When you think of goods made out of recycled cardboard, the most common objects that would spring to mind would probably be cereal boxes, toilet paper or drink bottles. A fully-functioning bicycle would most likely not make the top of the list. Yet, now thanks to Israeli bike enthusiast, Izhar Gafni, it will certainly appear somewhere on that list. Gafni has created a bicycle made entirely of recycled cardboard, and all using only $9 of material. The bike functions just like a normal bike, is water resistant and can carry riders of up to a massive 220kg. Despite the material costing between $9-$12 for each bicycle, Gafni is looking to sell his product for $60-$90 a pop, depending on the extra addition of an electrical motor. Nevertheless, this innovative creation is believed to change the world of bicycles by being significantly more eco-friendly and well within consumer's budgets. The inspiration for the recycled bike came after Gafni saw news that an inventor had developed a canoe made from recycled cardboard. Even through the skepticism and doubt he received, Gafni persevered with his idea and three years later achieved what three different engineers had thought to be impossible. Gafni's recycled bicycle has since been made into four different prototypes including one with training wheels for children. He is currently working with investors to establish a company that can produce and distribute his bikes on a global scale.
When King Kong swung into cinemas back in 1933, it reshaped movie history — and also had viewers everywhere thinking twice about great apes. Fast-forward almost nine decades, and now another giant gorilla is making an impact. You can see King Nyani IRL, however, and not just on the silver screen. Even better: you can now climb into the 30-foot-long creature's hands at Taronga Zoo. Created by public artists Gillie and Marc Schattner, King Nyani was inspired by King Kong. Consider the bronze statue — the world's largest bronze gorilla statue, in fact — a response to that pop-culture behemoth. "In the movie, Kong is seen as a ferocious beast. That was so far from our experience meeting the actual animals. We wanted to show the world that this great creature was really a pacifist who put family above all else," says Marc. Spreading a message of conservation, King Nyani first popped up in New York City — where else? — in August 2020, and understandably received a huge reaction. Now, the the first edition of the sizeable statue sits in the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, with a second due to be installed at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut. Yes, that makes Sydney's version edition three. "We decided to create three editions after seeing the unbelievable response to the original Nyani in NYC. We knew that this was a cause that many people were willing to get behind," advises Gillie. "This was a chance to inspire three times as many people to protect gorillas to save them from extinction." King Nyani is definitely big — up to three people can sit inside the bronze silverback's hands, an act that serves multiple purposes. "We wanted to create a sculpture where the public could really get close to the silverback, both physically and emotionally. Being able to sit in his hand and look up into his gentle face, we hope they will fall in love and join the movement to save the gorillas," explains Gille. At Taronga, King Nyani now sits next to the Centenary Viewing Platform, underneath a giant fig tree — and mere metres away from the zoo's harbour view. You'll need an entry ticket to Taronga to check out its new addition, and to snap those pics you know are going to be all over social media, but those funds will go towards the zoo's efforts to support, care and protect wildlife, including gorillas. King Nyani is on display next to the Centenary Viewing Platform at Taronga Zoo, Bradleys Head Road, Mosman. For more information, head to the zoo's website.
If you're fond of exclaiming "whoa!" to mark huge news — and you've been conditioned to do just that by a certain Keanu Reeves-starring sci-fi franchise — then the past year or so has given you more than a few opportunities to break out that word in the best possible ways. First came the confirmation that a fourth live-action film in The Matrix series was 100-percent happening. Then came trailers for that very flick, giving us all a few sneak peeks before we could watch the full thing. And, when Boxing Day rolled around in 2021, the movie itself — aka The Matrix Resurrections — finally arrived on the big screen. Here's another reason for you to channel your inner Keanu Reeves right now: just a month after reaching cinemas, and while still actually showing in cinemas, you can stream The Matrix Resurrections via video on demand at home. Fast-tracking films to digital is a trend that's been gathering steam during the pandemic — and if you've been a bit cautious about going out during Australia's current Omicron wave, you can still fall down the dystopian franchise's rabbit hole sooner rather than later. A hit for more than two decades now, this is the science-fiction epic that smartly recognises that it's Keanu's world and we're all just living in it, after all — and now, we can plug into all four live-action movies from our couches. Get ready for Neo (Reeves, Bill and Ted Face the Music) to once again grapple with the Matrix and everything it means for humanity — and also for Carrie-Anne Moss (Jessica Jones) and Jada Pinkett Smith (Girls Trip) to return, too. They're joined by Matrix newcomers Neil Patrick Harris (It's a Sin), Jessica Henwick (On the Rocks), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (The White Tiger), Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Candyman). And yes, Reeves and Moss once again take centre stage this time around, because casting them in the first place — and showing unwavering belief in the duo — is the greatest move that filmmakers Lana and Lilly Wachowski ever made. It was a bold decision two-and-a-bit decades ago, with Reeves a few years past sublime early-90s action hits Point Break and Speed, and Moss then known for TV bit parts (including, in a coincidence that feels like the product of computer simulation, a 1993 series called Matrix). But, as well as giving cinema their much-emulated gunfire-avoidance technique and all those other aforementioned highlights, the Wachowskis bet big on viewers caring about their central pair — and hooking into their chemistry — as leather-clad heroes saving humanity. Indeed, amid the life-is-a-lie horrors, the subjugation of flesh to mechanical overlords and the battle for autonomy, the first three Matrix films always weaved Neo and Trinity's love story through their sci-fi action. In fact, the duo's connection remained the saga's beating heart. Like any robust computer program executed over and over, The Matrix Resurrections repeats the feat — with plenty of love for what's come before, but even more for its enduring love story. Lana goes solo on The Matrix Resurrections — helming her first-ever project without her sister in their entire career — but she still goes all in on Reeves and Moss. The fifth Matrix movie overall counting The Animatrix, this new instalment doesn't initially give its key figures their familiar character names, however. Rather, it casts them as famous video game designer Thomas Anderson and motorcycle-loving mother-of-two Tiffany. One of those monikers is familiar, thanks to a surname drawled by Agent Smith back in 1999, and again in 2003 sequels The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. But this version of Thomas Anderson only knows the agent from his own hit gaming trilogy (called The Matrix, naturally). And he doesn't really know Tiffany at all, instead admiring her from afar at Simulatte, their local coffee shop. Check out the trailer for The Matrix Resurrections below: The Matrix Resurrections is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream online via video on demand — including via Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. Read our full review.
Given how 2020 has turned out, we can all be forgiven for hoping that next year is much, much brighter. In Sydney, that'll happen literally. After cancelling its 2020 festival due to COVID-19, Vivid has announced that it'll make a comeback in 2021, returning with another jam-packed lineup of light installations, live music and interesting discussions. When Vivid re-emerges next year, it'll do so with one big change: a later time slot. Usually, the luminous fest's events and city-wide glow mark the end of autumn and the beginning of winter; however, in 2021, it'll run from August 6–28 instead. Whether you're a Sydneysider in desperate need of a bit more light in your life, or you're located elsewhere and contemplating local 2021 holidays — seeing that Australia's international border is likely to stay closed for some time — you can now look forward to a late-winter feast of projections, tunes and talks. Exactly what the program will hold hasn't yet been announced, with the lineup usually unveiled a few months before the event. [caption id="attachment_761801" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] If it had gone ahead in 2020, this year's Vivid was set to be headlined by US neo-soul singer and poet Jill Scott. The festival cancelled before it released its full lineup of gigs, installations, light shows and other cultural events. As well as a change of date, it's sensible to expect that moving around Vivid might look a little different in 2021, too. The event hasn't announced anything along those lines but, in 2019, it attracted more than two million attendees. That's quite the crowd in general, and even more so in these pandemic-afflicted times. In terms of restrictions, New South Wales has been easing them, though — including announcing just this week that outdoor music gigs will be able to host up to 500 people from Friday, October 16, and that outdoor venues can double their capacity to one person per two square metres. Vivid Live 2021 will take place from August 6–28, 2021. For more information, visit the event's website. Top image: Yaya Stempler.
Little gets in the way of Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art hosting a huge midyear food festival and taking a swim sans clothes to celebrate the winter solstice, not even giving Dark Mofo a year off. In 2023, the Mona team announced that it was pressing pause on its weird and wild June festival this year, using the time to plan for the future instead ahead of coming back better than ever in 2025 — but it also revealed that some of Dark Mofo's signature festivities would still return. Now, exactly when you'll be able to hit the Apple Isle to partake in both the Winter Feast and Nude Solstice Swim has been revealed. Mark your diary: tucking into a creative meal will run from Thursday, June 13–Sunday, June 16, then again from Thursday, June 20–Sunday, June 23, while enjoying a chilly dip is occurring on Friday, June 21. Winter Feast is headed to Princes Wharf 1, again focusing on food, wine and spirits from Tassie, and with an international guest chef that's still to be announced. In 2023, Chef's Table alum Ana Roš from two-Michelin-starred Hiša Franko did the honours. Nude Solstice Swim will return to Long Beach at sunrise after 2023's event attracted a record number of folks — and it has upped its capacity for 2024. They're not the only Mona events still on the calendar for this year even without Dark Mofo tying them all together. The Mona Gala will get everyone partying on Friday, June 14 to celebrate the opening of exhibition Namedropping. It will also move from strictly invitation-only attendance to dropping tickets to buy — but only a limited amount, which will be available from March — for an event that'll showcase artistic works about status, perception and trying to look good for others. If you went to Dark Mofo in 2021, you might remember Night Shift, which is making a comeback from Friday, June 21–Saturday, June 22. On the itinerary again: hitting the dance floor, getting debauched and making the absolute most of the early hours. Dark Mofo is set to return in 2025 as the full usual shebang — not that there's anything usual about the event. "Dark Mofo has established itself as a beacon of artistic exploration and challenging ideas for a decade, immersing audiences in the depths of darkness and the heart of winter," Dark Mofo Artistic Director Chris Twite said. "This year, by taking a fallow year, we are taking a crucial step in ensuring that Dark Mofo continues to be a catalyst for artistic innovation, cultural dialogue, and shared experiences for many years to come. "While the festival rests in 2024, the solstice does not, and we are excited to gather once more to present two popular pillars of the Tasmanian midwinter, along with some exceptional extra events," Twite continued. Mona's 2024 Winter Events: Thursday, June 13–Sunday, June 16 — Winter Feast week one Friday, June 14 — The Mona Gala Saturday, June 15, 2024–Monday, April 21, 2025 — Namedropping exhibition Thursday, June 20–Sunday, June 23 — Winter Feast week two Friday, June 21 — Nude Solstice Swim Friday, June 21–Saturday, June 22 — Night Shift Dark Mofo isn't taking place in 2024, but Winter Feast, Nude Solstice Swim, Night Shift and the Mona Gala all return in June — head to the festival's website for further details. Winter feast images: Jesse Hunniford, 2023, courtesy of Dark Mofo 2023. Nude Solstice Swim images: Rémi Chauvin, 2023, courtesy of Dark Mofo 2023.
They've been making ace threads for almost two decades, and now they're making a spot in Sydney their own. Jumping from the shelves of other stores to their bricks-and-mortar outlet, denim label Ksubi has set up shop in Paddington. While they've dabbled in their own retail outlets in the past, the new digs mark the brand's only current stand-alone store in the world. Opening its doors at 130 Oxford Street as part of the designer boutique-filled The Intersection shopping precinct, the new Ksubi store turns 250 square metres into a minimalist, monochromatic space for their full clothing collection, plus YSL frames and Henson jewellery. On the shelves, think distressed denim jeans, jackets, cut-off shorts and skirts aplenty, obviously. Interior design-wise, think industrial-esque touches that evoke Ksubi's unfussy style. Indeed, inside eager shoppers will find white neon lighting, flat black fixtures, raw concrete floors, and an array of very memorable magenta change rooms complete with defaced doors. Plus, Ksubi's new digs also feature a number of permanent installations by commissioned artists. Find Ksubi at 130 Oxford Street, Paddington, or head to their website for further information.
Dark Mofo is back for another devilish year where truly anything can happen. The annual winter festival is one week in for 2023, and it has already served up a slate of highlights delighting the senses of festivalgoers and local Hobart residents. Whether you were on the hunt for packed dance floors into the early hours of the morning, unbeatably fresh feeds around a firepit or hedonistic masquerade balls, there's been no shortage of sinister activations so far to prove why the festival is such a must-attend event — and, if you haven't made it along yet, to show why it should be at top of your hit list. As the fest's second week kicks off with even more debauchery — including A Divine Comedy, an Australian premiere and an Aussie exclusive that reimagines Dante's classic examination of hell, purgatory and paradise; Soda Jerk's Hello Dankness, which compiles samples into a 70-minute survey of American politics circa 2016–21; and performances from Molchat Doma, HEALTH, RVG and Moktar — here's a look at seven standouts from the first week of Dark Mofo 2023. [caption id="attachment_905439" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rosie Hastie[/caption] THE BLUE ROSE BALL BROUGHT TOGETHER CHILDLIKE JOY AND LYNCHIAN CHAOS Hidden among the haunting grounds of Dark Park at the base of Ryoji Ikeda's awe-inspiring light beam Spectra, The Blue Rose Ball unofficially opened Dark Mofo 2023's festivities the night before things well and truly got underway. A mysterious masquerade ball with nods to David Lynch and his television classic Twin Peaks, the event seamlessly paired debauchery with unbridled glee. Dressed to the nines and faces covered, guests were met with a hedonistic ballroom encouraging them to indulge in their every desire. While wandering around the ball, attendees discovered eerie dancing teddy bears; tables piled high with lollies, cheese and charcuterie; a fairy floss machine; hidden rooms with NSFW performances; a brief interlude from a fully functional soft serve van; and a central stage with surprise sets from artists like The Huxleys — plus an open bar, of course. [caption id="attachment_905440" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Remi Chauvin[/caption] THE GATHERING KICKED THINGS OFF — AND BARKAA WAS IMMENSE After The Blue Rose Ball acted as a curtain-raiser, the ribbon was officially cut with The Gathering, a celebration of First Nations artists featuring Tasman Keith, dameeeela, Denni, Uncle Dougie Mansell and Madelena. While the night was a hit from start to finish, BARKAA brought the house down with a headlining performance that cements her as one of the nation's best and most important live performers. The dynamic set was a certified rollercoaster of emotions, seamlessly switching from heartwrenching explorations of pain to moments of love, joy and laughter — sometimes within the same song. The power of BARKAA's performances comes from her willingness not to shy away from making non-Indigenous audience members uncomfortable while celebrating the strength of the First Nations community, before bringing everyone back together to dance, sing and have an all-around great time. When she brought out her friend and collaborator Dobby to perform their 2020 track 'I Can't Breathe' together, the audience was already in the palm of BARKAA's hand. It was a momentous performance that set the tone for the next 14 days. [caption id="attachment_905437" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jesse Hunniford[/caption] THE FESTIVAL'S INTERNATIONAL ACTS DELIVERED THE GOODS While many people head down to Dark Mofo to immerse themselves in the wonders of Hobart as the chaos descends, the event also pulls some impressive big-name acts to headline the festivities. Week one of the 2023 fest saw Thundercat take to the stage to perform winding ten-plus-minute versions of his tracks, inserting long jam sessions into fan favourites like 'Them Changes' and 'Dragonball Durag'. Earlier that same night, Sleaford Mods provided a you-had-to-be-there kind of moment. The group's producer Andrew Fearn pressed play on his laptop and bobbed about, while vocalist Jason Williamson shouted tales of working-class England accompanied by erratically dance moves — all of which whipped the crowd into a euphoric frenzy. Punk legends Black Flag were in town for an Australian exclusive set and rolled out the classics, running through the band's influential catalogue of 80s and 00s heavy hitters. Max Ritcher popped up for two sombre orchestral performances of his piece VOICES, which was broadcast live across the entire city during Saturday night's performance, soundtracking people's journeys between that night's festivities. And despite bringing in a much-younger audience than the other global acts, "next big thing" singer-songwriter Ethel Cain felt squarely at home on the Dark Mofo lineup, blending dark religious imagery with her tales of small-town America — the anthemic choruses gliding over the screams of her rabid cult-like fanbase. All of this proved a Dark Mofo wonder without a mention of the likes of Squarepusher, Witch, Eartheater and Drab Majesty, who also peformed over the first week. [caption id="attachment_905450" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rosie Hastie[/caption] TRANCE PROVIDED A WILD, UNIQUE AND FULLY IMMERSIVE UNIVERSE FOR 36 HOURS Berlin-based Chinese artist Tianzhuo Chen's TRANCE offered Dark Mofo attendees the opportunity to drop in and out of an all-encompassing performance space for 36 hours across three days. Depending on when you arrived and how much time you spent in MAC2, you might've had a vastly different experience to someone else. Some audience members may have discovered a full-on rave with bass-heavy techno and screamed vocals, while others would have stumbled upon a delicate moment of dance and ambient music. A grand heavy-metal set, an intimate communal dinner, a hip hop dance circle, noisy experimental R&B, a downpouring of rain: they all featured throughout each of the three 12-hour performances, which were set in an otherworldy space filled with colourful larger-than-life characters and dream-like set designs. After wowing audiences in Asia and Europe, TRANCE found itself in the sleepy town of Hobart but couldn't have felt more right at Dark Mofo, asking attendees with an open mind and an affinity for the strange to let themselves be transported into Chen's one-of-a-kind world. [caption id="attachment_905441" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jesse Hunniford[/caption] NIGHT MASS TOOK OVER AN ENTIRE HOBART BLOCK, CREATING A DEBAUCHEROUS ARTS PRECINCT Spread across four nights over the two weeks of Dark Mofo, this year's Night Mass has taken over an entire block of downtown Hobart, filling every stage, street, alleyway, bar and theatre with music and art between 10pm–4am. The festival's centrepieces, these debaucherous six-hour parties encourage you to wander through the different spaces and stumble upon something that you've never experienced before. On entry, there's a set of burning cars manned by performance artists that look straight out of Mad Max. Wander around the corner to discover a three-storey-tall teddy bear standing over a stage serving up deep electronic tunes and uplifting ballads of friendship (you can even livestream footage from a camera in the bear's face throughout the festival). Journey across the dozens of performance spaces at Night Mass and you'll find dimly lit dens, seated shows, multi-storey house parties, DJs perched on fire escapes and heaving dance floors. There's really not much else like it. [caption id="attachment_905434" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jesse Hunniford[/caption] THE WINTER FEAST PUT ALL OF AUSTRALIA'S OTHER FOOD FESTIVALS ON NOTICE Always a highlight of Dark Mofo, the Winter Feast once again served up a showcase of the best Tasmanian food and drink. From Bruny Island oysters, top-notch local wines, truffle-topped pizza and winter warmers like mulled negronis to the headlining collaborative kitchen between Chef's Table alum Ana Roš and The Agrarian Kitchen, this culinary night market shows up its interstate rivals with the most diverse and produce-focused array of stalls of any Australian food festival. Adding to the ambience is the hall's famous cross-filled ceiling, firepits to congregate around and a constant lineup of musicians to soundtrack your meals. There were even some surprise sets from musicians on the festival lineup, with Ugandan Afrofuturist-punk collective Fulu Miziki popping up to close out the festivities with a late-night Sunday-night set that had everyone hitting the dance floor with squid on a stick and a local Moo Brew in hand. [caption id="attachment_905438" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rosie Hastie[/caption] HOBART SHOWED WHY IT IS AUSTRALIA'S MOST UNDERRATED CITY While Dark Mofo served up plenty of standouts and surprises, the backdrop for the entire festival is the beauty of Hobart. MONA remains one of the country's best galleries, serving up weird, wonderful and thought-provoking art in its stunning subterranean space; the city's pubs, bars and restaurants remain top-tier for anyone looking for quality seafood, beers, wines, whisky and produce-driven meals; and the surrounding harbour and mountains make for a spectacular backdrop for your adventures around town. In winter, just be sure to pack plenty of warm clothes. Dark Mofo 2023 runs from Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania. Still looking for Dark Mofo inspiration? Check out our wholesome-to-hedonistic guide, which'll help you stack your festival itinerary based on the level of chaos you're after — and our last-minute picks, too. Top image: Jesse Hunniford. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Vivid Cafe and Lounge has been up and running on Glenferrie Road in Hawthorn since March 2023, originally only serving up classic Melbourne cafe fare. But a few months after opening, Chef Nobphadon Kaewkarn (AKA Chef Bird) started slowly introducing more and more Thai eats to the menu — until the lunch offerings were dominated by curries, noodles and spicy seafood dishes. And as of February this year, the team took the leap into becoming an all-day venue, transforming into a Thai restaurant once breakfast is over — and it's now running a booming dinner trade from Wednesday–Sunday. On the menu, you'll find classics like soft-shell crab bao, spicy coconut prawns, fish cakes, roti and chicken satay to start, as well as bigger dishes like hot and spicy tom yum soup, a stack of salads, curries, pad thai, pad kra pow, slow-cooked lamb and a crispy prawn (or crab) omelette. Come weekend lunchtime, Vivid is serving one of the most affordable all-you-can-eat meals in town. For just $29 per person, you'll get 90 minutes of unlimited red, green and massaman curry, plus endless amounts of spring rolls, pad thai, pad see ew, fried rice and roti. And you get to choose what protein goes in each. We're all about bottomless brunch deals, whether it's the luxe Conservatory buffet at Crown or the old Smorgy's offerings (RIP), so this new addition to Melbourne's all-you-can-eat scene is firmly on our radar. And to top it all off, Vivid now has an alcohol license — you've got $10 wines by the glass, plus happy-hour deals on beers and cocktails. Shit's expensive these days. But Vivid is serving up genuinely good eats for so little. Get on it. You'll find Vivid Cafe and Lounge at 616 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn. It's open for breakfast from Monday–Friday, lunch from Monday– Sunday and dinner from Wednesday–Sunday. For more information, visit the venue's website.
Since 2024, the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Awards doesn't just give out awards when its annual ceremony celebrating the best of the year's big- and small-screen output rolls around. When the accolades moved its night of nights to the Gold Coast, it turned the whole event into a festival, getting the folks behind — and starring in — Aussie movies and TV shows, plus homegrown talents enjoying success overseas, chatting at sessions open to the public. That's the AACTA Festival setup — and when the nation's screen academy promised that the fest would be bigger this year, it meant it. The lineup for the event from Wednesday, February 5–Sunday, February 9, 2025 has just expanded again, after the initial program details were revealed in November 2024, then more highlights were added in December. One impressive new inclusion is Oscar-winning Memoir of a Snail animator Adam Elliot talking about his work and career, including his latest delight (which, fingers crossed, could be an Academy Award-nominee by then, too). Another is the return of Talk to Me filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou after they were involved in 2024, this time with ONEFOUR to discuss challenging stereotypes via both horror and drill music. AACTA Festival is also hosting Actor on Actor talks, first teaming up Lee Tiger Halley from Boy Swallows Universe with Alyla Browne from Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Sting, then getting Better Man and How to Make Gravy co-stars Kate Mulvany and Damon Herriman talking. [caption id="attachment_986977" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jono Searle/Getty Images for AFI[/caption] If you're keen to find out more about Binge's upcoming The Last Anniversary, which is based on a novel from Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty and stars Teresa Palmer (The Fall Guy), the latter will be in attendance with some of the show's team — including director John Polson (Law & Order: Organised Crime) — to dig into the adaptation. Heard about snake-movie remake The Anaconda with Jack Black (Dear Santa) and Paul Rudd (Only Murders in the Building) that's being shot in Queensland?. US film producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form (A Quiet Place: Day One) are heading along to dive into it, and the topic of bringing making blockbuster films in general. Aussie acting icon Jack Thompson (Runt) is also on the lineup, with 1975 classic Sunday Too Far Away celebrating its 50th anniversary. Thomas Horton, the VFX producer/supervisor on House of the Dragon, will explore bringing Westeros to life as well. And, as part of the screening program — and giving some love to film and TV successes in general — Wicked is receiving a free outdoor showing. The current additions join already-revealed sessions with The Invisible Man and Wolf Man writer/director Leigh Whannell, Better Man and The Greatest Showman filmmaker Michael Gracey, a live How to Make Gravy concert featuring Paul Kelly, Colin and Cameron Cairnes talking Late Night with the Devil and a behind-the-scenes look at Netflix's ripped-from-the-headlines Aussie series Apple Cider Vinegar. In still-huge news, the Working Dog team, aka Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Michael Hirsh and Rob Sitch, are coming together for an in-conversation session that's bound to touch upon everything from The Castle, Frontline, Thank God You're Here and Utopia to The Dish, The Hollowmen and Have You Been Paying Attention?. The Dish is also the screening program, and the Working Dog team will receive the prestigious AACTA Longford Lyell Award. Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser, who won an Oscar for Dune and is highly tipped for another one for Dune: Part Two, is another significant inclusion, chatting about his Hollywood work. Also in the same category: John Seale, who took home an Academy Award for The English Patient, and was nominated for Witness, Rain Man, Cold Mountain and Mad Max: Fury Road. Everyone can also look forward to authors Trent Dalton and Holly Ringland returning from 2024's lineup, talking about Boy Swallows Universe and The Lost Flowers of Alice on the small screen, respectively; a dive into the Heartbreak High soundtrack; a panel on queer storytelling with RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under season two winner Spankie Jackzon and Deadloch's Nina Oyama; and a session with First Nations filmmakers. And if you're keen to watch movies, Gettin' Square followup Spit will enjoy its Queensland premiere, complete with star David Wenham (Fake) diving into the feature's journey; Looney Tunes: The Day The Earth Blew Up will make its Australian debut, at Movie World, of course; and upcoming action film Homeward with Nathan Phillips (Kid Snow) and Jake Ryan (Territory) will take viewers behind the scenes. [caption id="attachment_926549" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moshcam[/caption] [caption id="attachment_985262" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Netflix © 2024[/caption] AACTA Festival will run from Wednesday, February 5–Sunday, February 9, 2025 at HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast. For further details, head to the fest's website.
A small grey moon passes silently through the dark, desolate vacuum of space. No wait, not a moon, a space station. Suddenly from within that manmade menace, a thunderous blast of brilliant green light tears forth, obliterating the planet of Alderaan. Elsewhere, a frail Obi Wan Kenobi shudders and fretfully remarks: “I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened”. Fast forward a long, long time to Tuesday April 7, 2015, and once again, one senses a great disturbance has come to pass, only this time, Harrison Ford and the gang are playing for the other team. In a landmark decision by Australia’s Federal Court, iiNet and several other internet service providers (or ISPs) have been ordered to disclose the names and contact details of almost 5000 of their Australian customers accused of illegally sharing the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club. If you’re currently sitting there with BitTorrent open in the background, chances are you’re one of the millions suddenly crying out in terror. But just how afraid should you be? ISPs, WHERE SIZE DOES MATTER The first question to ask is: which ISP do you use? Telstra, TPG and Optus were all ignored by the rights holders (at least for now), meaning yesterday's ruling only applies to customers of iiNet, Dodo, Internode, Amnet and Adam Internet. If you’re not with them, you’re not in the firing line. TORRENTING: A SEEDY PRACTICE Note the absence of the word ‘downloaded’ above. This case drew a critical distinction between those who downloaded the film and those who seeded the torrent (i.e., those who made it available for others to download). Since it’s impossible to identify downloaders, the names to be provided by iiNet and the other ISPs will only be of those who “made the film available online to other persons; electronically transmitted the film to other persons; and made copies of the whole or a substantial part of the film”. Put another way, if you downloaded Dallas Buyers Club but never shared it, you’re probably in the clear. But if you did seed it (and that does happen automatically through some torrenting software), what happens next? ROUND 1 TO HOLLYWOOD Nothing for the next 28 days at least, which is how long those ISPs have to appeal the decision. The chance of them doing that, however, seems unlikely given the comments by iiNet’s CEO David Buckingham that: "We're very happy with Justice Perram's judgment and his balanced approach to both the studio's and consumers' rights.” In all likelihood, then, four weeks or so from now there are going to be around 5000 letters sent out across Australia courtesy of the film’s rights holder — Dallas Buyers Club LLC. ON A SCALE OF ZERO TO ALDERAAN, HOW SCREWED ARE YOU? Three years ago, a Minnesota woman was famously ordered to pay $1.5 million in damages for illegally downloading just 24 songs from the internet. The plaintiff in that case, the Recording Industry Association of America, never had any real expectation of recovering the money from her because, of course, money wasn’t the point. Sending a message was why they’d pushed so hard, and the same may be said of Dallas Buyers Club here. With this ruling, both they and the court have sought to declare an end to the age of anonymous copyright infringement in Australia. BUT IT WASN'T ME, IT WAS THE ONE-ARMED MAN! Just because you receive a letter from Dallas Buyers Club doesn't mean you're actually guilty of copyright infringement. All it means is your name and contact details are attached to the IP address that was identified in the sharing of the file. Who was doing that sharing is an entirely different matter: your flatmate, a sibling, a child or even an unscrupulous neighbour who cracked your Wi-Fi password (seriously, was it 'password'?). Proving actual guilt will be an additional hurdle that Dallas Buyers Club will still have to jump for each and every case it pursues. OKAY, I AM THE ONE-ARMED MAN So let’s say, for argument’s sake, you’re one of the names about to be provided to Dallas Buyers Club. The ‘balance’ in the decision that David Buckingham was referring above to centres on two key points: 1. Your names won’t be made public; and 2. Every single letter that Dallas Buyers Club intends to send out must first be shown to, and approved by, Justice Nye Perram. That second point is more significant than it may sound, because it seriously limits the ability of Dallas Buyers Club to use those letters as a means of intimidation, otherwise known as ‘speculative invoicing’. Recently in America, Dallas Buyers Club sent similar letters to US-based infringers claiming they were liable for damages of up to US$150,000, but noted they’d be prepared to settle out of court for US$7000. It’s unlikely they’ll be permitted to do the same thing here, though they will almost certainly seek some level of remuneration for the infringement. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FUTURE Does this ruling mean Australians will immediately stop torrenting? Of course not. Australia is Olympic-level bad when it comes to copyright infringement, with BitTorrent accounting for more than 25% of all internet use in the region, and Australians responsible for a full 11.6% of the worldwide illegal downloads of Game of Thrones season four. Crucially, nobody ever disputes that it’s wrong, but everyone finds their own little way of justifying it. For most, that justification sits squarely in what’s termed 'The Australia Tax' — a consistently unreasonable price disparity of up to 400% between here and the rest of the world on everything from automobiles and electronics to music, software, games and films (here’s lookin' at you, Adobe). Coupled with inexplicable delayed releases (something that proved a financial disaster for The LEGO Movie), Australians justifiably feel they shouldn’t have to pay extra for something they want, only to then unjustifiably download the whole thing without paying a single cent. ARISE A KNIGHT The game changer in all of this will be Netflix, which finally launched here last week. In the United States, it's almost singlehandedly credited with reducing torrenting from 31% of all internet traffic to just 5.65% in a mere six years, and there’s no reason to doubt a similar trend in Australia. Cinemas have also wised up, with Village Roadshow CEO Graham Burke declaring last year that in Australia, “movies will [now] be released day and date with the US. Movies will come out at the same time.” Of course, yesterday’s decision may yet be overturned, but it’s a sure sign of the changing times and it would indeed seem the days of torrenting with anonymous impunity are numbered. That's not to say technology hasn't proven remarkably adept at circumventing any measures to control it, just as this author isn't blind to the fact that the Rebels ultimately prevailed over the Empire. Still, this a war neither side is prepared to back away from, so next time you’re thinking about downloading something, perhaps just ask yourself: what if I'm Alderaan? Formerly an intellectual property lawyer with the global firm Allens Linklaters, Tom Glasson is a writer, film critic and TV presenter best known for his work as host of Australia's daily satirical news show The Roast on the ABC.
The Kook is a short film made on a small budget that's taking the US independent film festivals by storm (and walking away with all the awards too). Already given the Official Selection title at a number of festivals, including Austin, New Orleans, Riverrun and Slamdance, the film is set to screen at several others in the US and Europe too. The film's story follows Fa, a gentle and unassuming member of an eccentric religious sect, as she inadvertently discovers an unsettling truth about the cult's leader. It's a dark comedy that plays with the realisation that everything Fa has ever believed in is fake, but it's not just The Kook's universal themes of truth and deception that has won audiences over. Although the cult's yellow jogging suits and dark bowl-cut hairdos probably make a lasting impression for many of the film's audiences, it's an 18-minute film that feels like nod to '80s soft-focus cinematography and the creation of a kooky world that's, worryingly, not too unlike our own. Actress T. Sahara Meer, who plays the naive Fa, recently received an award for best actress at a comedy festival in LA and, just a few days ago, the film's directors - New Yorkers Gregory Mitnick and Nat Livingston Johnson - took home the Audience Award at LES Film Festival in Manhattan. It looks like it'll be a big year for this little film. Now we just need to convince them to show it off down under. https://youtube.com/watch?v=t8u284szuk4
Don't sweat it. Just don't. That's a great sentiment, but putting it into action isn't always so easy. Humanity has long wanted to care less about all of the things that really don't matter, including since before self-help was a book genre — and since before there were books. Nothing else has quite summed up that concept quite like The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, though, even just in its title. It sits among a seemingly endless array of texts about living your best life and forgetting pointless strife, but Mark Manson's 2016 hit perfectly captured the idea that we should all devote less attention to matters that simply aren't worth it. First came the book. Then came the film version of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Since Manson's famous tome hit shelves, he's also popped up to chat about it and offer his brutally honest self-help advice — and he's returning Down Under in November 2024 to do exactly that again. Consider heading along to this The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck live tour as the next step in pursuing the ultimate goal: giving less fucks. More than 20-million copies of the book have been sold, so you're probably familiar with Manson's take on living more contented and grounded lives already, but there's something to be said about hearing about it in person. Couldn't be arsed reading the text? Then this is another way to soak in its contents. Of course, Manson's spin isn't about never giving a fuck. Rather, he knows that it's wise to choose where to direct our fucks, what to give a crap about and what genuinely bloody matters. The book's chapter titles are as telling as its overall moniker, boasting names such as 'Don't Try', 'Happiness is a problem', 'You are not special', 'You are wrong about everything (But so am I)', 'The importance of saying no' and 'And then you die'. Also the author of Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope, Manson will be onstage exploring this train of thought on a seven-stop trip around Australia and New Zealand, including in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and Auckland. Attendees can expect a deeper dive into the principles stepped through in his book, plus practical tips and stories from real life. This is an event to give a fuck about, clearly. Here's the trailer for the film, too, if you haven't yet seen it: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Live with Mark Manson Dates: Monday, November 4 — Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney Wednesday, November 6 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne Thursday, November 7 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane Saturday, November 9 — Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra Sunday, November 10 — Festival Theatre, Adelaide Monday, November 11 — Perth Concert Hall, Perth Friday, November 15 — Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Live tour hits Australia and New Zealand in November 2024, with ticket presales from 10am local time on Wednesday, July 17 — except in Melbourne, where ticket sales start at 11am local time on Monday, July 22. Head to the tour website for more details.
There's an antidote to winter and it's pubs with roaring fires, cosy whisky bars, experimental art galleries and winter dishes whipped up by brilliant chefs. You'll find all these in high concentration in the creative, inner-city Sydney neighbourhoods of Surry Hills, Redfern and Chippendale, just beyond the CBD. With a short break revolving around their famous galleries, bars and restaurants — and a night or two in one of the nearby AccorHotels properties — you'll be welcoming the cold weather rather than wishing it away. Here's your guide to a winter weekender in urban Surry Hills, Redfern and Chippendale. EAT AND DRINK Getting out of bed on a frosty morning is much, much easier when you know that good coffee awaits. You'll get just that – and, on a cloud-free day, a generous dose of sunlight – among the high ceilings of Surry Hills' Paramount Coffee Project. Another cheery spot is nearby Suzie Q, where the morning menu includes Wintertime Love: a brekkie bowl loaded with quinoa, almond hummus, fermented pumpkin, pickled cauliflower, kale, avocado, poached egg and toasted nuts. Alternatively, to warm up with freshly baked goods, swing by Chippendale's Brickfields Bakery or Redfern's extremely popular Donut Papi. Yes, a doughnut for breakfast is the definitive answer to the wintertime blues. Among the area's most tempting lunchtime offerings is fried chicken ramen, which you'll find at Butter, a hybrid eatery-retail space with an impressive rare sneaker collection. The dish was such a hit in 2017 that head chef Julian Cincotta brought it back for another round. Burger fiends, The O.G from Eve's Bar is one to tick off your burger bucket list: a classic beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato and mustard mayo combo topped with a mini cheese burger on top (because one is never enough). Another option is a Japanese-inspired burger at Ume — think crumbed chicken katsu with yuzu kosho mayo and tonkatsu sauce. That's pretty much enough fuel to get you through to spring. If you're ready to indulge at dinnertime, then head to the newish Kensington Street Precinct. The quintessential dining experience here is Automata, a 2015 opening that was named one of the Diners Club World's 50 Best Restaurants and whose head chef, Clayton Wells, has been showered with awards. This is a degustation-only deal where contemporary Australian flavours like romanesco, broccolini, sour cucumber, dory roe emulsion combine in one dish. The cluster of more casual restaurants and stalls around Spice Alley are Jason Atherton's Kensington Street Social also vie for your attention here. Other cosy dinner spots are double-hatted Ester, LP's Quality Meats for smoked and cured delights, Melbourne transplant Chin Chin for spicy Asian, Spice I Am for authentic Thai and Happy D's for dumplings. All wintry evenings should end with a beverage in front of a crackling open fire. In Surry Hills alone, there are three pubs with just that: The Dolphin, the Cricketers Arms and Harpoon Harry. Alternatively, for a cocktail, go to Mjolner, a labyrinthine bar filled with cavernous rooms inspired by Thor, or, for a whisky, the Wild Rover. DO With the lure of beach-going reduced, winter is a great time to catch up on art. And Surry Hills, Redfern and Chippendale are perfect places for it, being absolutely packed with galleries. Get started at Brett Whiteley Studio, where the famous avant-garde artist lived and worked, before heading to White Rabbit, to peruse one of the biggest collections of 21st-century Chinese art in the world. Afterwards, take a wander around Chippendale's back streets, to stumble across stacks of independent and experimental galleries. Look out for Galerie Pompom for shows by emerging artists, Tiny Tailor for designer creations and Goodspace, where, with the support of local pub the Lord Gladstone, artists exhibit commission-free. Come evening, swap art for live performance. There's jazz, blues and funk at Venue 505, rock bands at the Lansdowne Hotel, DJs and various live acts at Freda's and all kinds of sexy – and not-so-sexy – stuff at the Bearded Tit. Meanwhile, for theatre, comedy and talks, check out the Old 505, Giant Dwarf and the Seymour Centre. You'll be so busy, you won't have time to think about the cold. SLEEP To keep up with so many adventures, a super-sound sleep is crucial. The good news is there are a few nearby hotels where you can count on being cosy and warm. To go 4.5-star, book at the Novotel Sydney Central. The sunny, colour-splashed rooms feel happy — on even the chilliest of days. All come with lovely king-sized beds (or two queens, if you so choose) and the Superior rooms with private balconies. Wherever you sleep, you'll be welcome to swim in the heated rooftop pool and hang out in the garden terrace. Also be sure to make a stop at the Field House Bar during happy hour from 5–7pm and enjoy $5 house drinks and two-for-one cocktails, accompanied by live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights. An alternative is the 4-star Mercure Sydney, right near Central Station and a short walk from the sizzle of Spice Alley and Kensington Street. Keen to splurge? Reserve a city-view room, with panoramas of the Sydney CBD skyline. There's also a rooftop gym, sauna and indoor heated pool (winter dip, anyone?). For a fortifying meal before you hit the road home, stop by the in-house diner Eve's Bar for an OG Burger — not only does it have the works, it comes skewered with a mini cheeseburger. If you're looking for bang for your buck, then the Ibis Sydney World Square is for you. Located within a stone's throw of Surry Hills, Chippendale, Redfern and the CBD, it's spacious, clean and close to the wildly praised new bars and restaurants you came this way to see. Go to the AccorHotels website to book your stay in Sydney, and to discover more of NSW, check out Visit NSW.
When a clown ponders its final farewell, what does it see? Cirque du Soleil's Corteo has the answer. When this production first hit the stage in Montreal in 2005, it won over audiences by setting its acrobatic feats within a funeral procession imagined by a jester — a carnival-like parade that muses on humanity's strengths and vulnerabilities — in a space between heaven and earth. Two decades later, it's one of the troupe's most-beloved shows. Celebrating that milestone, Corteo is heading Down Under for a six-city tour in the second half of 2025. In Australia, the hit production will debut at Perth Arena from Friday, August 8, before playing at Melbourne's John Cain Arena the same month, then Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and Brisbane Entertainment Centre in September. Come October, Adelaide Entertainment Centre will host the spectacle, as will Spark Arena in Auckland. One of the tricks that's helped make Corteo such a success, with over 12-million audience members in 30 countries on four continents seeing it so far, is its unique stage setup. Watching this show means also watching your fellow viewers, because the action takes place in the middle of the arena, splitting it in half and causing patrons to face each other. This is Cirque du Soleil's first production with this layout. As its clown protagonist conjures up the festive parade that ushers him from this world, attendees will witness a poetic yet playful performance — one where the acrobatics are unique, too, and where angels watch over. "Corteo was the first Cirque du Soleil show created by Daniele Finzi Pasca, the same director who brought us LUZIA. Corteo is a real celebration of life that blends comedy and never-seen-before acrobatics into a unique staging arrangement," said Mike Newquist, Chief Revenue Officer of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, announcing the show's Australian and New Zealand tour. "Australians who fell in love with the breathtaking artistry and storytelling of LUZIA will be equally captivated by Corteo." LUZIA was the last Cirque du Soleil production that bounded this way, kicking off in 2024 — and notching up another first as the Montreal-based company company's debut touring show to feature rain in its acrobatic and artistic scenes. Before that, 2023 saw Cirque du Soleil bring CRYSTAL, its first-ever ice production on ice, Down Under. Cirque du Soleil's Corteo — Australia and New Zealand Tour 2025 Friday, August 8–Sunday, August 10 — Perth Arena, Perth Friday, August 22–Sunday, August 24 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne Thursday, September 4–Sunday, September 7 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Thursday, September 18–Sunday, September 21 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Thursday, October 2–Sunday, October 5 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Thursday, October 30–Sunday, November 2 — Spark Arena, Auckland Cirque du Soleil's Corteo tours Australia and New Zealand from August 2025. For more information, or to buy tickets — with presales from 11am on Tuesday, February 18 and general sales from 12pm on Monday, February 14 — head to the show's website. Images: Maja Prgomet, Johan Persson and Aldo Arguello.
Lovers of Die Hard references and 'title of your sex tape' jokes, rejoice — and start planning your next Halloween heist. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the beloved sitcom that all of the above gags form an important part of, has just been renewed. And if this feels a little like deja vu, there's a good reason for that. Basically, what a difference 18 months can make. This time back in May 2018, the show was cancelled after its fifth season by Fox, its original American network. An outcry followed, so rival US channel NBC came to the rescue, picking up the series just 31 hours later and committing to a sixth season of cop comedy. It was the latest tense move in the B99's history, with the threat of axing looming over the show since it premiered in 2013. Now, much to delight of fans, that's no longer the case — at least for the next two seasons. Back in March, the series was renewed for a 13-episode seventh season. Just last week, it was announced that those new episodes (and gags) will hit screens in both the US and Australia from early February. But there's even more exciting news in store for the fine fictional detectives of Brooklyn's 99th precinct, with NBC now renewing the series for an eighth season even before the seventh season airs. It seems that the network is rather fond of Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio), Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) and Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher) — and even Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker) and Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller). https://twitter.com/nbcbrooklyn99/status/1195037124342378497?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Enews%7Ctwgr%5Etweet Yes, Brooklyn Nine-Nine fans can't utter "noice" fast or often enough. Or, as Peralta would say: cool cool cool. Expect season eight to air during the 2020–21 US TV season — although just when it'll screen obviously hasn't been revealed this far in advance. We do have season seven to get through first, after all. Aussie fans have been very fortunate in recent years, with SBS dropping new episodes in line with their US screenings, and that'll continue with season seven from February 2020. Here's hoping the same proves the case when season eight rolls around. As always, there are plenty of B99-appropriate ways to mark this development. Breaking out a celebratory yoghurt, Terry Jeffords-style, is definitely in order. If you're more like Captain Raymond Holt, perhaps you'd like to treat yourself to a trip to a barrel museum. Or you could channel your inner Gina Linetti and dance about your happy feelings. Brooklyn Nine-Nine's eighth season will air sometime in 2020 or 2021. Before that, the show's seventh season will start screeening from Friday, February 7, 2020, Australian time on SBS Viceland. Via Variety.
Usually, when a new Pixar film hits screens — typically cinemas, but occasionally being fast-tracked to streaming as well — it unleashes a whole heap of emotions. Getting viewers to ponder their feelings is a big part of the animation company's formula, after all, and it's been working well for them for a quarter-century. See: everything from Wall-E and Ratatouille to Inside Out and Soul. When the next Pixar flick arrives in June, it'll tap into a very specific sensation that's been bubbling up since early 2020. And, it's one that we're all familiar with. Are you craving a vacation? Do you feel a strong yearning to travel the globe and see somewhere other than your own backyard, city, state or country? Have you been dreaming of beaches far, far away every night for 12 months? Then the fact that Luca is set in the Italian Riviera and follows two teenagers over summer is certain to stoke your wanderlust. If the just-dropped first trailer for the film is anything to go by, first-time feature director Enrico Casarosa (Pixar short La Luna) and his team seem to have crafted a gorgeous-looking movie that'll have you wishing you're on the other side of the globe. Against those striking animated backdrops, two teens eat gelato, devour pasta, ride scooters, explore caves and splash around in the gleaming blue ocean. Oh, and they try to hide the fact that they're actually sea monsters — which becomes obvious whenever they get wet — too. As this tale unfurls, viewers will hear Jacob Tremblay (Room, Good Boys) as the eponymous 13-year-old Luca Paguro, while Jack Dylan Grazer (Shazam!, We Are Who We Are) voices his pal Alberto Scorfano. Also among the cast: debutant Emma Berman, Maya Rudolph (The Good Place), Marco Barricelli (The Book of Daniel) and Jim Gaffigan (Tesla). Check out the trailer for Luca below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i1fgoMyoG8&feature=youtu.be Luca is set to release in Australian cinemas on June 17. Images: © 2020 Disney/Pixar.
Well, Sydney suggested it — and for some reason, Transport for NSW has obliged. The city's newest ferry will be named Ferry McFerryface. Proving that the bizarre legacy of Boaty McBoatface will live on for some time, the people of Sydney have decided that names of suburbs and notable Australians aren't the way to go. The government authority threw to the public for suggestions for the new fleet of ferries last year and, of the 15,000 submitted, Ferry McFerryface was one of the most popular submissions. Ferry McFerryface is the last ferry in the new fleet of six to be named, and joins other (more cordially named) vessels named after individuals who have contributed to Australian society like ophthalmologist Fred Hollows, heart surgeon Victor Chang and obstetrician Catherine Hamlin. McFerryface doesn't quite have the same reverence as its counterparts, but the internet, I guess. This new fleet will serve inner city routes and service Watsons Bay, Cockatoo Island and the new Barangaroo wharf. The new ferries will have Wi-Fi on-board, greater disability access and space for bikes. Transport for NSW also plans to acquire four more ferries to service the Parramatta River.
New season of True Detective, new cops, new case: since 2014, that's been the setup for this HBO hit, as viewers will enjoy again in January 2024. When True Detective: Night Country arrives, Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster, The Mauritanian) and Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis, Catch the Fair One) are in the spotlight, investigating an icy mystery in Alaska. Eight men on an arctic research station disappear without a trace — and it's up to the franchise's latest duo to discover what's going on. Whether or not you believe that time is a flat circle — and everything we've ever done or will do, we're gonna do over and over and over and over again, too — watching new episodes of this sleuthing series is indeed about to become a reality again. When True Detective returns for a six-episode fourth season after a five-year absence, it'll head to the town of Ennis, spend time with a pair that's hardly happy to be working together, and serve up plenty of chills and darkness. In both True Detective: Night Country's initial teasers and its just-dropped full trailer, Danvers and Navarro team up to discover why the Tsalal Arctic Research Station staff have gone missing. In the latest sneak peek, a potential supernatural angle is teased, too — ice zombies, anyone? When it hits Down Under on Monday, January 15 — via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand — True Detective: Night Country will also feature Finn Bennett (Hope Gap), Fiona Shaw (Andor), Christopher Eccleston (Dodger), Isabella Star LaBlanc (Long Slow Exhale) and John Hawkes (Too Old to Die Young) in front of the camera. Behind the lens, every one of the series' episodes is written and directed by Tigers Are Not Afraid filmmaker Issa López, with Moonlight's Barry Jenkins an executive producer. Each season of True Detective tells its own tale, so there's no need to catch up on past chapters if you watched the Matthew McConaughey (The Gentlemen)- and Woody Harrelson (White House Plumbers)-led first season in 2014 — as everyone did — but didn't keep up from there. Taylor Kitsch (Painkiller), Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Rachel McAdams (Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret) starred in season two, while Mahershala Ali (Leave the World Behind) and Stephen Dorff (The Righteous Gemstones) took over in season three. Check out the full trailer for True Detective: Night Country below: True Detective: Night Country will stream in Australia Monday, January 15, 2024 via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand.
He gave The Social Network five stars, Hostel none, famously refused to grade Romper Stomper, and declined to cover Wolf Creek 2 at all. But how would David Stratton rate a documentary about his own life and love of film? It's a question we'll never know the answer to, although the fact that we're all wondering speaks volumes about the veteran film critic's impact. It also explains why there's now a doco about him and the Australian cinema landscape he has helped shape for more than half a century. Let's face it — for most Aussie film and television viewers, movies and David Stratton go hand in hand. For 28 years on SBS's The Movie Show and then ABC's At the Movies, he dissected the week's big screen releases on the small screen, with much of the country tuning in to catch his insights and hear his banter with co-host Margaret Pomeranz. He'd profess his hatred for shaky cam, she'd sigh "oh David," and their back-and-forth would make a conversation about an average film much, much more interesting. They even have their own board game. And while that might've all come to an end, the movie buff's movie buff isn't done sharing his love of cinema. Indeed, from the end of May, he'll talk audiences through the best flicks Australia has to offer in a three-part TV series. Consider David Stratton: A Cinematic Life the feature-length appetiser. Directed by experienced television helmer Sally Aitken, the documentary endeavours to do two things: step through Stratton's life and career, and explore a selection of influential Australian titles. The former comes complete with tales of the critic's cinema-obsessed youth, photos of his pre-beard days, a glimpse inside his catalogue of movie notes (which he refuses to digitise), and a number of famous faces popping up to sing his praises, including Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Mad Max director George Miller. To achieve the latter, the film takes Stratton around the country to visit locations immortalised on film while diving into explorations of the titles in question – from outback horror Wake in Fright and beloved comedy Muriel's Wedding, to the roadway thrills of the original Mad Max and the relatable warmth of The Castle. Understandably, there's plenty to fit in — the British-born Stratton arrived down under for what was supposed to be a two-year visit, became the director of the Sydney Film Festival for 18 years, and was the subject of ASIO interest thanks to his trips to overseas film festivals. Similarly, with around 100 flicks earning a mention, there's no shortage of movies in the spotlight. Using one as a gateway to the other, David Stratton: A Cinematic Life does an impressive job of weaving its two points of focus together. Hearing about Stratton's fascinating experiences will make you want to discover more (thankfully, his 2008 autobiography I Peed on Fellini can help fans do just that), while discovering his thoughts on an array of local films will make you want to dedicate the foreseeable future to an Aussie movie marathon. Deftly edited and filled with affection, David Stratton: A Cinematic Life is the kind of film the man himself would likely give several stars and probably more. We reckon Pomeranz would feel the same way, although here we have to be content with her commenting on her former sparring partner's shoes. Yes, that's another reason the documentary is worth watching. Come for the moving tribute and informative trip through Aussie film history, stay for the long-awaited David and Margaret reunion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoTbplWKvOg
The Swiss are renowed for their time-keeping abilities and reliable public transport systems, but they do not exactly have a reputation for unmitigated creativity and artistic pursuits. Ironically, Ursus Wehrli's work may encourage us to rethink our perceptions of Swiss creativity whilst doing little to challenge the stereotype that the Swiss are all a bunch of neat freaks. Artist and comedian Ursus Wehrli first came to attention with his book Tidying Up Art, a collection of his work where he cleverly reinterpreted classics by Van Gogh, Chagall and Seurat by, well, tidying them up. He is back again and up to his old ordering tricks, except this time he's stopped tidying up the art, and has started tidying up everything else. In his latest book, The Art of Clean Up, Wehril reassembles the chaos of everyday life — children's beach toys are lined up into categories in a sand pit, cars are lined up according to their colours in a parking lot and the stars are lined up in the sky. These images are also accompanied by a series of short films that document the painstaking organisation that took place in order for Wehrli's images to be created, providing clever examples of the asethetic appeal of order (and also a reminder of how lovely a little bit of choas is as well). https://youtube.com/watch?v=l200LN39dv4 [Via PSFK]
Winter might be all about staying in doors, rugging up and avoiding the frosty weather, but if you want to see a trio of meteor showers this week, you'll want to head outdoors. Not one, not two, but three celestial events will be visible in Australia's skies: the Southern Delta Aquariids, Alpha Capricornids and Piscis Austrinids. Arriving in the thick of winter, the Southern Delta Aquariids may not be quite as famous or frenetic as other meteor showers, but it's still considered a strong one, with around 15–25 meteors hurtling across the heavens per hour during its peak. In good news for those Down Under, it's also typically best seen in the Southern Hemisphere. Caused by the breakup of the Machholz comet, the shower is visible each year from around July 12–August 23 — so now. But the ideal time to catch it is between July 28–July 30, aka from Thursday–Saturday this week. And, like many astronomical shows, catching an eyeful around midnight is recommended — when the moon has set and its light will not interfere. [caption id="attachment_862773" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mike Lewinski via Flickr[/caption] Also soaring through the skies at the moment: the Alpha Capricornids, which tends to run from around July 7–August 15. Yes, that means that you can peer up at night and catch a glimpse now, too, but it tends to peak around July 30–31 — so Saturday and Sunday this week. This one comes from the comet 169P/NEAT, and was discovered in 1871. It's known for its bright meteors and even fireballs, although they're infrequent, at around two-to-nine per hour. Then there's the Piscis Austrinids, giving stargazers yet another reason to look up. It usually runs between July 15–August 10, and peaks around July 28 — so on Thursday this week. As for the speed of its meteors, they're even slower than the Alpha Capricornids. For your best chances of getting a glimpse at all three, the usual advice applies. Get 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. The Delta Aquariids' name comes from the constellation from which they appear to come, Aquarius. Accordingly, that's what you'll be looking for in the sky. For the Piscis Austrinids, you're looking for the Piscis Austrinus constellation. And for Alpha Capricornids, the Capricornus constellation. To locate them all, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky, and is also a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night. The Delta Aquariids, Piscis Austrinids and Alpha Capricornids meteor showers will peak between Thursday, July 28–Sunday, July 31. Top image: Mike Lewinski via Flickr.
There's no way that Dream Scenario could've been a horror movie, even if it does hail from A24 and boast Hereditary, Midsommar and Beau Is Afraid filmmaker Ari Aster as a producer. Constantly having one particular person pop up in your head as you slumber is indeed eerie; however, when that person is the one and only Nicolas Cage, who'd be scared? Cage doesn't play himself in Dream Scenario — so, it isn't going down The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent's path — but the characters played by actors other than the Renfield, Pig, Willy's Wonderland, Face/Off, Con Air, Wild at Heart, Vampire's Kiss and Raising Arizona star do indeed keep dreaming of his likeness. And, when it won't stop happening, it earns plenty of attention in this new sci-fi comedy from Sick of Myself writer/director Kristoffer Borgli. Paul Matthews is just an average family man and college professor when Dream Scenario kicks off, as the movie's trailer shows. And, if the Cage-inhabited figure didn't start haunting everyone's sleep, that would've remained the case. When we say everyone, we mean it, with millions of folks getting acquainted with Paul when their eyes are closed — his daughter, his students, old loves and then basically the entire globe. "It was one of the best scripts I've read, quite frankly, and I think it's my best performance and probably the best movie I've ever made," said Cage about the end result. The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, will release in the US in November, but doesn't yet have a big-screen date Down Under. Borgli's English-language debut, Dream Scenario also stars Julianne Nicholson (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story), Michael Cera (Barbie), Tim Meadows (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson), Dylan Gelula (Loot) and Dylan Baker (Hunters). And, it's another glorious chapter in the best Hollywood guessing game there is as long as Cage keeps hopping in front of the camera, aka where will the inimitable actor show up next? Check out the trailer for Dream Scenario below: Dream Scenario releases in US cinemas on November 10, but doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced. Images: courtesy of A24.
In cinemas, viewers repeatedly flock to Marvel and Star Wars movies. We've had more than a decade of the former and more than four decades of the latter to prove that fact. But now that both franchises have expanded to the small screen as well, they've been making an impact there, too — and they've now got a swag of 2021 Emmy nominations to prove it. Both The Mandalorian and WandaVision have picked up plenty of nods for this year's awards, with nominations just announced in the early hours of Wednesday, July 14 Australian time. The adventures of Baby Yoda and his titular companion nabbed 24 noms, while Marvel's first Disney+ series landed 23. Among the heavy hitters, The Crown also picked up 24 nominations, while The Handmaid's Tale nabbed 21 nods, Ted Lasso earned 20, Lovecraft Country and The Queen's Gambit scored 18 a piece, and Mare of Easttown collected 16. They're the big contenders that'll be vying for shiny trophies in just over two months time — on Monday, September 21 Down Under — and their nominations are filled with highlights. Pretty much every main actor involved with the heartwarming Jason Sudeikis-led Ted Lasso scored a nod, for example, with seven cast members nominated. Just a week after Lovecraft Country was cancelled by HBO, its noms stand out as well, especially its acting nominations for Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett, Michael K Williams and Aunjanue Ellis. Plenty of the other shows that everyone has been watching over the past year nabbed some attention, too. The immensely dissimilar The Boys and Bridgerton have been nominated for Best Drama — with the latter's Regé-Jean Page also getting a Lead Actor in a Drama nomination. In the comedy field, The Flight Attendant, PEN15 and Emily in Paris are all represented, some more deservingly than others. And, over in the Limited Series categories — which is where WandaVision, The Queen's Gambit and Mare of Easttown all sit — Michaela Coel's phenomenal I May Destroy You rightly got some love after being completely overlooked by the Golden Globes earlier this year. It picked up nine noms, in fact. Also doing big things: Hamilton. That shouldn't come as a surprise anywhere anymore; however, the exceptional filmed version of the smash-hit musical nabbed 12 nods, including for most of its cast members — Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr, Daveed Diggs and Jonathan Groff among them. And if you're noticing a big trend towards streaming shows this year, the fact that plenty of the Emmys' usual favourites didn't air over the past 12 months due to the pandemic — shows like Succession and Westworld, for instance — obviously played a part. There were still some noticeable omissions, though, including the lack of love for Girls5eva and for the Ethan Hawke-starring The Good Lord Bird. Also, while Hugh Grant picked up a nod for his work on The Undoing, Nicole Kidman didn't for hers. Being an Australian publication, we have to mention that. The 73rd Emmy Awards will take place on Monday, September 20, Australian time. Here's a rundown of the major nominations — and you can check out the full list of nominees on the Emmys' website: EMMY NOMINEES 2021 OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES The Boys Bridgerton The Crown The Mandalorian Lovecraft Country Pose The Handmaid's Tale This Is Us OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES Black-ish Cobra Kai PEN15 Emily in Paris Hacks Ted Lasso The Flight Attendant The Kominsky Method OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES Mare of Easttown I May Destroy You WandaVision The Queen's Gambit The Underground Railroad OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE Uncle Frank Sylvie's Love Oslo Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia Dolly Parton's Christmas on The Square OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Regé-Jean Page, Bridgerton Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us Billy Porter, Pose Jonathan Majors, Lovecraft Country Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason Josh O'Connor, The Crown OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Emma Corrin, The Crown Olivia Colman, The Crown Uzo Aduba, In Treatment Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale Jurnee Smollett, Lovecraft Country Mj Rodriguez, Pose OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso Anthony Anderson, Black-ish Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method William H Macy, Shameless Kenan Thompson, Kenan OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Aidy Bryant, Shrill Jean Smart, Hacks Allison Janney, Mom Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Paul Bettany, WandaVision Hugh Grant, The Undoing Ewan McGregor, Halston Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton Leslie Odom Jr, Hamilton OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen's Gambit Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Michael K. Williams, Lovecraft Country Bradley Whitford, The Handmaid's Tale Max Minghella, The Handmaid's Tale O-T Fagbenle, The Handmaid's Tale John Lithgow, Perry Mason Tobias Menzies, The Crown Giancarlo Esposito, The Mandalorian Chris Sullivan, This Is Us OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Gillian Anderson, The Crown Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown Emerald Fennell, The Crown Ann Dowd, The Handmaid's Tale Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaid's Tale Samira Wiley, The Handmaid's Tale Madeline Brewer, The Handmaid's Tale Aunjanue Ellis, Lovecraft Country OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live Kenan Thompson, Saturday Night Live Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso Brendan Hunt, Ted Lasso Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso Jeremy Swift, Ted Lasso Paul Reiser, The Kominsky Method Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Hacks OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live Cecily Strong, Saturday Night Live Aidy Bryant, Saturday Night Live Rosie Perez, The Flight Attendant Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso Juno Temple, Ted Lasso OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Daveed Diggs, Hamilton Jonathan Groff, Hamilton Anthony Ramos, Hamilton Thomas Brodie-Sangster, The Queen's Gambit Evan Peters, Mare of Easttown Paapa Essiedu, I May Destroy You OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE Jean Smart, Mare of Easttown Julianne Nicholson, Mare of Easttown Kathryn Hahn, WandaVision Phillipa Soo, Hamilton Renee Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton Moses Ingram, The Queen's Gambit
Prepare yourself, folks — this year, Australia's launching into summer with the help of a huge new music festival. The brainchild of industry big guns Onelove (Stereosonic), Live Nation (Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival) and Hardware (Piknic Electronik, Babylon), Festival X will shoot onto the scene from Friday, November 29, touring Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The large-scale music party is pulling no punches when it comes to its debut lineup, headlined by international heavyweights including Scottish DJ Calvin Harris, the Grammy-nominated Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki and our own Alison Wonderland. Spanning multiple stages, it's set to deliver a world-class serve of hip hop, pop and electronica. US rapper Lil Pump will make his own Aussie debut, joined on the all-star bill by the likes of British DJ duo CamelPhat, Ohio-based rapper Trippie Redd, Denmark's Kölsch and German techno king Paul Kalkbrenner. Meanwhile, there'll be plenty flying the flag for the local scene, with sets from favourites including bass and dubstep star Godlands, Australian-raised trance DJ MaRLo, Sydney act Sunset Bros and singer-songwriter Thandi Phoenix. The inaugural Festival X tour is set to hit Brisbane Showgrounds on Friday, November 29, Sydney Showgrounds on Saturday, November 30, and Melbourne Showgrounds on Sunday, December 1. Presale tickets are up for grabs from 1pm on Wednesday, July 31, with general tickets on sale from noon on Thursday, August 1. Top image: Stereosonic
Peninsula Hot Springs has officially won the title of Best Luxury Hot Springs at the 2025 World Luxury Spa Awards, solidifying its status as one of the world's leading wellness destinations. The Mornington Peninsula spa beat out contenders from across the globe, earning the honour through more than 250,000 votes cast by spa guests, travellers and wellness industry experts. The award recognises destinations that consistently deliver standout service, innovation and truly transformative guest experiences, and according to the international scoreboard, Peninsula Hot Springs is now the very best of them. In a widely competitive field, the Victorian hot springs stood out for its forward-thinking approach to geothermal bathing, its long-term sustainability work and its dedication to creating experiences that nurture both people and the environment. "For twenty years, our vision has been to create a space where people can reconnect with nature, with each other, and with themselves," said Peninsula Hot Springs Co-Founder and Chair Charles Davidson. "To be recognised as the world's best is a profound honour, not only for our team but for the entire Australian wellness community." The award comes as Peninsula Hot Springs celebrates 20 years of immersing its guests in its brand of wellness and nature, having welcomed more than eight million visitors since opening in 2005. Its natural geothermal waters draw from 637 metres below the surface, feeding a network of pools and experiences across 42 acres of coastal bushland. The site's offering has steadily grown to more than 70 globally inspired bathing and wellness experiences, from hot and cold therapy and immersive saunas to spa treatments, glamping accommodation and eco-lodges. Each element designed to deepen connection to the natural landscape and encourage a slower, more intentional rhythm for guests. Peninsula Hot Springs is located at 140 Springs Lane, Fingal, Victoria. For more information about the site or to make a booking, visit the website.
It's been 18 years since Australia's first taste of acclaimed New York artist Spencer Tunick's work, when 4500 naked volunteers posed for a snap near Federation Square as part of the 2001 Fringe Festival. He then photographed around 5000 nude people in front of the Sydney Opera House during the 2010 Mardi Gras, and came back to Australia just last year to shoot over 800 Melburnians in the rooftop carpark of a Prahran Woolworths. This month, Tunick made the trip to the shores again — and this time, he went tropical. On Saturday, November 23, a whole heap of Aussies stripped off on a beach in the Whitsundays, with the internationally famed artist returning to Australia to stage the newest of his famed mass nude photographs. In Tunick's latest visit to Australia, his sights were set on the white sands and sparkling blue waters of Haslewood Island — near Whitehaven Beach, aka the second best beach in the world. That's where Tunick assembled another contingent of naked folk for a work titled Sea Earth Change. Interestingly, the shoot was part of The Iconic's (yes, that online clothing store) summer campaign We Are Human. Naturally, the resulting images feature the sky, the ocean and the sand — and the nearly 100 nude participants — with Tunick making an artistic statement on the fragility of both the natural environment and humanity. "Using a pristine location like Haslewood Island in the Whitsundays to highlight the need for us to protect these areas, while exploring the vulnerability of the human form and importance of community is something I hope I've communicated with these images," he explained. Tunick captured a diverse mix of bodies in the shoot, with participants each receiving a print of the photograph and, we're sure, a big boost of body confidence. The artwork was unveiled at The Calile Hotel in Brisbane on Wednesday, November 27, marking the latest striking images in the artist's career. Elsewhere, he's photographed the public painted red and gold outside Munich's Bavarian State Opera, covered in veils in the Nevada desert and covered in blue in Hull in the UK. Images: Spencer Tunick's Sea Earth Change installation artworks.
Always dreamed of visiting the Mediterranean island of Sicily? Then you might want to bump it to the top of your post-COVID-19 travel plans. If you do, you could score some handy financial help — with the Sicilian government offering to cover some travel expenses once Italy is out of lockdown. As first reported by The Times, the regional government is offering to pay a portion of flight costs and accommodation expenses — covering half the price of airfares to and from the island, and paying for one in every three hotel nights. It'll also stump up the entire cost for tickets to museums and archaeological sites, so that visitors can do plenty of sightseeing. At present, few other details have been revealed, such as when it'll come into effect, when eager tourists will be able to start booking, who the scheme will apply to and where in the world you'll be able to fly in from. That said, when the plan is implemented, it'll be done via vouchers available from the Visit Sicily website — so you might want to bookmark it for future reference. The Sicilian government will spend €50 million (AU$86.4 million) on the scheme to revive its tourism industry — which, with not only the country but most of the world enforcing restrictions to help contain the spread of COVID-19, has understandably taken a battering in recent months. Italy has been in lockdown nationwide since Sunday, March 10, but announced on Sunday, April 26 that it would enter 'phase two' from Monday, May 4. That'll involve the slow easing of current restrictions, including allowing Italians to travel within their regions to visit relatives. Factories, parks and public gardens will also reopen, with museums, galleries, libraries and shops able to open their doors from Monday, May 18, then bars, restaurants and hairdressers from Monday, June 1. For further details about the Sicilian government's tourism scheme, keep an eye on the Visit Sicily website. Via The Times.
Is the type of film festival that dedicates an afternoon and evening to a killer clown your type of film festival? If so, you should be excited about Monster Fest's return. In just a few short years, the Terrifier movies have become horror must-sees if you can't get enough of slashers splashing about gore aplenty. With the latest flick in the franchise on the way, Monster Fest is screening all three Terrifier titles, old and new — so, giving audiences an extended date with Art the Clown — as a key part of its 2024 program. The Australian premiere of Terrifier 3 will follow the OG Terrifier and first sequel Terrifier 2 on Saturday, October 5 in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. This year's Monster Fest is the first time that the event is running concurrently in all of its locations. The festival kicks off on Friday, October 4 in all five cities, running until Sunday, October 6 everywhere except Melbourne, where it finishes on Saturday, October 12. While getting creeped out by cinema's most-sadistic clown is a big Monster Fest 2024 drawcard, it's The Rule of Jenny Pen from Coming Home in the Dark filmmaker James Ashcroft that's the event's opening-night pick. At the other end of the festival, horror-comedy Frankie Freako by Psycho Goreman's Steven Kostanski is in the closing slot. Both pictures embrace puppets, the first with help from John Lithgow (Killers of the Flower Moon) and the second featuring a dancing goblin. Other highlights playing in all cities include the latest Hellboy movie, Hellboy: The Crooked Man, which heads back to the 1950s; Azrael, as led by Australian actor Samara Weaving (Scream VI), and telling of a woman's attempt to escape from mute zealots; New Zealand body-horror film Grafted; and documentary Generation Terror, which focuses on the horror genre from the late-90s to mid-00s. Some flicks are only playing a few locations, such as Occupation Rainfall filmmaker Luke Sparke's new film Scurry — plus Waves of Madness from The FP's Jason Trost, which brings sidescrolling to the cinema. Unsurprisingly given that it's on there for longer, Melbourne also has a number of exclusives such as Estonia's action-horror-musical-comedy Chainsaws Were Singing, French black comedy Ultimate Chabite, documentary Children of the Wicker Man, and retrospective sessions of The Final Destination 3D and Critters. Scurry and Waves of Madness are just two of the Australian movies on the bill, too. The former is on the program in Brisbane and Melbourne, the second in Sydney and Melbourne, and they have company in various locations. That's where fellow homegrown titles States of Mind (Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney), Fear Below (everywhere except Perth), An American Masquerade (Melbourne only) and Freelance (also just Melbourne) come in — ensuring that this Aussie genre fest embraces the genre at home. Monster Fest 2024 Dates Friday, October 4–Saturday, October 12 — Cinema Nova, Melbourne Friday, October 4–Sunday, October 6 — Event Cinemas Burwood, Sydney Friday, October 4–Sunday, October 6 — Event Cinemas Uptown, Brisbane Friday, October 4–Sunday, October 6 — Event Cinemas Marion, Adelaide Friday, October 4–Sunday, October 6 — Event Cinemas Innaloo, Perth Monster Fest 2024 runs throughout October around Australia. Head to the festival's website for further details.
In a bid to contain Melbourne's latest COVID-19 outbreak — which as of 11pm on Thursday, February 11 sees 13 cases linked to the Holiday Inn cluster — the Victorian Government has announced a snap lockdown, which will see all of Victoria revert back to stage four restrictions from tonight until midnight on Wednesday, February 17. As of 11.59pm tonight, Friday, February 12, all Victorians will only be able to leave their home for those familiar four reasons: shopping for what you need, when you need it; caregiving and compassionate reasons; essential work or permitted eduction that can't be done from home; and exercise. Exercise must be limited to two hours a day with your household members, your intimate partner or one other person who is not from your household or your partner. Once again, Victorians must stay within five kilometres of their homes, unless you're leaving for permitted work or you're shopping for essentials if there are no shops in your radius. Masks are also mandatory everywhere outside of your home, and private gatherings are banned — so no visitors may enter your home — as are public gatherings. Weddings are not permitted (unless on compassionate grounds) and funerals are limited to ten. Hairdressing and beauty services, indoor physical recreation and sport venues, swimming pools, community facilities including libraries, entertainment venues and non-essential retail venues will all close during the five-day period and hospitality venues will once again revert back to takeaway-only. Supermarkets, bottle shops and pharmacies will remain open. https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1360050173355773953 The announcement comes as the Victorian Government this morning declared all of Terminal 4 at Melbourne Airport a Tier 1 exposure site, between 4.45am–2pm on Tuesday, February 9, after a recently confirmed positive case spent eight hours there. Anyone who has been to a Tier 1 exposure site during the designated times must immediately isolate, get tested and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the test result. The last time Melbourne reentered stay-at-home orders was back in early August, with those restrictions remaining in place for six weeks and slowly easing from mid-September. Back in August, Victoria was recording in the realm of 671 new COVID-19 cases in a 24-hour period, whereas today's new case number was five. There are currently 19 active cases of COVID-19 in Victoria. Premier Daniel Andrews says the situation is different this time, however, because of the COVID-19 variant that is circulating in the community. "Now, Victorians will be well familiar with the term 'UK strain', 'UK variant of concern'," the Premier said today. "We have talked about this for a long time, because it is so hyper-infectious, and moves so fast, that it is presenting a very, very real challenge to our status, our stay-safe, stay-open, our precious thing that we've built — all of us — throughout 2020." "I am sad to have to report, it is the advice to me that we must assume that there are further cases in the community than we have positive results for, and that it is moving at a velocity that has not been seen anywhere in our country over the course of these last 12 months." All of Victoria will revert back to stage four restrictions from 11.59pm on Friday, February 12 to 11.59pm on Wednesday, February 17. For more information about the rules, head to the Victorian Department of Health website.
Celebrated chef Matt Moran is already one of the most significant players in the Australian hospitality scene, running accomplished Sydney restaurants like Aria, Chiswick, Barangaroo House, North Bondi Fish and the always-busy House Canteen at Opera Bar, as well as Brisbane's Riverbar & Kitchen. Now, Moran is spreading his footprint beyond Australia and partnering with Marriott International to take over the kitchen at two luxury resorts in Fiji. Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay and Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort will now both boast his signature farm-to-table ethos and hearty modern cooking from March until August this year. The Tatavu Grill & Bar at the newly-refurbished Sheraton resort offers guests a luxury barefoot dining experience and the kitchen crew cooking over a multi-level open vertical grill, while Fish Bar at Marriott's Momi Bay resort serves up panoramic ocean views alongside a menu that will pull from both land and sea, experimenting with local meat and seafood paired with flavoured Fijian salt. [caption id="attachment_889838" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fish Bar[/caption] "Fiji offers an exciting canvas to create something truly special with the freshest line caught seafood and an abundance of fresh vegetables and lush tropical fruits," says Moran, who will also be hosting a pair of culinary events to celebrate the takeovers. On Tuesday, March 21, he'll be popping-up at Tatavu, before travelling to Fish Bar the night after. For both occasions, guests will enjoy a three-course dinner showcasing highlights from the new menus, hosted by the chef. [caption id="attachment_889840" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort[/caption] "I love teaching people about food and how pure, fresh ingredients, treated simply, are the basis for creating extraordinary dining experiences and I know that Marriott International Fiji aligns with this philosophy," Moran says. The takeover will run until Thursday, August 31 and is open to guests at both resorts. The one-off dinners hosted by Matt Moran are available to book for 399 Fijian dollars or around $260AUD. [caption id="attachment_889841" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tatavu Grill & Bar[/caption] Matt Moran will take over the kitchens at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay and Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort from Thursday, March 23 until Thursday, August 31. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
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.
An emotion-dripping tale of love, loneliness and yearning against a backdrop of festering societal tension — as shot with swoon-worthy red-hued imagery, too — Wong Kar-Wai's In the Mood for Love isn't easily forgotten. And, for the past 20 years, anyone who has seen the 1960s Hong Kong-set romantic drama hasn't wanted to. Based on their new live performance, that includes Rainbow Chan, Eugene Choi and Marcus Whale. With In the Mood — A Love Letter to Wong Kar-Wai & Hong Kong, the trio join forces to pay tribute to this 2000 movie masterpiece — and to take inspiration from it. As streamed live at 9pm AEST on Saturday, September 26 from the Sydney Opera House's Joan Sutherland Theatre, they're serving up a moody, dreamy new song cycle that ponders and responds to In the Mood for Love's parting words: "that era is past, nothing that belonged to it exists anymore". As well as new music by Chan and Whale, plus narration from Choi, this world-premiere performance will feature a set that'll look like it has been plucked from the movie, 60s-style costumes, a bossa nova dance and new renditions of the film's soundtrack — with plenty of sax. And, it'll also pair all of the above with visuals that are meant to ponder what Wong's feature would look like if it was made today. Basically, viewers are set for an ode and a re-interpretation, with the latter firmly relevant to the lockdown era. If you can't watch along live, In the Mood — A Love Letter to Wong Kar-Wai & Hong Kong will also be available to stream on-demand from Saturday, September 26 . [caption id="attachment_783477" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] In the Mood — A Love Letter to Wong Kar-Wai & Hong Kong streams at 9pm AEST on Saturday, September 26 — and will be available to watch on-demand afterwards. Top image: Daniel Boud.
Pandering quietly just off Glenferrie Road, Liar Liar consistently draws in the crowds. Maybe it's the illusive signage, the deep red interior undertones or the pull of something slightly underground, but this cafe thrives off its ability to strike out the blandness of Melbourne's leafy east. Put simply, this place is cool. Originally created by the group behind Three Bags Full and Apte, Liar Liar has changed owners numerous times in recent years, however has managed to avoid any change of hands curse. It remains as sleek and well-oiled as ever, with its minimalist, industrial decor on trend before many others before it, and effortlessly attentive staff keeping patrons pleased. Liar Liar prospers off a truly fantastic food offering that, even on the worst day, will make you forget every great breakfast or lunch experience you've ever had in Melbourne. Every element for every stomach has been considered, and it's clear there's great pride taken in sourcing the freshest ingredients and using them to their best. Sweet tooths will cherish the ricotta hotcakes with berry coulis, almond cream and maple syrup ($16.50) — a classic favourite taken for a spin that will have you similarly whirling in a beautiful sugar daze afterwards. Like nothing you've ever seen before, these hotcakes do arrive hot, with plumes of steam rising from the moment you cut into them. It's on good authority that these hotcakes are placed in the oven after they’ve been fried, and the result is totally worth it. Keep that secret to yourself. In comparison, while the banana and coconut bread with whipped honey ricotta, strawberries and pistachio ($13.50) keeps you within the sweet realm, flavours here are instead fresh and vibrant, but no less breathtaking. Serves at Liar are some of the heartiest and most brilliant you will ever see. Too often do diners indulge in a great menu only to be disappointed by a lack of drinks to follow up the experience. Coffee is a given in Melbourne, yes, but Liar Liar is one of few establishments that keeps the stakes high, offering an extensive drinks menu that will make you want to return. Despite being joined in recent years by the likes of Axil Coffee Roasters and Crabapple Kitchen, this cafe remains a consistent haven of excellent coffee in Hawthorn, with Five Senses and St Ali roasts running alongside a variety of changing single origin beans. Enjoy a nutty latte, but make sure you do not miss the exotic selection of fresh fruit granitas and smoothies (both $6.50). Beware of a short wait for a table (and plentiful yummy mummies with prams) when the weekend comes at Liar Liar. A true inner city vibe deep in the suburbs, this cafe has its finger on the pulse. Forget you're in Hawthorn for a second and enjoy one of this city's best. Not lying.
Real life has enough drama, as we all well and truly know at the moment. When it comes to getting cosy on your couch, you can be forgiven for wanting to forget the world's troubles — and your own, and this year's — and get caught up in a side-splitting comedy instead. Our tip: pick a top-notch TV series of the rib-tickling kind and stream (or re-stream) your way through it. Some you can knock out fairly quickly, filling your weekend with laughter. Others will take weeks and months, and will constantly brighten up your days in the process. From acerbic delights and absurd wonders to heartwarming gems and instant classics, streaming platform Binge isn't lacking in the comedy department. Because being able to lose yourself in a hilarious TV series is one of life's simple but much-needed pleasures, we've teamed up with the Australian service to highlight five shows that are guaranteed to have you giggling and guffawing — including via a 14-day free trial for new customers.
Inside, the place is decked out in a loving and knick-knacky fashion that will make you feel snug and homely during winter, and outside, the expansive paved beergarden provides a relaxed oasis during summer's hotter days. Drop in for a cheeky pint during the day, or catch up with a group of friends under the coloured fairy lights at night. Note: bring your pocket money, it's unfortunately a cash only bar.
Takeaway or dine in? It's the question that everyone who can't be bothered cooking dinner has faced, and it is more complicated than it sounds. Perhaps you'll be flying solo with your containers of food, but feel like some company? Or, maybe you and your pals all want meals delivered from different places, but know that's a bit impractical. A Helsinki pop-up has the answer, whether you're looking for an alternative to eating alone or trying to keep your gang of fellow diners happy. Called Take In, the kitchen-less venue is all about pulling up a chair, picking from around 20 restaurants, and enjoying the space as your dining room away from home — plus, making sure you have someone to share it with, even if your mates are all already busy. There's also a bar on-site, so that's the drinking side of the equation taken care of (or some liquid courage if chatting to folks you don't know makes you a little nervous). Customers can drop in just for a tipple, too; however eating out alone, but not alone is the main aim of the game. For anyone finding themselves in Finland in in the near future, the pop-up runs until April. Via Eater.
When staring at a new page, a blank screen or an empty plate, what inspires us to take that first step into the unknown? Is it the wish to emulate the greats or is it a wish to add to the canon or is it simply a matter of sustenance? The Greeks gave a name to the thing that pushes you into the dark. It was the muse, an elusive source of creation that was part divination, part nature but was the driving power behind mankind's greatest creations. Modern day muses take many forms and the Sydney Film Festival is looking to explore six of them. Creative Drive is a collection of six movies designed to engage and produced to inspire - with some of the movie industry's biggest names going back to their roots to discover what inspired those who have inspired them. In A Letter to Elia, Martin Scorsese looks at the director behind On The Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire, controversial Hollywood filmmaker Elia Kazan. The documentary, El Bulli: Cooking In Progress goes behind the scenes of El Bulli, the Spanish restaurant which is the most exclusive and the best in the world. The Mill and the Cross exmaines Pieter Bruegel's 1564 masterpiece, The Procession to Calvary, and some of the stories behind it - the SFF points out that it may be the closest a feature film has ever come to being a painting. How to enter If you wish to uncover genius approaches, dissect the masters' processes or simply enjoy an engaging film, Concrete Playground has a double pass to each of the 6 films. To go in the running, simply subscribe to our newsletter and tell us which one of the six films you'd like to see by email at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. Entries close on Wednesday, June 25 at 5pm. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qzbbYinuTWc
The 'art world' is a concept just as tricky to define as 'art' itself. Opinions on what distinguishes 'good' from 'poor', 'high-brow' from 'low-brow', 'contemporary' from plain bizarre are essentially endless. No one seems quite sure what qualifies an 'artist' to be labeled as such. And what is this 'world', this community, they belong in? One thing all artists and art enthusiasts cannot dispute, however, is a cold, hard fact. The Art Newspaper serves up an annual batch of exhibit attendance figures to reveal which exhibitions were best attended. No matter what your taste or opinions, 2011 brought an eclectic jumble to the forefront; here are 10 of the most attended exhibits. 1. The Magical World of Escher Where: The Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil Visitors per day: 9,677 This exhibition brought together the best-known trippy drawings and prints by the Dutch artist. 2. Kukai’s World: the Arts of Esoteric Buddhism Where: The Tokyo National Museum Visitors per day: 9,108 Featuring 99 items - some certified national treasures - related to Kukai, the famous Japanese Buddhist priest, this exhibit celebrates 'Esoteric Buddhism'. Kukai brought the practice with him from China during the early 9th century. 3. Landscape Reunited Where: The National Palace Museum Visitors per day: 8,828 Reuniting the two halves of Huang Gongwang's Chinese scroll painting Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, this exhibit pieced together the 660-year-old work from the sections formerly split between China and Taiwan. The piece, considered one of the most important in Chinese painting, has not been exhibited in its entirety since 1940. 4. Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty Where: Metropolitan Museum of Art Visitors per day: 8,025 The Costume Institute's posthumous tribute to Alexander McQueen featured his groundbreaking works of fashion. 5. Claude Monet (1840-1926) Where: The Grand Palais Visitors per day: 7,609 The likes of this exhibit had been MIA in Paris for years, making this collection of over 200 impressionist Monet works even more of a must-see. 6. Photoquai Where: Musée Quai Branly Visitors per day: 7,304 A free, outdoor celebration of non-Western photography, Photoquai held its third edition in 2011. 7. Mariko Mori: Oneness Where: Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil Visitors per day: 6,991 Toyko-born, New York-raised Mariko Mori designed this contemporary exhibit to be interactive, with some pieces visually interpreting attendees brainwaves, and others lighting up when touched. 8. Monumenta: Anish Kapoor Where: The Grand Palais Visitors per day: 6,967 Kapoor's temporary, site-specific installation challenged the confines of the Grand Palais belle epoque exhibition hall. 9. Laurie Anderson Where: Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil Visitors per day: 6,934 For her first solo show in Brazil, Anderson chose to feature 31 works that "told stories". 10. The Prado Museum Where: The Hermitage Visitors per day: 6,649 Madrid's Prado Museum created its own little 66-piece museum inside of St. Petersburg's State Hermitage Museum as the first of a two-part exhibition exchange. The Hermitage Museum will be featured at the Prado through March 2012. [via Flavorwire]
Macquarie Park will be the site of a huge $2.2 billion residential development — but it's not the high-price high-rise apartment complex that you might have come to expect from Sydney. This new development, which will be partially government funded, will provide a 3000 new homes to Sydneysiders — about 950 of which will provide social housing. A further 128 will be classed as affordable. As part of its Communities Plus project, the NSW Government this week announced the successful tenderers for the Ivanhoe Estate development as the Aspire consortium, which is made up of Mission Australia and developers Frasers Property Australia and Citta Property Group. The consortium will work with the government to develop housing that is affordable and sustainable for those who need it most. "The redevelopment will provide $120 million towards social and community infrastructure and $21 million towards social housing programs within the Ivanhoe estate," said Premier Gladys Berejiklian. "This will see services including tailored and personal plans to connect social housing tenants with education, training and employment." On top of the housing will be a stack of community facilities, including a high school, two childcare centres, an aged care centre, playgrounds, green spaces, gardens and a basketball court. Some commercial interests will be getting a look-in too, with retail shops, a supermarket and cafes all in the plans. Social housing residents will be able to access on-site Mission Australia offices, which will offer social services, including personalised support for tenants and community programs. "Everyone deserves a safe place to call home and everyone who lives in the Ivanhoe community will have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and connect with people in the neighbourhood, as well as having easy access to education, transport, jobs and services in the area," said Mission Australia CEO, Catherine Yeomans. Apart from bringing together people of varied social-economic backgrounds, the development has some pretty weighty sustainability goals. The aim is a six-star Green Star Communities Rating and overall carbon neutrality. To that end, water will be caught and reused, recycled materials will form part of construction, roofs will be green and a photovoltaic system will power a whopping 1.5 megawatts. Ivanhoe Estate — which is located close to Macquarie University and the train station — is part of the government's $22 billion Communities Plus project. Construction is set to start later this year, with the project to be delivered in stages of the next ten to 12 years. It's the first site to be developed; developments in Waterloo, Arncliffe, Telopea and Riverwood are set to follow.
The #OccupyWallStreet movement has really ignited the spirit of the disenfranchised in America. Anecdotes from ordinary people describing their economic plights has seen anger directed towards the 1% that continue to control the economic agenda in the USA. Through extensive use of Twitter and other social media tools, the increasingly large and angry mob are attempting to convey their message across the internet to gain support for their cause. But as thousands rally against social and economic inequality, corporate greed and the increasingly close relationships between politicians and financial institutions, this message is getting lost in seas of online rhetoric. According to the movement's own mission statement, 'Occupy Wall Street is leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%.' Without a clear purpose and no set goals, though, the message is becoming murkier. Most Australians have little idea about the extent of problems facing youths in America. With rising unemployment, little to no health care and increasing student debt, young graduates are increasingly anxious about their futures. And rightly so. According to a NY Times report, the jobless rate for college graduates in the U.S.A under the age of 25 has averaged 9.6% over the past year. For high school graduates, the average is 21.6%. Whilst the actual demands by the group remain a little unclear, a poll conducted by David Maris for Forbes has outlined a tentative set of demands or issues that are really aggravating the protestors. With many stating that the American Dream has now turned into a nightmare, the protests are continuing to spread like wildfire throughout the U.S. And whilst a rumoured Radiohead appearance at Liberty Square was later confirmed by the band to be a hoax, the movement has been getting increased backing from influential supporters. With Slavoj Zizek speaking at the rallies, Anti-Flag playing a set in Liberty Square, and Kanye West dropping in to say hello (without removing his gold chains) this protest doesn't seem to be quietening down any time soon. With an evolving approach to their demands, the 'We are the 99%' catchcry has now started to take a hold across the world, not just in New York. The movement has now spread to cities such as Chicago and Seattle, and there are also calls for global demonstrations, with planned protests as far afield as Italy, Spain and the London Stock Exchange. https://youtube.com/watch?v=r3ptmm8lAMM
Brad Pitt (Babylon) and Angelina Jolie's (Eternals) time as pop culture's only Mr and Mrs Smith in something called Mr & Mrs Smith is going the way of their IRL relationship, all thanks to a new TV spin on the 2005 movie. Now, it's Donald Glover (Atlanta) and Maya Erskine's (PEN15) turn to combine espionage and matrimony, with the upcoming eight-part Prime Video streaming series just unveiling its debut teaser trailer. Almost two decades back, an action-comedy cast Brangelina as a bored married duo who didn't know that they were actually both assassins, let alone that they'd each been tasked with killing the other. While Pitt and Jolie's off-screen relationship afterwards was more memorable than the flick itself in general, the concept struck enough of a chord to be brought back for another whirl. So, in 2024, Mr & Mrs Smith is now taking the path from the big to the small screen that everything from Dead Ringers and Irma Vep to A League of Their Own and Interview with the Vampire also has of late. There's a twist, however, with Glover and Erskine playing strangers who have to pretend to be wed as part of their job. So, that's how one becomes John Smith and the other takes on the identity of Jane Smith — and how the two embark upon a high-risk spy life together. The tradeoff for faking a romance: the lucrative gig, money, travelling the world, a dream Manhattan brownstone and, in this take on the premise, these strangers actually falling for each other. Pretending to be a couple but seeing sparks fly is one of Hollywood's current obsessions, with rom-com Anyone But You taking the idea to the big screen — without espionage or anything to do with Mr & Mrs Smith, though. Adding another TV show to his resume, Glover co-created the new Mr & Mrs Smith with Francesca Sloane (also Atlanta), with the end result set to drop in full on Friday, February 2, 2024. If you have vague memories of Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) being involved, she was initially slated to play Jane until Erskine took over her role. The series does feature a heap of other well-known names, with Alexander Skarsgård (Infinity Pool), Sarah Paulson (The Bear), Eiza González (Ambulance), Michaela Coel (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and Paul Dano (Dumb Money) all popping up — and Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters), Ron Perlman (Poker Face), Billy Campbell (Troll), Úrsula Corberó (Money Heist), John Turturro (Severance), Parker Posey (Beau Is Afraid) and Wagner Moura (The Gray Man) as well. Check out the first teaser trailer for the Mr & Mrs Smith TV series below: Mr & Mrs Smith will stream via Prime Video from Friday, February 2, 2024.
The newly renovated Rydges Melbourne is now home to a pre-theatre and after-work drinking and dining haunt, Bossley Bar and Restaurant. The huge space is split up into a front bar and terrace overlooking Exhibition Street and Little Bourke, a dining room serving up lunch and dinner to the public (and buffet breakfasts to hotel guests) and two separate private dining rooms. And even while it is connected to Rydges, Bossley does a damn good job at standing alone. A soulless hotel dining space this is not. Instead, it's got character all of its own, feeling like a big French bistro thanks to the green leather banquettes, parquet flooring and moody lighting. Led by Executive Chef Paul Griffiths, the kitchen serves up contemporary Australian and European eats with a strong sustainable focus. Your steak will hail from Gippsland, the fish is all line-caught and most other produce is locally sourced and seasonal. On Bossley's winter 2023 menu? A series of charcuterie boards, handmade burrata with charred cauliflower, pickled fennel and a smoked honey and a mean roast chicken. This classic is perfectly juicy, has a moreish golden crispy skin and comes with a black garlic puree and macadamia pangrattato. It's also mighty big so you won't be going home hungry. We're also obsessed with the fries. Griffiths has perfected the art of the hot chip — first boiling the potatoes, then popping them in the blast chiller before frying them, chilling them and then frying them again. They're pillowy, crunchy, oily bites of pleasure. Dessert-wise, you best try the Bossley Snickers. It's a glammed-up version of the original chocolate bar. They've tempered their own chocolate shell with peanuts and pumped in a salted caramel cream that's close to heaven. End the whole experience by adding a sweet iced Riesling from Tassie or the Bossley signature martini — made with Four Pillars Olive Leaf gin, vermouth, sherry and a dash of miso and saltbush olive oil. Don't expect a total reinvention of the wheel at Bossley but be very happy trying classic dishes and drinks that have been given a modern twist using quality produce. It's clearly trying to please a broad range of diners, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's a joint you can go to with the whole office crew or the family visiting from out of town. Even the fussiest eaters will find something pleasing here.
If you spend your free time binging on true crime, then you're probably familiar with the Golden State Killer. Between 1974–1986, the serial killer, rapist and burglar terrorised California, committing at least 12 murders, over 50 home-invasion rapes and more than 100 burglaries. Until 2018, however, the culprit hadn't been caught. Accordingly, it's the type of case that has kept more than a few folks wondering over the years and decades — including writer Michelle McNamara. HBO's new true-crime docuseries I'll Be Gone in the Dark chronicles McNamara's obsession with the case, as well as her hunt to find the perpetrator. Her tale is filled with intrigue, too, with her nights spent sleuthing through unsolved crimes and penning the blog True Crime Diaries while her family slept. Fixating on the Golden State Killer led McNamara to writing an article for Los Angeles Magazine, plus a book deal. But before she could finish her manuscript, McNamara — who was also married to comedian Patton Oswalt — died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in her sleep. Based on McNamara's book I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, which was published two years after her death (and before an arrest was made in the case), the six-part series steps through this whole scenario. Across both its first and second trailers, it promises quite the detective story — and, after airing in the US from the end of June, it's finally making its way to Australian screens from Sunday, August 9. Available to binge in full via aptly named new streaming service Binge, and also airing on Foxtel as well, the series combines archival footage and details from police files; interviews with detectives, survivors and family members of the killer; and McNamara's own words, via original recordings as well as excerpts from her book read by actor Amy Ryan (Late Night, Beautiful Boy, The Office). It also doubles as an exploration of the handling of sexual crimes in the 70s and 80s by law enforcement, as well as an examination of true-crime obsession and pursuit of justice. Check out the trailer below: I'll Be Gone in the Dark will be available to stream via Binge on Sunday, August 9 — and will also air on Foxtel as well. Top images: Robyn Van Swank/HBO.
Sweet news: this spring and summer, your lips can taste like Gelato Messina no matter what you're eating. We can't all devour ice cream all day and night, sadly, but we can all slather our smackers with Messina's Lanolips collaboration — especially now that it comes in a dulce de leche version. Back in 2021, Messina and Lanolips first teamed up on their debut gelato-flavoured balm — a salted coconut and mango sorbet number that, yes, was always going to give you a constant craving for a few scoops. The pair have brought that popular version back in 2022, too, as well as the new dulce de leche balm. We said it a year ago and we'll say it again now: if you start eating more gelato as a result, you'll know why. How do you make a dulce de leche balm? It takes its cues from Messina's signature in-house Argentinean caramelised milk gelato flavour, and was inspired by a gelato-tasting session, naturally. As for the salted coconut and mango sorbet flavour, it still nods to Messina's most popular coconut milk sorbet — a flavour that features Murray River salt and Australian Kensington Pride mango salsa. In balm form, the two Aussie-made products are infused with lanolin from local sheep's wool, as well as coconut oil, vitamin E and natural flavour. You'll find the lip-smacking products in all Messina stores, Messina's online store, at Lanolips' website and at Mecca. And, while they're perfect for that obvious purpose, Messina and and Lanolips also advise that the multi-balms have one hundred other uses. Head to Messina to pick some up today, on Tuesday, September 27 — or buy one from Messina's website — and you'll also nab a free scoop while stocks last. For more information about Gelato Messina's new Lanolips balm — and to buy some — head to the chain's website.
Coca-Cola has been turning green lately with sustainable bottles and recycled store shelving already upping their eco-cred, but their latest venture in the Philippines might be the best yet. Partnering with WWF, their new 60 foot by 60 foot billboard features 3,600 Fukien tea plants held in pots made from recycled Coca-Cola products, the plants defining a simple silhouette of a Coke bottle. As well as catching the eye the billboard should soak up carbon from the immediate atmosphere, as each plant is capable of absorbing 13 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year. Critics have cited it as mere greenwashing, and only a drop in the ocean compared to Coke's giant production and transport carbon outputs. Nevertheless, at least it's a step in the right direction, and as well as advertising their product the billboard also highlights the issue of climate change. But, will it ever make up for the decades of flashing lights on the Kings Cross Coke sign? Will Sydney ever see the lights dimmed and replaced with some greenery? [via PSFK]
Boasting scenic sights at great heights and snowy peaks aplenty, the Swiss Alps are well covered when it comes to adventure. Making this bucket-list tourist destination even more thrilling is its newest addition, a half-a-kilometre suspension bridge casually slung between two towering mountains. Opening for pedestrians on July 29, the Charles Kuonen Hängebrücke literally bridges the gap between Grächen and Zermatt — all 494 metres of it. For those keen on some more stomach-churning figures, the 65-metre pathway reaches 85 metres above the ground at its highest point, and 2200 metres above sea level as well. It's part of a six to seven hour hike from either direction, and replaces a previous bridge that closed in 2010 due to unstable terrain. Needless to say, the world-record breaking crossing isn't recommended for those suffering from acrophobia; however those eager to climb high will always have either the Matterhorn or the Bernese Alps in view, depending on which way they're trekking. As well as soaring into the sky and offering astonishing vistas, the suspension bridge also proves a feat of speedy engineering, with the entire thing erected in just 10 weeks. Via Zermatt Tourism. Image: Europaweg / Valentin Flauraud via Zermatt Tourism.
The lucky country is at the top of global travel plans for British holidaygoers, according to a recent survey by TravelBag. Specifically, Australia ranks as the third most appealing destination on Earth, beaten only by Canada and Japan. The survey details that almost half (46 percent, to be precise) of Brits are aching for their next overseas adventure — unsurprisingly, Japan takes the top spot. Plenty of Australians also want to go there or have already gone. But Australia sits well within the top three, with 30 percent of survey respondents ranking it as their most sought-after holiday destination. There's no surprise there, considering our world-famous beaches, natural scenery and busy urban atmospheres. There's a bit of everything for everyone, visitor and resident alike in Australia. For active travel planners, Australia came in second place. Gen X travellers are most drawn to Australia, but its Millennials who are actually making the plans, 9.6 percent of them specifically. Classically, most of those trips are aimed for the dreary UK winter and red-hot Australian summer period of December to February, a season that we who live here know is where everything really comes alive. Take the beaches. Bondi is likely first in mind for many of these tourists-to-be, but there's plenty more great ones to discover all over the Harbour City, and the rest of the country for that matter. When the heat becomes too much to bear, travellers are likely to head indoors, and the majority of them (26.7 percent) intend to add shopping to their itinerary. Otherwise, ancient ruins and local history draw 21.4 percent of tourists, and road trips make up 21.5 percent of itineraries, too. It's time to start planning a summer adventure, so have a tour of our guides for NSW, VIC and QLD to find the experiences that are right for you.
A massive Gandhi exhibition is on its way to Melbourne's Immigration Museum. Curated from more than 1000 photos, over two hours of footage, an hour's worth of film clips and 20 audio recordings, the show focuses on Gandhi's role in leading India to independence, as well as his travels in England and South Africa. At the same time, it's a celebration of Indian diaspora all over the world. One of the reasons the exhibition is heading for Victoria is that the state is home to more people of Indian descent than any other place in Australia. "Mahatma Gandhi was an inspirational leader and I'm thrilled that Victorians will be able to enjoy this incredible exhibition," said Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who's in India this week checking out the show. It's been at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in Delhi since October 2016. "Victoria is home to Australia's largest Indian population and this exhibition is an important way to acknowledge their cultural heritage and build the cultural understanding of India among the wider Victorian community." You'll have until July to head along. The show is just one of many upcoming events celebrating Victoria's Indian connections, following the release of Victoria's India Strategy: Our Shared Future. The Mahatma Gandhi Exhibition will be at Melbourne's Immigration Museum from April to July, 2018.
