 1440 artists from 50 countries, and including 35 world premieres and 15 Australian premieres. From the just-revealed full program, highlights include the inflatable labyrinth that is Arboria, which will take over Broadbeach's Kurrawa Park; plus Circa's world-first take on The Rite of Spring, but in circus form; and Dancenorth's 360-degree dance performance Surge. Elsewhere, Yothu Yindi and The Treaty Project will kick off the music offerings, while an evening of African tunes will mark what would've been Nelson Mandela's 100th year, and Courtney Act will host a celebration of LGBTQI pride. Also on the bill is the Gold Coast's own Amy Shark; the all-female Electric Lady, bringing together Aussie female-fronted acts; Hot Dub Time Machine 's latest stint; the seven-metre-wide, floating moon sculpture that is Museum of the Moon; and Holoscenes, the performance artwork which comes to Australia for the first time after wowing crowds in New York City's Times Square. Or, attendees can take part in a participatory dance performance featuring hundreds of people; and sing karaoke as they've never experienced it before — via a field of microphones on Surfers Paradise beach. Other standouts include a Champagne party, an extensive food program at Helensvale's NightQuarter, a silent disco tour, a seaside meditation zone and open-air short film screenings showcasing talent from across the Commonwealth. As previously announced, Kate Miller-Heidke, The Jungle Giants and Mau Power will also feature, as part of a lineup of art, music, theatre, dance and more spanning from from Coomera to Coolangatta. To deliver the massive event, The Festival has joined forces with the existing Bleach* Festival — and will also include satellite events held across the state. For Brisbanites not heading to the Goldie, that includes free music from Regurgitator, The Preatures, Bob Evans, Kev Carmody, Cheap Fakes, Airling, Major Leagues and more at South Bank's Cultural Centre Forecourt, a screening of Warwick Thornton's Aussie flag-focused doco We Don't Need a Map and the return of La Boite's refugee production The Village. Festival 2018 takes place from April 4 to 15 across the Gold Coast and other parts of Queensland. Visit the festival website for further details. Image: Dancenorth, Amber Haines
We can't all jump on a plane to Germany whenever the urge for a traditional roast pork knuckle with fried potatoes and sauerkraut hits, but we can all do the next best thing. Dating back to 1883 and moving from Stanley to Melbourne to Vulture Streets during its history, the Brisbane German Club will make you feel like Deutschland has come to Woolloongabba. Start off with a pretzel (obviously) then eat the meal that everyone rushes in for. Let's not forget the one-man-band that is DJ Andrew. If you haven't experienced his style of entertainment at this classic haunt, you don't know what you're in for.
After a week that's seen torrential rain, flooding across the city, all public transport suspended for a few days and the main roads that have been open packed with traffic, getting around Brisbane — if you've needed to get around — hasn't been easy. But if you do have to head out until Sunday, March 6, it'll be cheaper, at least. Actually, whether you're catching a bus or train or driving on a toll road, it'll be free. The Queensland Government has announced that it has ditched fares on all public transport across southeast Queensland until the last service on Sunday, and also scrapped tolls until midnight that same night. Accordingly, if you're hopping on a bus or train from now until the end of the weekend, you won't need to touch your Go Card on or off — and if you're driving through toll points, you won't be charged a fee. Part of the motivation is to help Mud Army volunteers make their way around town to aid in the cleanup efforts. "We know the mud army will be moving around over the coming days, so the Palaszczuk Government wants to make that as easy and accessible as possible," said Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey in a statement. "This covers services from Coolangatta all the way up to the Fraser Coast and across to Toowoomba, because just about every community in between has been impacted in some way. Regarding suspending tolls, it's also about ensuring people can get around without paying a fee while other roads are flooded. "The toll road system provides drivers with connection to areas, which are currently cut off from other access due to flood damage," Bailey advised in another statement. That said, after a couple of days' reprieve, Brisbane awoke to rain and storms again today, Thursday, March 3 — and to severe thunderstorm and moderate flood warnings. So, heading far mightn't be on your agenda anyway. Also, the Queensland Government still advises reconsidering any non-essential travel. The free public transport fares only apply on government-run services — not through private operators — and, while both buses and trains have started services again, with the rail network resuming today, timetables aren't back to normal. As for the tolls, the suspension covers the Gateway and Logan motorways, AirportLink tunnel and Toowoomba Bypass, as well as the Legacy way, Clem 7 and the Go Between Bridge. If you're going out Brisbanites, stay safe and dry. Public transport and tolls across southeast Queensland will be free until the end of Sunday, March 6. Find more information about public transport services, head to the TransLink website.
After 200 matches of hard-hitting rugby league over the past six months, only 80 minutes of play now stands between one team inscribing its name into the history books. The pointy end of the season is here, with the 2021 NRL Grand Final kicking off between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Sunday, October 3 at Suncorp Stadium. But, it's not just the big game that you've got to look forward to in Brisbane this weekend. Hardcore footy fans can also get amongst the two-day Fan Fest happening at King George Square across two days in the lead up to Sunday's game. On Thursday, September 30 and Friday, October 1, you can celebrate the 2021 season with a whole bunch of free, family-friendly activities and entertainment. Across the two days, you can expect special guest appearances by league legends like Darren Lockyer, live music, giveaways, competitions, roaming performers, merch sales and heaps more in the lead up to the biggest game of the year. Plus, Friday's festivities will include the official 2021 team presentation — an essential activity for all Panthers and Rabbitohs fans. Love league? You won't want to miss out on the build-up to the biggest game of the year. The 2021 NRL Fan Fest will take place on Thursday, September 30 and Friday, October 1 at King George Square in Brisbane. For more information, visit the website.
Since we last heard from Jonathan Boulet, he's shaved off his beard, parted ways with Modular Recordings and swapped his electronica-dashed folk for rock. The Sydneysider also spent a year living in Berlin, where he recorded new studio album Gubba, released on July 18. "The new music will be described as post-pop, punk rock, chocolate-chip sludge, crust pop, rock pop, pop cock and cock stop in the rock blot bop," he explains in the promo video, "but it is neither of those things. For our children's sake, we shall henceforth categorise this music as rock." Gubba is Boulet's third release, following 2009's self-titled debut and 2012's We Keep the Beat, Found the Sound, See the Need, Start the Heart. For those familiar with his bass contributions to power violence band Snakeface, the album's driving guitars and distorted vocals might not come as too much of a surprise, but they're certainly a dramatic deviation from previous solo work. "I've always been a fan of trying to surprise people or get a reaction out of them," Boulet told the SMH. "I don't feel that my musical ventures are unpredictable, but there are lots of roads you can take and sometimes it's easier to take one road over another and sometimes you're presented with a new road you haven't had access to, and that's definitely more inviting." In August, he'll be hitting Melbourne's Northcote Social Club on Friday 15, Adelaide's Pirie and Co. on Saturday 16, Sydney's Goodgod Small Club on Thursday 21 and Brisbane's Black Bear Lodge on Thursday 28. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FOcziciUnr0
It’s hard to get excited about shapes when their name isn’t preceded with chicken, pizza or BBQ. But artist Simon Degroot has gone ahead and proved that while Arnott's had it right, there’s a hell of a lot more to shapes (not biccies) than meets the eye. Degroot proves in his major body of work, Select Reshape, the root of truly wonderful art comes from reimaging, mutilating and exploring the re-appropriation of the everyday. Using photoshop, layers, a fair chunk of talent, a lot of shapes (biccies) and a lot of shapes (not biccies) Degroot has produced a selection of work that almost as perplexing as it is beautiful. This exhibition, held at Spiro Grace Art Rooms in Spring Hill, is the fist major body of Degroot’s work since embarking on his PhD at the Queensland College of Art (good luck Simo, PhDs are hard). Exploring all things shapes (not biccies) and their construction, layering and relationship to everyday architecture, Degroot overlaps, obscures and creates spatial arrangements of peculiar illusion. Check out Simon Degroot’s Select Reshape from the 12th to the 28th of June.
It's been almost twenty years since the aliens of Independence Day came down and made a global nuisance of themselves. Fair to say a lot's happened since then, mostly to do with iPhones and TV shows about 'real housewives'. But in the world of Roland Emmerich's movie, things have advanced even further. We're talking flying cars, moon bases and even above ground monorails! Hybrid alien/earth technology has led to giant leaps forward in almost every facet of life, not to mention ushering in an unprecedented era of global peace. But then, wouldn't you know it, the aliens return, and – surprise surprise – they are pissed. Independence Day: Resurgence reunites pretty much the entire cast of the original film save for Will Smith – who has been unceremoniously killed off – while also introducing some newer, younger and more marketable faces in the form of Liam Hemsworth, Maika Monroe, Jessie Usher and Chinese superstar Angelababy. Then it does EXACTLY THE SAME THING AS LAST TIME. First, aliens invade and park a giant ship where there was clearly a no parking sign, ruining several perfectly lovely cities like London and Hong Kong in the process. Next, Earth launches a counter-attack with an impressive aerial armada, only to be completely scuttled and sent packing with our tails between our legs. Then the aliens reveal their true purpose (literally to do again what they came to do last time, exactly the same way), before Bill Pullman gets into a fighter plane and brings down the invaders with not a second to spare because – and we can't stress this point enough – 'that's what worked last time'. The result is an altogether dull blockbuster, assuming that's not an oxymoron. There's zero chemistry between any two members of the cast, while the battle scenes feel disappointingly familiar. It's also one of those frustrating films where giant plot holes are constantly pulling you out of the story, as you find yourself wanting to yell questions at the screen. These may include: "Why are we still baffled by the alien shields if we knew they had them twenty years ago?" or: "Why are we surprised by the speed of the alien ships when they've not changed since the last time?" and of course: "Why do we have countdowns on our earth-defending weapons, when all they do is give the aliens more time to blow them up?" Big, dumb and fun is an established genre in Hollywood these days, and one that's not entirely without its merits. Silly blockbusters are great for whiling away a rainy afternoon or getting you to the end of a long-haul flight. But when the 'dumb' is so overbearing that it drowns out the 'fun', and the 'big' being made 'bigger' represents the only substantive change, then you're left with a massively expensive yet spectacularly hollow sequel that quite simply fails to entertain. Rest in peace, Will Smith's character. Yours is the only one whose memory hasn't been soiled. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbduDRH2m2M
Wine enthusiasts listen up! The Rosé Revolution is about to hit Brisbane, starting Wednesday. Winemakers Australia-wide have gotten together to celebrate the lesser-acknowledged but beautifully coloured sibling of red and white wine. Determined to put rosé at the forefront of wine drinkers’ minds, there are a series of events being held that are set out to showcase some of the finest rosés on the market. The revolution kicks off this Wednesday with free tasting events at Customs House (from 4pm) and Cove Bar and Dining (from 6pm) and wine tasting plus a three course dinner at Kettle and Tin hosted by The Wine Punter, Michael Ellis. Follow this way for more information on these events and how to RSVP.
It's television's greatest tragedy, and one that's been more than a decade in the making. Watching Better Call Saul, it's impossible not to think about the route its protagonist takes through Breaking Bad. We already know how Saul Goodman's (Bob Odenkirk) story ends, so as we explore his pre-Walter White life — when he was known by his birth name of Jimmy McGill and genuinely wanted to be a legitimate lawyer — the feeling is bittersweet, to say the least. The same sensation applies to former cop Mike Ehrmantrout (Jonathan Banks), whose Breaking Bad fate is also already known. Before getting caught up with Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), he first crossed Jimmy's path as a car park attendant at the Albuquerque court house — and Better Call Saul tells his tale as much as its namesake's For four seasons since 2015, the Breaking Bad prequel has stepped through the earlier existence of these two characters, as well as others in their orbit — such as Jimmy's successful older brother Chuck (Michael McKean), his girlfriend and fellow lawyer Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), and Mike's widowed daughter-in-law Stacey (Kerry Condon) and granddaughter Kaylee (Abigail Zoe Lewis). As the episodes pass, the two central figures slowly start inching towards their Breaking Bad lives. Familiar faces, such as Fring and Hector Salamanca (Mark Margolis) also pop up. The result: a series that's as excellent as its predecessor, and one that provides another excuse to spend more time in Breaking Bad's world. After last airing episodes in 2018, it's returning for a fifth season this year — and if you can't wait until February 24 to see what comes next, a pair of sneak peeks have dropped. The teasers are incredibly brief, as proved the case when glimpses of 2019's El Camino — A Breaking Bad Movie first started releasing. Still, they show what we all knew was coming: that Jimmy McGill is slipping further away — and Saul Goodman is emerging. Check out the teasers below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULZVGONrfuw&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqopNXmg3x0 Better Call Saul's fifth season starts streaming on Stan from Monday, February 24.
There's a reason that ramen is one of Japan's most famous culinary creations. With its steaming, flavoursome broth, slender noodles and servings of thinly sliced pork — if you're keeping things traditional — it's a tasty, hearty dish that aficionados could easily eat each and every day. While slurping down a bowl like you're under doctor's orders may seem like a foodie fantasy, one one particular restaurant wants to make that all-ramen, all-the-time dream a reality. Behold, the ramen subscription service. At Tokyo's Yaro Ramen from November 1, patrons can fork out a flat monthly fee, visit a store daily and get their fix. Yes, it's really that simple — and, it's also ridiculously affordable. Launched as part of the brand's new app, the subscription feature costs 8,600 yen, or less than AU$100. A bowl of regular tonkotsu ramen usually costs 780 yen, or around AU$9, so signing up for a daily bowl pays off pretty quickly. Ramen lovers can choose between three different types, including one that comes sans broth if you're just in the mood for meat, veggies and noodles, from 15 different locations around the city. Other than needing to be in Tokyo to take advantage of the service, you do have to be fall between the ages of 18 and 38 to quality, in a deal targeted towards students and singles. Coming hot on the heels of the country's new unlimited road trip pass for visiting travellers, you now have yet another reason to head to Japan — and, if you're jet-setting on a budget, your next holiday just got a whole lot cheaper. Via Japan Today.
The mysteries of Hawkins, Indiana have taken Stranger Things' fans down a few snaky pathways — demogorgons, the upside down and the plight of Barb included. There's more still to come, with the Netflix sci-fi series slated to return for its third season in 2019; however, as far as twists and turns are concerned, a new attraction in Lafayette, Indiana might just have the show beat. We mean twists and turns in the most literal sense, because if you're trying to make your way through an enormous corn maze, you're going to come across plenty of both. That's what visitors to Exploration Acres will find between September 14 and October 28. This year, their corn maze isn't any old corn maze, either — it's Stranger Things-themed. The series' logo, a giant Eleven and the rest of the gang riding their bikes away from a demogorgon are all part of the huge patch of greenery, which spans 20 acres and features more than 16 kilometres of pathways. There are four mazes within the massive site, with entry costing between US$9.50–11.50 (AU$12.84–15.84). It might sound like the kind of promotion that Netflix would cook up — the streaming platform did create an online game based on its most popular titles, after all — but it's actually just a labour of love. Exploration Acres CEO and President Tim Fitzgerald coming up with the idea after binging the series, and demonstrated his fandom in a much, much bigger way than most of us. Via Lonely Planet. Image: Exploration Acres.
Thirsty? If you're not now, you will be once you've read this. That's the only appropriate reaction to a festival of beer, after all. Just think of all the amber liquids and foamy goodness. Okay, enough drooling; here are the important details that every ale-lover needs. When Beer Fest On The Grass returns on Saturday, February 15, 2020, more than 130 beers and ciders will be on offer from over 50 different brewers — including Aether, Catchment, Gage Roads, Green Beacon, Hop Nation, Jetty Road, Moon Dog Young Henrys and Your Mates Brewing. To line your stomach, there'll also be a range of international food trucks. Basically, if there's a beer heaven, this is it. It's the seventh year that Eatons Hill Hotel has hosted the tipple-fuelled shindig, once again celebrating drinking, eating and enjoying a day in Brisbane's glorious outdoors. If you're serious about your beverages, you'll want to taste, sip, sample and chat to folks from a huge selection of breweries. And if you're serious about fun, you'll want to gather some mates and take part in the event's other fun activities — in previous years, there's been an inflatable beer obstacle course, a keg-stacking comp and a life-sized game of foosball. Tickets are on sale now, with entry costing $10. Image: Brisbane Beer Fest.
When Welcome to Bowen Hills gifted Brisbane a new permanent food truck hangout, it borrowed its successful concept from Melbourne's Welcome to Thornbury — and that's not the only Victorian culinary wonder it's bringing up north. If you're a fan not only of chicken, but of "really fucking hot" chicken, then start rejoicing, because Belles Hot Chicken is finally coming to town. It's handy the chain has its own food truck, which is a regular at Welcome to Thornbury. In its meals-on-wheels guise, the east coast favourite will make its first Brissie appearance at Welcome to Bowen Hills across May 25 to 27. Yes, that includes serving up tasty nuggs at the Gregory Terrace precinct's latest niche food fest, aka the upcoming Chicken Nugget Festival. For those new to Belles, the chain operates three spots in Melbourne and three in Sydney, serving up Nashville-style poultry and natural wine. Menu highlights include chicken sandwiches, chicken sliders, chicken and waffles, and chicken pieces served at five different levels of spiciness.
Whether he's co-writing and starring in sketch comedies, directing two of the best horror films of the past few years, producing an Oscar-nominee or reviving a science-fiction classic, Jordan Peele has amassed an impressive resume. So, whenever he adds a new project to the lengthy list, it's worth paying attention. After Key & Peele, Get Out, Us and The Twilight Zone — and producing BlacKkKlansman, too — he's now lending executive producing skills to upcoming Amazon Prime Video series Hunters. It stars Al Pacino, it's about hunting down Nazis in the 70s, and it has just dropped its first impressive teaser trailer. Pacino plays Meyer Offerman, the leader of a group of Nazi hunters who are intent on stopping a Fourth Reich taking hold in America. They've discovered that hundreds of escaped Nazis are not only living in the US, but have genocidal plans — and Offerman and his vigilante pals plan to thwart this conspiracy by any means necessary. Expect violence, tensions, action, thrills, and a fight between good and evil that's inspired by real events. Not just calling out oppression, injustice and hatred, but tackling it through film and television is firmly in Peele's wheelhouse, as his filmography shows. Accordingly, Hunters slots in nicely, with a ten-episode first season due to drop at a yet-to-be-announced date in 2020. Fresh from his excellent turn in The Irishman — his first collaboration with Martin Scorsese, somehow — Pacino is in less theatrical, more nuanced mode here. He's also joined by a well-known roster of co-stars, which includes Logan Lerman (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), Carol Kane (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother), Lena Olin (Vinyl) and Australian actress Kate Mulvany (Lambs of God) as a kick-ass nun. Check out the first teaser trailer for Hunters below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYxTHcoRpNo Hunters will hit Amazon Prime Video in 2020 — we'll update you when an exact release date has been announced.
Fans of Kathryn Bigelow's Oscar-winning war drama The Hurt Locker will recall that one of the film's most tense and thrilling sequences involved a lone enemy sniper laying waste to a group of US troops and UK mercenaries deep in the Iraqi desert. Pinned down in the blazing heat with little more than rubble for cover, the fear, confusion and discomfort of the men coming under fire was made all the more nail-biting courtesy of a near-silent soundtrack interrupted only by the 'hiss' and 'thwack' of bullets either missing or finding their mark. If that sequence felt somehow rushed or underplayed to you, however, then Doug Liman's latest film The Wall is every bit the fix you're looking for, since it's a movie that stretches that scenario to feature length. The setup is fantastic: six bodies – contractors, engineers and security personnel – all lie dead and scattered around an oil pipeline construction site, whilst way up in the hills a two-man American sniper team (John Cena and Aaron Taylor-Johnson) scans for any sign of the enemy. After 20-something hours of incident-free observation, they declare the site clear and march on down to make the final call in person, whereupon the enemy sniper reveals he's very much still in the picture and cripples both men with a series of sudden and devastating body-shots. As one of the soldiers lies exposed and bleeding, the other scrambles to find cover behind the tiniest, flimsiest shale wall. It's here that the remainder of the movie takes place. Without giving too much away, this is very much Taylor-Johnson's film, for it's he who occupies the vast majority of screen time, turning in an impressively physical and committed performance. You can't help but grit your teeth and squint in sympathy as he endures excruciating pain and the non-stop swirling of dust. Indeed, the immersive nature of the desert setting is one of the film's greatest strengths, evoking such a dry, overbearing heat that you feel compelled to rehydrate throughout. Where The Wall goes awry is when the enemy sniper begins taunting Taylor-Johnson's character over his radio, at which point some hackneyed horror-style lines ("We're not so different, you and I") begin to rear their head. Quoting Robert Frost and Edgar Allan Poe, and pontificating on the hypocrisies of American militarism, the unnamed gunman's dialogue feels like an attempt to bring an unnecessary extra layer of menace to what's already a fine and gripping story. It'd be like taking the shark from The Shallows and having it lecture Blake Lively on the inequities of big game fishing. The threat is already there, you don't need anything more. Even so, like The Shallows, The Wall achieves a lot with very little. Full credit to Liman and company, who have crafted a single-setting, single-actor showcase that proves you don't need a $200 million budget to tell a powerful and engaging war story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyCuUr2_hmA
Vampires can be slain by staking them in the heart. Werewolves aren't fond of silver bullets. But Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's addition to the undead world can't and won't be killed — not that anyone would want that outcome. First What We Do in the Shadows jumped from a short film to a hilarious feature-length comedy. Then it inspired a US television remake, which is still in the works, as well as New Zealand television spinoff Wellington Paranormal. Now, after an exceptionally amusing six-episode first season, the latter is set to return in 2019 with 13 episodes. We've said it before, and we'll say it again: trust a mockumentary about the undead to keep coming back in new guises. The Cops-style spinoff follows police officers Karen O'Leary and Mike Minogue, who WWDITS fans might remember came knocking at the vampire share house's door. With the help of Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu), the cop duo keep trying to keep the city safe from supernatural happenings — including not only bloodsuckers and lycanthropes, but ghosts, aliens and more. Wellington Paranormal's second season will once again explore the spate of paranormal phenomena happening in the city, with a 2019 airdate on TVNZ 2 yet to be set. In Australia, the first season screened on SBS Viceland and was available to stream on SBS On Demand, so fingers crossed that'll remain the same next year. Announcing the funding of Wellington Paranormal's new run, NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson noted that "it is really pleasing to see people respond positively to content that has such a unique New Zealand flavour". Of course, for those following What We Do in the Shadows' continued evolution, Wellington Paranormal's success shouldn't come as a surprise. When the show was first revealed, Waititi described it as "Mulder & Scully but in a country where nothing happens" on Twitter, after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=WRO2QfESbEI
Everyone knows that distance makes the heart grows fonder - and this notion now applies to the eye as well. The contours, shapes and colours that the topography the Earth's surface forms are breathtaking marvels not rivalled by any manmade images. Yet they are only truly visible from well above the Earth. Seeing the world from this mesmerizing angle puts the insignificance of humans, when compared to Earth's enormous size, into perspective. Here are some of the most magnificent aerial images of our planet. Guy Laliberté's Space Travels The mastermind behind Cirque Du Soleil, Guy Laliberté travelled on board a Russian Soyez Rocket through space in 2009. While the billionaire was on this trip, he did a bit of sightseeing and documented some of the stunning scenery of the Earth that he was privy to. David Maisel's Vertiginous Vistas David Maisel certainly knows how to poignantly capture the most fascinating and mystifying regions of the world from the vantage point of his four-seater plane. Sometimes the photographer even removes an entire window from his plane - which gets to altitudes between 5,000 and 12,000 feet - to secure that perfect shot. But looking at these two examples we can safely say the effort is well worth it. Landsat 7 Satellite Images These two stunning images depict the Bolivian deforestation and the Bogda Mountains in China. The former shows the destructive impact that deforestation can have on native forests by severely fragmenting the ecosystem, while the latter illustrates the mesmerizing mix of sand dunes and salt lakes of the Turpan Depression laying at the foot of China's mountain range. River Deltas Around the World Water not only serves as the major life source for all living things on Earth, but the patterns it creates when travelling in estuaries throughout the world also create enchanting images. These two photographs depict such beauty from the Betsiboka Estuary in Madagascar and the Ganges in Bangladesh. Satellite Photos of the Earth These enthralling images were also taken from a satellite from outer space. The vibrant colours of these terrains almost appear to be oil pastels, yet they have emerged from genuine landscapes of the Earth. The first shows the icy blue transposed against the blood red in the Malaspina Glacier of Alaska and the second shows the twists and turns of the water and land in our very own Carnegie, Australia. Earth from Above These photos appeared on the Flickr page of a photographer by the name of curiouser*curiouser. Both images were taken over the Zion National Park in Utah from the seat of an aeroplane traversing the region. The parks appear so much more unique and beautiful from this high vantage point, featuring ripples and explosions within the Earth's surface.
As far as annual traditions go, slathering yourself in pale makeup, splattering on some fake blood, shuffling along the streets and pretending you have a hunger for human flesh is up there with the most interesting. For ten years now, that's what Brisbanites have been doing, thanks to a yearly celebration of all things undead and not quite living. Yes, the Brisbane Zombie Walk has become entrenched in the city's calendar of activities. The event's purpose is twofold: revel in a horror staple and raise awareness for The Brain Foundation. That it does so while combining shock and silliness is one of the reasons it has endured, becoming the most successful gathering of its type in the world. This year, markets, movies, music and a makeup booth — for touchups of extra ghoulishness — are all part of the all-ages mayhem. Then, head to the apocalypse-themed after party at The Foundry to keep the fun going well into the early hours of the morning, aka the ideal time for ample zombie antics.
For the second time in 11 years, Brisbane is waterlogged, following a weekend of relentlessly heavy rain — and wet conditions in the days leading up to the non-stop three-day downpour, too. The impact across the city is enormous, including flooded homes and businesses, power outages, blocked roads and suspended public transport. Everyone across town has been affected or knows someone who has — and the Mud Army, the city's team of flood volunteers, has reassembled for cleanup duties. Also impacted: Brisbane's arts, culture and music industry, which has been weathering flooded venues, event cancellations and general fallout from the conditions like the rest of us. As a result, the city's upcoming lineup of shows, gigs and exhibitions is in flux again — a heartbreaking state of affairs following two years spent coping with the pandemic. Obviously, going out might not be at the top of your to-do list right now, but you can continue to support the industry and the folks within it by buying from artists who've had their shows cancelled, ordering gift cards and merch from venues that are closed due to flooding, or just booking in a show or gig for that birthday a few months away. To keep you abreast of what's been cancelled, postponed and suspended — and which venues are temporarily closed — here's our live list, updated as it happens. [caption id="attachment_827164" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] VENUES Artisan: reopening on Thursday, March 3. Brisbane Powerhouse: closed until further notice due to localised flooding in the area, with shows either rescheduled or cancelled. The Edge: closed until further notice due to significant flooding in the area. Metro Arts: closed until Thursday, March 10 due to minor flood repairs. Museum of Brisbane: reopening on Thursday, March 3. Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art: both galleries are closed until further notice due to significant flooding in the area. At present, all scheduled public programs and cinema screenings have been cancelled up to and including Sunday, March 13. Queensland Conservatorium: closed until at least Sunday, March 6 due to flooding, with performances up until Monday, March 7 either cancelled or postponed. Queensland Museum: closed until further notice due to significant flooding in the area. Queensland Performing Arts Centre: closed until further notice due to significant flooding in the area, with all performances either cancelled or postponed up to and including Thursday, March 10. Queensland Theatre, including the Bille Brown Theatre: doesn't have a show scheduled until Saturday, April 30, but currently closed until further notice due to flooding. South Bank Parklands: several sections remain until further notice due to significant flooding in the area. State Library of Queensland: closed until further notice due to significant flooding in the area. UQ Art Museum: closed up to and including Wednesday, March 2. [caption id="attachment_836543" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] SHOWS/GIGS/EXHIBITIONS APT10 Cinema: cancelled up to and including Sunday, March 13. Blue Assembly: Oceanic Thinking: closed up to and including Wednesday, March 2. The Chocolate Factory: closed alongside Toombul Shopping Centre, which is shut until further notice due to flooding. City in the Sun: reopening on Thursday, March 3. Curiocity 2022: postponed, with new dates yet to be announced. Diary of a Madman: cancelled. Dylan Mooney: Blak Superheroes: reopening on Thursday, March 3. Feel Good Program: cancelled until further notice. Frozen the Musical: cancelled up to and including Thursday, March 19, with ticketholders being contacted to transfer their seats to future dates. Get Green! Sustainability Market: cancelled. Humans, Animals and the Natural World — World Science Festival Brisbane Film Program: cancelled. In Transit: reopening on Thursday, March 3. Ocean Film Festival World Tour: postponed from March 2–5 to June 16–18. Potted Potter: The Unauthorised Harry Potter Experience: rescheduled from March 1–6 to May 10–15. Stargazing at South Bank: cancelled. The 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art: closed up to and including Sunday, March 13. World Science Festival Brisbane: cancelled in-person program, now running from Wednesday, March 9–Sunday, March 13 as a virtual-only event. For more information on all of the latest Brisbane weather conditions, warnings and alerts, and traffic and public transport status, check out the resources below: The Bureau of Meteorology's Queensland warnings page, and its Queensland Twitter and Facebook Brisbane City Council's February 2022 severe weather event updates, which also features a Brisbane River flood forecast Brisbane City Council's Twitter and Facebook Queensland Fire and Emergency Services' website, Twitter and Facebook Qld Traffic Translink's website, Twitter and Facebook Top image: Matthew Toomey. Updated Monday, March 7.
For the past few years, the minds behind The Beer Run have been using ice-cold beers at the pub as motivation to workout. Jog between breweries and bars, drink a brew at each one — that's how the boozy fun run plays out. No one is going to pubs, breweries, bars or watering holes at present, so The Beer Run's organisers have adapted. Meet The Virtual 5k Run, their isolation-friendly alternative. You'll still run, jog or walk briskly; however you'll do so wherever you like, be it your own street, your local park or at home on a treadmill. And if you'd like a beer afterwards, you'll need to supply your own. The run will kick off at 11am on Sunday, May 31 — and while it mentions five kilometres in the event's name, you can also hit the pavement across one or ten kilometres, too. And if you're wondering what makes this different from just getting sweaty by yourself, a live comedy host will be overseeing proceedings. Plus, there'll be prizes, including for best dressed — because dressing up and having a laugh is definitely encouraged. Keeping the beer theme going, the prizes are sponsored by breweries — and, while tickets start at $15, if you opt for the $25 option, you'll receive a Beer Run medal as well. The Virtual 5k Run is also donating $5 from each entry to a COVID-19 cause, which'll be chosen via votes from participants.
Breaking down a classic tale best known as an opera, rebuilding it as a lovers-on-the-run drama set across the US–Mexico border and making every moment burst with emotion, Benjamin Millepied's Carmen is a movie that moves. While its director is a feature debutant, his background as a dancer and choreographer — he did both on Black Swan, the latter on Vox Lux as well, then designed the latest Dune films' sandwalk — perhaps means that the former New York City Ballet principal and Paris Opera Ballet Director of Dance was fated to helm rhythmic, fluid and rousing cinema. His loose take on Georges Bizet's singing-driven show and Prosper Mérimée's novella before it, plus Alexander Pushkin's poem The Gypsies that the first is thought to be based on, is evocative and sensual. It's sumptuous and a swirl of feelings, too, as aided in no small part by its penchant for dance. And, it pirouettes with swoon-inducing strength with help from its stunningly cast leads: Scream queen and In the Heights star Melissa Barrera, plus Normal People breakout and Aftersun Oscar-nominee Paul Mescal. When Mescal earned the world's attention in streaming's initial Sally Rooney adaptation, he had viewers dreaming of fleeing somewhere — Ireland or anywhere — with him. Carmen's namesake (Barrera) absconds first, then has PTSD-afflicted Marine Aidan (Mescal) join her attempt to escape to Los Angeles. Carmen runs after her mother Zilah (flamenco dancer Marina Tamayo) greets the cartel with thunderous footwork, but can't stave off their violence. Aidan enters the story once Carmen is smuggled stateside, where he's a reluctant volunteer border guard in Texas alongside the trigger-happy Mike (Benedict Hardie, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson). As the picture's central pair soon hurtle towards California, to Zilah's lifelong friend Masilda's (Rossy de Palma, Parallel Mothers) bar, they try to fly to whatever safety and security they can find. That may be fleeting, however, and might also be in each other's arms. Mérimée's 1845 work told of blistering passion, as did Bizet's 1875 aria-filled version that's become the first Carmen that usually springs to mind. Indeed, ardour and intensity are among this tale's key traits no matter what format it's in — see also: iconic French filmmaker's 1983 effort First Name: Carmen; the Beyoncé-starring, 2001-released Carmen: A Hip Hopera; and everything prior and since. Millepied, who co-wrote the script with Alexander Dinelaris (an Oscar-winner for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)) and Loïc Barrere (President Alphonse), doesn't buck the trend. Heat and energy beat through his iteration as kinetically as Zilah's heartbeat-mimicking opening number, with the same burning that blazes in Barrera's eyes and as swelteringly as the movie's desert setting (Australia, specifically Broken Hill, standing in for the other side of the world when the film was shot in early 2021 while the pandemic was still wreaking havoc with international borders). Millepied isn't afraid to be bold with Carmen, clearly. Neither are his collaborators on- and off-screen. Barrera, Mescal and de Palma anchor the former — which also includes Elsa Pataky (Interceptor), Tara Morice (who came to fame with Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom three decades back) and rapper The DOC (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty) — with such force that to witness them swish through the feature is to feel like you're in their shoes. Barrera and Mescal's chemistry simmers, pivotally. Together and apart alike, each convincingly unpacks the woes and worries paving their characters' struggles in their physicality as much as their words. Enlisting Pedro Almodóvar favourite de Palma is a spectacular coup, of course, and one that makes the La Sombra Poderosa nightclub stretches glimmer and glide with extra zest and potency. This Carmen doesn't just move — it transports, all while pulsating with emotions usually belted out with gusto in song. The movie's destination: the yearning that pushes Carmen and Aidan's flights towards different lives, the sorrow and desperation that refuses to remain buried in their hearts, the determination to fight and the lusty whirlwind that is their time together. Milliped knows how to immerse his audience in these sensations via his frames, which are so strikingly lensed by Jörg Widmer — a cinematographer with past credits that couldn't better sum up the look and tone of Carmen. Back in 2011, Widmer held the same role on Wim Wenders' big-screen Pina Bausch ode Pina. In 2019, he aided Terrence Malick's A Hidden Life in appearing as visually lyrical as the Badlands and The Tree of Life director's work gets. Carmen is that enamoured with the expressive nature of dance, and with imagery as its own haunting form of poetry. That Carmen means ode and poem in Latin is even verbally mentioned within the feature's dialogue. To peer at, Carmen is arresting, too, with its backdrop more than a minor reason. The arid expanse that's long made Broken Hill a popular filming destination has previously graced Wake in Fright, Mad Max II, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Mission: Impossible II, yet demands fresh eyes as Barrera and Mescal twirl over it with longing. In one particularly stirring scene, the duo cavort and embrace, their bodies as feverish as the golden hues evident in both the soil and sky. Carmen and Aidan come together in a desolate existence, finding — even making — what rays they can, but their romance is as jagged as the rocky, scrubby stretch around them. That Mescal's steps can't quite match Barrera's also feels all the more apt given the locale; it's visibly imperfect, so is his dancing and, of course, Carmen and Aidan's intertwined thrust for a new destiny earns that exact description. Similarly vivid touches: seeing Carmen's characters unleash such telling body language against such a still background, and the film's rich costumes gleaming against the ochre earth. The camera spies it all, yet never just lingers and passively observes. Rather, the cinematography flows — never more than in that sashaying against the dirt, plus a glowing fairground interlude that plays like a dream, in Masilda's clu,b and also a late boxing sequence that's as throbbing as anything on a makeshift or genuine dance floor. Singing is still a part of this Carmen, spiritedly and affectingly so, but this is a drama with carefully placed songs worked into the narrative rather than a traditional musical. To be more accurate, it's a drama with dance and sometimes lyrics, with the grandly ambitious and layered score by Nicholas Britell (Succession) getting intoxicatingly stormy to match the sea of movement that keeps washing through like waves.
If pastel wasn't already part of your gig-going wardrobe, it will be at Australia's newest music festival, with Client Liaison launching their own curated touring event. Called Expo Liaison, the seven-hour fest will tour Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane across the last two weekends in August, with the yet-to-be-announced lineup selected by the band. There's no word yet on whether they'll be performing themselves, but you'd think that's a highly likely possibility. Just what else is in store is also yet to be revealed too, although the festival bas been badged "a multimedia, multi-city, multiversal experience" in its promotional material, as well as a "once-in-a-lifetime event". They're the kind of descriptions that plenty of gigs and fests throw around, but Client Liaison have a track record of delivering more than just the usual shows — or fashion lines or music videos, for that matter. First release tickets are currently on sale across all four cities, and if you're keen to hear the duo's own thoughts on the festival, check out the Expo Liaison trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgSsrdVHnh0&feature=youtu.be Expo Liaison heads to Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse on August 18, Sydney's Parramatta Park on August 25 and Brisbane's Victoria Park on August 26. Head to Client Liaison's website for further details and to buy tickets.
Most bands that split up or go on a so-called 'indefinite hiatus' are usually together for many years before they part ways. They also milk their fans for all they're worth, throwing out a couple of 'Best Of's and doing one last epic national/international tour. Montpelier have done things in a slightly unconventional way. The 4-piece Brisbane band that sound like a mix between Death Cab For Cutie and The Shins have decided to call it quits after just two years of making music. For a band presumably named after the Bowen Hills – Fortitude Valley connection road (or after the picturesque city in Canada); Montpelier have enjoyed a solid local following but for unknown reasons have called it a day. They have just released their final EP, Feed the City and have explained that despite their impending separation, they will play to the best of their ability at their last gig, “as a band, we play every show with passion and intensity, as it were our last. Actually doing it for real will be an emotional trip, but we are looking forward [to it]” said singer/bassist Greg Chiapello. Not ones to skimp on quality and disappoint their ever-loyal fans, Montpelier have enlisted their favourite designer to do the cover work for their new EP, as well as creating a lovely new video for their latest single 'China Shop'. Sounds like the boys have so much going for them, it's a shame they're giving it up. Make sure you farewell the little band that came, saw, and conquered, and enjoy a bittersweet taste of a group that had so much potential.
The end of the world is happening in Hollywood. This North American summer has already seen Tom Cruise meet Oblivion, Seth Rogen and co scream This Is the End and all of us embrace our wildest apocalyptic fears in our terrible movie heavens. Now with Elysium, the director of District 9, Neill Blomkamp, turns his sights from apartheid South Africa to the interplanetary concern of undocumented immigrants. In the 22nd century, Earth is overpopulated, polluted and diseased. The Third World is now the world, and the rich have fled and founded a new off-planet habitat, Elysium, a floating disc of palm trees and daiquiris where the idyll sun-bake in oblivion and 'medbays' cure all sickness in seconds. The ruined Earth is just in sight over the horizon, where Matt Damon toils away making the terrifying robot policemen that oppress him and the other proles. A cruelly unnecessary industrial accident exposes him to lethal radiation, and now he's the classic John Connor-style everyman hero with nothing to lose. He needs a medbay, and the only solution is to wage an all-out war on Elysium, opening it up to all Earthly "illegals". His war armour transforms him into a man-robot fighting machine — if Aldous Huxley rather than Marvel designed Ironman. Let's face it, Matt Damon is a boss. Not only is he the most bankable actor in Hollywood, he has not given one dud performance, ever. Think about it. The day he does will be the day I weep and quit movie reviewing with a heavy heart and wistful glance in Brad Pitt's direction. Jodie Foster is our steel eyed, fluorescent-toothed and impeccably tailored Bad Ass Neo-Con, Delacourt. Foster is in full-tilt Nicholas Cage mode here, dispensing with naturalism to give a presentation-style performance as a heartless Hawk whose sole job is to keep those pesky illegals at bay and the squeaky clean wealth of Elysium safe. Her henchman Kruger (Sharlto Copley) is a no less than a demented sadist, screeching outrageously abusive one-liners in a full-blooded South African accent. While his boss is the ostensibly civilised policymaker pushing the sleek buttons of war from afar, Kruger is the brutal, gloves-off and knives-out psycho, and together they form both sides of the conservative coin. This gleeful bastard must surely be one of the best baddies in recent movie history, and a hysterical one at that. He injects the film with a blood-red jab of dark humour, and that sense of humour is something that is sorely lacking from the surging majority of Hollywood blockbusters. His one-liners are wonderfully gruesome, real Old Testament stuff. Best of all, it's this Hannibal-style character that allows Blomkamp to really reach beyond the formulaic sameness that characterises most films of this hi-tech genre and deliver some proper twists in the final act. If you've wondered why recent big-shot Hollywood flicks like the $200 million-plus World War Z have been oddly bloodless, in a way that doesn't gel with their ADHD violence, it's because rocketing production budgets ensure that these films need to be rated PG to attract the largest possible spectrum of paying cinema-goers, and that has to mean high school-aged boys and their parents. Elysium has no such qualms — with an MA15+ stamp, it has gross blood to spare and it's all the more satisfying as a result. If there ever was going to be a contemporary director to hijack Hollywood, it's Blomkamp. He delivers blockbusters based in empathy and political smarts that actually aspire to be more than insulting filmic pollution. The state of Elysium suffers from a serious "political sickness, a moral tumour that must be removed". It's an especially crucial message in the weeks leading up to this country's joke of an election and the more open-ended atmosphere of unhooked xenophobic psychosis. Increasingly, being Australian is like having a totally obnoxious and embarrassing mother who's vocally and publicly racist. And homophobic. And sexist. And completely without social skills. The towering blockbusters of the literary realm have often been piercingly thoughtful and critical (here I'm thinking of Brave New World and The Road. It's more than time for movie blockbusters to be the same, to linger in an afterburn of ideas. Elysium is the blockbuster for me. And these mad times. https://youtube.com/watch?v=oIBtePb-dGY
William Robinson is one of South East Queensland’s – nay, Australia’s – best-loved living artists and there is little doubt as to why. His massive, magical, multi-perspective landscape paintings suck their audiences into an ethereal and uniquely Australian world of rainforest canopies, twisted tree roots, shiny mountain springs, vast, swirling oceans, sculpted sand dunes, drifting clouds and graded light. In celebration of the artist, and coinciding with his 75th birthday, QUT is hosting a retrospective of Robinson’s work across two installation spaces – the QUT Art Museum and the William Robinson Gallery at Old Government House. The exhibition, entitled The Transfigured Landscape, will feature works from both public and private collections including Robinson’s famed landscape works as well as Archibald winning self-portraits, Equestrian self-portrait 1987 and Self-portrait with stunned mullet 1994. If you have never seen a William Robinson exhibition, you are in for a real treat; his works are not only paintings, but visual excursions that stick in your mind for years after they have been experienced.
The already staggeringly-large BIGSOUND lineup just got slightly more colossal. Adding another 40 or so artists to the already 80-strong list, Brisbane's answer to SXSW announced this afternoon that the likes of Seekae, Voyager, Nicholas Albrook, The Funkoars, Pierce Brothers, Hayden James, Art of Sleeping and Canada’s July will be joining the September festivities. The new batch join the existing cohort of already announced names like Gold Fields, DMA’s, Holy Holy, BAD//DREEMS, Client Liaison, KINGSWOOD and REMI. "It's no exaggeration to say that over two nights we'll be showcasing some of the most exciting rock, hip hop, punk, metal, dance, pop, folk, roots and country music in the world, said executive programmer Nick O'Byrne. "We reckon the quality of music and the incredible festival environment will firmly establish BIGSOUND as one of the most dynamic tastemaking events in the international calendar. What makes it even more exciting is the unprecedented influx of music industry leaders who can't wait to see and hear what we have to offer." BIGSOUND attendees will have to change up their highlighter colours to self-schedule the three-day conference program, with the recent announcement of speakers causing a significant amount of squealidge — think Neil Finn, the church, Bluesfest's Peter Noble, James Minor from SXSW, Tom Windish from The Windish Agency, Ben Marshall from the Sydney Opera House, and Jerome Borazio and Danny Rogers from St Jerome's Laneway Festival, all divulging all their long-lived industry secrets. Running September 10 - 11, BIGSOUND brings panels, keynotes, showcases and live gigs to Fortitude Valley for another year. This local love-in will run over 12 locations including Brissy staples like The Zoo, Ric's and Alhambra new sites such as The Underdog, The New Globe, The Elephant, Crowbar, and a new outdoor venue by Brightside and Magic City. You'll have your work cut out for you to see everything, but luckily you can start planning now. Tickets are on sale via Oztix with a two-day pass only setting you back $69+bf. BIGSOUND Live 2014 newly announced artists: the church Seekae Voyager Nicholas Albrook The Funkoars Pierce Brothers July Talk (CAN) Hayden James Art Of Sleeping SAFIA Life Pilot Meniscus Toehider THIEF Felicity Groom Jeremy Neale Harmony James DARKC3LL Mr. Hill & Rahjconkers A Million Dead Birds Laughing Kathryn Rollins Mammals Daily Meds Like Thieves Marlon Williams KU?KA Mise en Scene (CAN) Coin Banks Eden Mulholland Males (NZ) Mosman Alder Jesse Sheehan (NZ) REPTILES Bound For Ruin Mathas My Friend The Betrayer All Our Exes Live In Texas Usurper Of Modern Medicine Dozzi Peter Bibby Rolls Bayce Shellfin Sparkspitter Check out the BIGSOUND website for more info. Words by Shannon Connellan and Meg Watson.
Don't go saying that you don't have anything to watch between Thursday, August 7–Sunday, August 24. In cinemas around the Victorian capital, for 18 movie-filled days, 2025's Melbourne International Film Festival boasts a program more than 275 flicks deep. This year's MIFF is where The Chronology of Water, the feature directorial debut of Kristen Stewart (Love Lies Bleeding), will screen for the first time Down Under — and where Urchin, which notches up the same feat for Babygirl's Harris Dickinson, will as well. Both are heading to Melbourne fresh from their Cannes premieres. MIFF will also give the city its initial chance to see early pandemic-set western Eddington from Ari Aster (Beau Is Afraid), celebrate a music icon with the world premiere of Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Man, enjoy the full Norwegian Sex trilogy that culminated with 2025 Berlinale Golden Bear-recipient Dreams (Sex Love), get unsettled by Daisy Ridley (Cleaner)-led Australian found-footage horror We Bury the Dead, take the family to animated sequel The Bad Guys 2 based on Aussie author Aaron Blabey's books, pay tribute to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and much, much more. If I Had Legs I'd Kick You starring Rose Byrne (Physical) is the fest's opening-night pick, Parasite composer Jung Jae-il is coming to Australia to conduct the movie's score live in an Aussie exclusive and Cannes Palme d'Or-winning It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi (No Bears) is on the lineup, too — and so is The Passion of Joan of Arc with a new score by Julia Holter performed live. Richard Linklater's (Hit Man) Blue Moon with Ethan Hawke (Leave the World Behind), Margaret Qualley (The Substance) and Andrew Scott (Ripley) is just one of two of the director's features on the bill. The other: Nouvelle Vague, with the American helmer bringing the French New Wave to life. Her Smell's Alex Ross Perry is another filmmaker with two titles on the lineup. With Videoheaven, a movie essay solely comprised from movie and TV clips, he pays tribute to the video-store era — and with Pavements, he focuses on the band Pavement via an experimental blend of documentary, narrative, musical and more. The director is among MIFF's 2025 guests as well, including as a juror for its Bright Horizons award, the fest's $140,000 official competition for filmmakers that was introduced back in 2022. After Aftersun screened in the comp's debut year, its filmmaker Charlotte Wells is this year's jury president. The aforementioned Urchin and If I Had Legs I'd Kick You are in the running for 2025's Bright Horizon prize, as are the likes of Cannes hit Sound of Falling, Un Certain Regard award-winner The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo, the Bangkok-set A Useful Ghost, and Matthew McConaughey (Agent Elvis)- and Kurt Russell (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters)-starring crime-thriller The Rivals of Amziah King. It isn't hard to find more standouts across the complete MIFF program, such as dramedy Sorry, Baby, which has had the film festival circuit talking since Sundance; Left-Handed Girl, with first-time director Shih-Ching Tsou boasting Anora Oscar-winner Sean Baker as her co-writer and editor; legal drama Two Prosecutors; and Kelly Reichardt's (Showing Up) Josh O'Connor (Challengers)-led The Mastermind. Others include O'Connor again in the small town-set Rebuilding, coming-of-age story Enzo from BPM (Beats Per Minute)'s Robin Campillo, Wagner Moura's (Dope Thief) Cannes-winning performance in The Secret Agent, Bi Gan's (Long Day's Journey Into Night) Resurrection, the surveillance culture examination of documentary The Perfect Neighbor, 1000 Women in Horror's cinematic celebration, Aussie animation Lesbian Space Princess, the true crime-focused Zodiac Killer Project, Peter Dinklage (Wicked) as The Toxic Avenger and horror-comedy Zombucha! with Jackie van Beek (Audrey). The festival's retrospectives titles are always a highlight, and 2025's picks are no different — whether you're keen to mark 25 years since Looking for Alibrandi reached the screen via a 4K restoration; also see Sweetie, the debut feature from Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), get the same restored treatment; flash back to BMX Bandits; or work your way through MIFF's largest-ever tribute to a single director via the 27-film Chantal Akerman: Traces strand. From Friday, August 15–Sunday, August 31, MIFF Online is also back so you can watch along from your couch.
