Sometimes the best stories are the ones that are true. Soon, you'll be able to catch a selection of the best from around the world, as Antenna Documentary Film Festival returns to Sydney with a stellar program. Celebrating its 14th edition from Thursday, February 5–Sunday, February 15, more than 50 docos are screening over the festival's 11 days, with Q&As, retrospectives and the much-loved Doc-Talk series rounding out this year's happenings. Opening the festival is the Australian premiere of The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel, a character-driven portrait of a former football star who vanished from public life in 1970s Britain, only to re-emerge decades later as the manager and sole resident of a crumbling Hollywood motel. Then, you can absorb the slow, measured narration of documentary icon Werner Herzog as his latest film, Ghost Elephants, follows an expedition into Angola's highlands in search of a legendary elephant herd. Par for the course, really. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqIPJcfPodU Other highlights include Elon Musk Unveiled – The Tesla Experiment, a new documentary that pulls back the curtain on Musk's empire through the testimonies of close confidants, whistleblowers, victims and former high-ranking Tesla employees. Plus, The Clown of Gaza captures how performer Alaa Meqdad keeps hope alive in Palestine by becoming Aloosh the Clown, bringing joy to children in hospitals and on the streets. Antenna Documentary Film Festival will also feature a special guest appearance from American filmmaker and cinematographer Kirsten Johnson (Citizenfour, Cameraperson) and a retrospective celebrating Gillian Armstrong. Best known for the coming-of-age film Little Women, Antenna focuses on Armstrong's long-running documentary project tracing the lives of three Adelaide teens into their late 40s and beyond, with two of them joining Armstrong for an on-stage Q&A. Antenna Documentary Film Festival is held Thursday, February 5–Sunday, February 15, with screenings happening at Dendy Newtown and The Ritz Cinema, Randwick. Head to the website for more information.
