Sydney's intimate, boutique Golden Age Cinema is teaming up with Four Pillars Gin for a mini booze and film festival. Each Wednesday night from February 3–March 3, the 56-seat Surry Hills spot is hosting double bills paired with gin cocktails. It's quite the lineup, too, with a little something for everyone on the bill. The festival is called Summer is Cinema, so that's the kind of tone it's going for — whether road movies, hazy escapades or out-there journeys are hitting the screen. First up on February 3 is Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited — because the venue has also been running a season dedicated to the director — followed by seminal 90s classic Thelma and Louise. Or, if you're in the mood for a different kind of cinematic trip, perhaps February 10's pair of The Beach Bum and Inherent Vice will appeal. The next week, on February 17, Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window will heat up the screen, accompanied by Spike Lee's iconic Do the Right Thing. Then, on February 24 comes Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away and Alexandro Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain, both classics in their own distinctive ways. Finally, Badlands and Wild at Heart will wrap things up on March 3 with a lovers-on-the-run duo. These flicks will all get a beverage to match, made with Four Pillar's juniper spirits. The first screenings each evening kick off between 6–6.10pm, then the second start between 8.15–8.40pm — but we suggest you get there a little earlier for the drinks. Tickets cost $22.50 for each film.
Where would we be without movies over the past 18 months? Even when cinemas have been closed for hefty portions of 2020 and 2021 in different parts of the country, we've all still sought out the joy and escapism of watching a flick — because when you're in lockdown, quarantining or isolating at home, or just spending more time indoors in general, it's particularly cathartic. Still keen to queue up a big heap of movies, and a hefty dose of couch time? Enter Movie Frenzy, the returning week-long online film rental sale. From Friday, October 1–Thursday, October 7, it's serving up a sizeable lineup of popular flicks from the past year, all for under $3 per movie. On the lineup: page-to-screen Aussie drama The Dry, long-awaited horror sequel A Quiet Place Part II, Bob Odenkirk aping John Wick in Nobody, and Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie teaming up again with Wrath of Man. The monster melee that is Godzilla vs Kong, the Chris Rock-starring Spiral: From the Book of Saw and Denzel Washington-led thriller The Little Things are also on the list, as is everything from Monster Hunter, Penguin Bloom, June Again and War with Grandpa to Tom and Jerry, The Croods: A New Age and Peter Rabbit 2. And while some are more worth your attention than others, we'll let you do the choosing. You can nab the cheap flicks via your digital rental platform of choice, including Apple TV, Fetch, Google Play, the Microsoft Store, Amazon Prime Video, Telstra TV Box Office and YouTube Movies — although just what's available, and the price, will vary depending on the service. Also, you won't need a subscription, unless you decide to join in the fun via the Foxtel Store.
Sydney's cinema scene started off the year with a deep dive into the wondrous cinematic worlds of Wes Anderson. But, when this filmmaker is involved, you can never have too much of a good thing. So, from Thursday, February 4–Wednesday, February 24, Dendy Newtown is falling head over heels for the acclaimed director's work, too — via a film series called Fantastic Mr Wes: A Wes Anderson Retrospective. Film buffs can enjoy Anderson's distinctive visual stylings, compelling soundtracks and all-star casts, with the inner west venue playing different flicks multiple times across the three-week period. First up, catch 1996 crime-comedy Bottle Rocket, followed by the Jason Schwartzman-led hit Rushmore, the family dramas of The Royal Tenenbaums and the stop-motion animation delight that is Fantastic Mr Fox. Also on the bill: The Darjeeling Limited (which'll help you vicariously indulge your wanderlust), The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (if you feeling like wearing matching tracksuits with your movie date) and Isle of Dogs (because no one does animated canines like Anderson) — plus Moonrise Kingdom's tale of young love and the exceptionally cast The Grand Budapest Hotel as well. Fingers crossed that 2021 is the year we all finally get to see Anderson's latest, the pandemic-delayed The French Dispatch, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs7mIoG8ffI
This planet we all call home is constantly in flux. After the year everyone has just been through, that shouldn't be news. And, it isn't a new topic to Australia's annual Transitions Film Festival either. Based in Melbourne — and touring its program around the country on occasion over the past decade — it routinely programs films on the topic. In 2021, it's continuing that mission, too. There is something different about this year's Transitions Film Festival lineup, however. For the first time, the festival is jumping online. In collaboration with MPavilion, it is still hosting a physical screening of documentary Beyond the Burning in Melbourne on February 23 — but from February 26–March 15, it's streaming its selection of films digitally. Available on an on-demand basis (so you can view whatever you like whenever you like), the program includes plenty of factual flicks on topics as broad as walking barefoot across America (as seen in Barefoot), youth activism (the subject of NOW), a lawsuit against an animal rights advocate (The Walrus and The Whistleblower) and the benefits of adopting a universal basic income (Inherent Good). Or, you can dive into the sea with An Ocean Story, watch the fight against plastic pollution via Microplastic Madness, see the threats to Canada's Boreal forests in Borealis and tackle blazes in Megafires. Elsewhere, The Hidden Life of Trees takes its name from Peter Wohlleben's best-selling book, and continues its focus on forest. And, Invisible Hand dives into the battle between capitalism and nature — and it's produced by Mark Ruffalo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzDFF0y-O9w Top image: The Hidden Life of Trees, 2019, Constantin Film Verleih GmbH, nautilusfilm.
Already known for its bottomless vegan pizza and pasta feasts, Italian restaurant chain Salt Meats Cheese has been upping its cruelty-free food game at a monthly special event. Called Soul Meets Cheers, it serves up an entirely plant-based menu, featuring vegan versions of Italian classics. For the feast's February outing — taking place at all Sydney venues from 5pm on Tuesday, February 2 — it'll be focusing on bites to eat inspired the northern region of Lombardy in Italy. Think polenta fries with napoletana sauce, three-pumpkin pizza and Milanese-style risotto. And yes, that's just a few of the dishes on offer. Your $49 ticket also includes a glass of vegan wine or or Young Henrys beer or cider upon arrival.
Throughout autumn, Golden Age Cinema and Bar flirted with darkness. It contemplated fate, twisty rendezvous and chance meetings, in fact, all through its season-long film program. Now, with winter upon us, it's still exploring the shadows — this time via a lineup that it has fitting called Shadow Play. Expect to see a few shady characters grace the Surry Hills venue's big screen each weekend between Saturday, June 5–Sunday, April 15. Expect noir thrillers, twisty crime sagas, all-night adventures and quests for eternal youth, too. Private detectives will make more than a few appearances, as will femme fatales. And more than one acclaimed actor will play famed fictional PI Philip Marlowe. Among the highlights: The Big Lebowski, which kicks off the season with a big dose of The Dude; Blade Runner, because this Ridley Scott-directed dystopian tale never gets old; After Hours, Martin Scorsese's Manhattan-set after-dark caper; and Inherent Vice, which sees Paul Thomas Anderson spin a shaggy dog tale in 70s Los Angeles. Everything from The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep and Le cercle rouge to The Long Goodbye, To Die For and Death Becomes Her also features — screening at various times on Saturdays and Sundays. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRawYZl-ls
Between Thursday, May 20–Wednesday, May 26, Palace Cinemas is giving movie buffs in Sydney an extra present. It's not just the gift of great flicks — that is, their daily bread and butter — but the gift of cheap great flicks. Head to one of the chain's four Sydney locations — Paddington's Palace Verona or Chauvel Cinema, Chippendale's Palace Central and Leichhardt's Palace Norton St — across the week in question, and any film at any time will only cost you a fiver. Want to see A Quiet Place Part II with your friends a week before it comes out? It'll cost you $5. Keen to check out Minari, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Antoinette in the Cevennes and The Courier? Also $5. We'd keep naming movies, but you get the picture. Booking in advance is highly recommended, given how much everyone loves going to the flicks for little more than the price of a cup of coffee. If you do nab your tickets online, you will have to add a transaction fee to the cost. And if you're wondering what $5 Movie Week is all about, Palace is simply endeavouring to encourage folks to catch a flick on the big screen. That's still the best way to watch a movie, after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZmgl4TkFBc&feature=emb_logo Top image: Palace Central
A century or so ago, back when cinema was still in its infancy and synchronised sound hadn't yet revolutionised the movie-going experience, seeing a film also meant listening to a live show. Those days are long gone, of course. Next time you head to your local theatre, someone won't be playing the movie's music in front of you while you watch. But a heap of recent screenings have been harking back to those times — and the next one has an action-adventure classic in its sights. Sydneysiders, it's time to grab your fedora and get cracking towards the Aware Super Theatre, because that's where you'll be celebrating Raiders of the Lost Ark's 40th anniversary rom 8pm on Saturday, August 21. The movie will screen, obviously, and The Metropolitan Orchestra will play John Williams' rousing score. Even if you haven't seen the film before — or watched it for years — everyone knows its famous theme tune. For those in need of a refresher, plot-wise, Raiders of the Lost Ark kickstarted the Indiana Jones franchise by following its eponymous figure (as played by Harrison Ford) on his quest to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis. It's the movie that sparked three sequels to-date, and a fourth one supposedly still to come. Bringing a whip probably isn't recommended, but you know Indy will have one.
Normally when the middle of the year hits — when Australia's weather is at its frostiest, aptly — the annual Scandinavian Film Festival rolls into cinemas around the country. In Sydney, that timing coincided with lengthy lockdowns, so the fest is bringing back its Nordic noir-heavy lineup for another spin before the year is out. Kicking off on Tuesday, November 23 and running through until Wednesday, December 16, the returning showcase of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway cinema launches with a must-see new entry in the Scandi-noir genre. Hailing from Denmark, opening night's Wildland stars Sidse Babette Knudsen (Borgen, Westworld) as the head of a family crime syndicate. She's charged with looking after her teenage niece and, in a movie that instantly brings Australia's own Animal Kingdom to mind, the latter soon learns more about the family business. Also on this year's Scandinavian Film Festival lineup: Knudsen again in Copenhagen-set psychological thriller The Exception; masterful and engaging Norwegian film Disco, about an evangelical dance champion who finds her faith tested; and surreal mother-daughter drama Psychosis in Stockholm. Or, for fans of Nordic cinema's big names, relationship drama Hope co-stars Stellan Skarsgård (Chernobyl), musical comedy A Piece of My Heart sees Swedish-born actor Malin Akerman (Rampage) back on home turf, and The County hails from Icelandic filmmaker Grímur Hákonarson — who directed Rams, which was remade in Australia last year. Other highlights include Icelandic box office hits Agnes Joy and The Last Fishing Trip, the latter of which has been compared to The Hangover; Finnish biopics Helene and Tove, about painter Helene Schjerfbeck and visual artist and author Tove Jansson, respectively; and Tigers, which tells the true tale of former Inter Milan player Martin Bengtsson. Or, there's also Diana's Wedding, which isn't actually about that Diana — plus closing night's 50th anniversary-screening of The Emigrants starring Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann.
After almost eight weeks of staring at your own four walls, it's likely you're craving a disruption of your current orbit between bed and couch. Luckily, the Powerhouse Museum have created something that'll transport your mind to places far beyond your living room: Sydney Science Festival. From Saturday, August 14–Sunday, August 22, you can get involved in Sydney Science Festival by joining one of its live-stream events. This year, the festival is completely online — and free — meaning you'll get to hear from science experts working across various disciplines without even leaving the house. Catch the keynote address from the 2021 Sydney Science Festival ambassador and Deadly Science founder Corey Tutt; join Gomeroi astronomer Karlie Noon on a journey across the cosmos in Southern Sky Livestream; tune into panel discussion Pandemics — Past, Present and Future moderated by Dr. Norman Swan; hang out with tech pioneer Jaron Lanier in Gadgets, Dreams and Dilemmas; or book yourself into Great Moments in Science to discover some of today's biggest science ideas with Australia's much-loved, Dr. Karl. [caption id="attachment_822352" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Dan Boud[/caption] Sydney Science Festival 2021 is a completely free and online event. To read the full program — and to register for access to these brain-tingling live-streams — visit the website. Top image: Ken Leanfore.
Before the pandemic, food and drink event Taste of Manly encouraged Sydneysiders to eat, sip and be merry by the beach each and every year. None of the above happened in 2020, of course, but the festival is making a comeback in 2021 — as a new, bigger and broader event called Taste of the Beaches. For the whole month of May — so from Saturday, May 1–Monday, May 31 — the entire northern beaches region is getting in on the action, spanning more than 30 restaurants, cafes and food outlets in the area. The lineup includes pop-ups on the sand, food truck parties and craft brews, as well as a whole heap of different dining experiences, which means that Sydneysiders can choose their own path through the multi-suburb event. Kicking things off on Saturday, May 1–Sunday, May 2, Hotel Steyne is taking over Manly beach each afternoon, and serving up a seafood-heavy menu and plenty of drinks. Or, from Wednesday–Sunday throughout the month, Market Lane will play host to live tunes — giving your meals and beverages at the laneway's businesses a soundtrack. Also on the agenda: a food truck party in Mona Vale on Saturday, May 15, a wine garden in Palm Beach on Saturday, May 29–Sunday, May 30, and a big craft beer fest in Freshwater on Saturday, May 29 as well. And, from the list of special dining options, you can head to a Tokyo-style street food market at Daniel San, and taste your way through flights of spirits at Manly Spirits Co Distillery — or pair wings and tins, learn how to make your own pizza, attend a pork knuckle party, celebrate Eurovision over dinner and eat a tapas-style curry spread. Top image: Karen Watson for Northern Beaches Council.
Freshwater Brewing Co is swapping hops for grapes as it hosts an inviting wine festival focusing on small-batch vineyards and women in the wine industry. Popping up in Sydney's north on Wednesday, March 27, Into the Vines will bring 25 different drops of vino from five boundary-pushing female winemakers to the breezy brewery for a midweek journey through some of the exciting things happening in the booze world. The lineup of producers includes Empire of Dirt, a lo-fi winery based out of Moorabool Valley in Victoria, and ACT native Intrepedus Wines whose tiny one-acre winery is located in Yass and produces a cracking Nero D'aVola. Rounding out the program is biodynamic specialist Krinklewood, and a pair of Hunter Valley vineyards: M&J Becker Wines and Comyns & Co. The festivities will kick off at 6pm, with two one-hour sessions to choose from — 6–7pm and 7–8pm. Either way, you'll get to wander around and chat with the winemakers, tasting their wares, and enjoying a grazing platter while you're at it — all for just $15. If you want to grab dinner, there's also a combo deal, which includes the hour-long tasting session, plus a pint and a burger at the brewery for $40. Thanks to a partnership with Humanitix, a portion of the ticket sales will also be donated to local not-for-profit Girls Boardrider Fraternity. The approachable wine festival is great for any Sydneysiders north of the bridge who would usually have to travel into the inner-city to find such an eclectic mix of new-age winemakers all in the one spot.
What do slicing-and-dicing villains in horror movies and Monster Fest's annual weekend-long mini film festival have in common? Both can strike at any time. Each year, usually at the end of the year, the broader fest showcases genre and cult movies — but it also pops up before then to host Monster Fest Weekender. In 2023, the latter took place in winter. In 2024, it's bringing the scares, plus a focus on slasher films, in autumn. If you like frightening flicks, then you'll want to make a date with Sydney's Event Cinemas George Street from Friday, May 3–Sunday, May 5. Across three days, just one type of horror film will be on offer — and yes, of course the lineup includes Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th titles, as well as a Sleepaway Camp marathon. Wes Craven's Freddy Krueger franchise is represented with both the OG A Nightmare on Elm Street and also 1994's New Nightmare, each of which are marking anniversaries — 40 and 30 years, respectively. Prefer movies about Jason Voorhees instead? Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is also on the bill, and also celebrating its 40th anniversary. Other pictures that'll get the projectors whirring at Monster Fest Weekender: Slasher Edition span Deranged, which commemorates its 50th anniversary with the first-ever showing of its complete and uncut version in Australian cinemas — and I, Madman, which has also never been seen in Aussie picture palaces. And if you can handle the Sleepaway Camp Slash-athon, it features the first, second and third films.
If David Dastmalchian ever tires of acting, which will hopefully never happen, he'd make an entrancing late-night television host. He even has the audition tape for it: Late Night with the Devil. Of course, the star who earned his first movie credit on The Dark Knight, and has stood out in Blade Runner 2049, The Suicide Squad, Dune and the third season of Twin Peaks — plus Boston Strangler, The Boogeyman, Oppenheimer and Dracula: Voyage of the Demeter all in 2023 alone, alongside Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania — might be hoping for a less eerie and unsettling gig IRL. Dastmalchian is a fan of horror anchors, writing an article for Fangoria about them. Here, putting in a helluva can't-look-away performance, he plays one. That said, the namesake of Night Owls with Jack Delroy isn't meant to fit the mould so unnervingly, nor is the series that he's on. Delroy is a Johnny Carson rival — and, because Australian filmmakers Cameron and Colin Cairnes (100 Bloody Acres, Scare Campaign) write and direct Late Night with the Devil, he's also a Don Lane-type talent — who isn't afraid of embracing the supernatural on his live talk show. On Halloween in 1977, airing his usual special episode for the occasion, he decides to attempt to arrest the flagging ratings of what was once a smash by booking four attention-grabbing guests. What occurs when Delroy, who is grieving the loss of his actor wife Madeleine Piper (Georgina Haig, NCIS Sydney) a year earlier, shares the stage with not only a famous skeptic and a psychic, but also with a parapsychologist and a girl who is reportedly possessed? That might sound like the setup for a joke, but it's this new Aussie horror gem's captivating premise. To be precise, it's the contents of the October 31 instalment of Night Owls with Jack Delroy, with Late Night with the Devil posed as a documentary about the broadcast that includes the entire show itself. With Michael Ironside (BlackBerry) on narration duties, Delroy gets some backstory first, stepping through Piper's lung cancer diagnosis despite never having smoked, plus Delroy's own affiliation with exclusive and highly questionable Californian men's club The Grove. The 70s gets some context, too, digging into its climate of fear and mistrust post-Manson family murders, and the anger of the decade's reckoning with race relations and the Vietnam War — all reasons put forward to explain why variety entertainment offering pure escapism is having a moment. The fortunes of the series itself from gleaming to flailing are also charted, justifying going all-in on the occult for the Sweeps Week episode that "shocked a nation", as presented in full as found footage from a master tape interspliced with behind-the-scenes material. If you've seen one evening talk show — from then, now or in-between; whether hailing from the US or Australia (Late Night with the Devil was shot in Melbourne, but packages its content as purely American) — then you know the basic format. Delroy monologues and banters charismatically to begin, albeit with an inescapable sadness that he's endeavouring to plaster over with a smile and 'the show must go on' bravado. So, he starts bringing on his guests. Medium Christou (Fayssal Bazzi, Prosper) foresees that something sinister is about to be afoot. Professional cynic Carmichael "the Conjurer" Haig (Ian Bliss, Safe Home), who was once a magician, is all doubt. There to spruik her book Conversations with the Devil, about a girl who was offered up as a Satanic sacrifice by a cult but survived, Dr June Ross-Mitchell (Laura Gordon, Foe) is wary that her text's subject Lilly (Ingrid Torelli, Force of Nature: The Dry 2) isn't ready for the exposure. But with the kid supposedly afflicted with demonic possession, and so much at stake for Delroy and the show, no one is letting her remain off the air. When The Blair Witch Project made found footage a horror movie go-to 25 years back, sparking too many imitators — most generic and/or terrible — it didn't create the format. Indeed, the gimmick of unearthing tales from previous documents hadn't only been seen on-screen, but is engrained in iconic gothic horror novels Frankenstein and Dracula, both of which deploy correspondence to unfurl their stories. In the post-Blair Witch era, however, inventive and exciting screen uses of the tactic have become increasingly rare. Enter: the Cairnes brothers. The duo also give riffing on Martin Scorsese's 1982 satire The King of Comedy, which Joker did as well, a fresh spin. Late Night with the Devil is the best kind of pastiche: one that knows it, loves it, adores everything that it's drawing upon and is committed to never merely aping its inspirations (which also span Scanners, as Ironside's involvement helps reinforce — plus four-time Oscar-winner Network, which sports a fellow Aussie connection in British Australian actor Peter Finch). Watching the Halloween chaos of Night Owls with Jack Delroy in real time is a masterstroke: viewers have no alternative but to have the same experience that the show's audience, both in the studio and at home, did at the fateful broadcast — and that Delroy, his crew and guests all shared. Late Night with the Devil is constructed from a raft of equally clever decisions, the most pivotal of which is casting the hypnotic Dastmalchian. There's an Alan Partridge-esque air to the film and its protagonist, transported into literal horror rather than the horrors of cringe comedy, and with the same go-for-broke commitment that's always marked Steve Coogan's (The Reckoning) best-known character. Within the picture's sole setting — another savvy move — Dastmalchian owns the screen. He also grounds Late Night with the Devil's examination of the relationship between celebrity and the attention that mass media brings, aka the cult of personality; it might be easy to paint the price of fame as a Faustian bargain, but it works. A performance this perfect and an idea this brilliant receives the execution to match, making sitting down to the movie virtually a time machine. The look, the feel, the detailed production design (by Otello Stolfo, Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe) and costuming (Steph Hooke, The Wheel), the era-specific cinematography (Matthew Temple, Gold Diggers) and editing (by the Cairnes siblings themselves) choices, the commitment to practical effects when the spookfest kicks in after a tense and patient build up: they all ensure that Late Night with the Devil plays like it truly has been newly discovered in a pile of forgotten tapes from decades and decades back. As it conjures up that sensation, this is Cairnes' best film yet, and a delight of a wild ride to watch in one of two ways: in a packed cinema where everyone reacts to its contents like they're in the studio with Delroy; and at home on the couch, glued to the tube like Night Owls with Jack Delroy devotees. Whichever suits, no one is switching off.
Amy Winehouse would have turned 32 on September 14. To celebrate her birthday, the Soda Factory is dedicating the sixth edition of its popular Covers for a Cause series to her. A bunch of the Soda Factory's favourite resident acts will get together to jam on Winehouse's hit tunes, from 'Tears Dry on Their Own' to 'Valerie'. Entry is free and, for every dish or drink you buy on the night, a gold coin will be donated to Headspace, a national foundation committed to helping young people with mental health issues. The usual dinner menu — with its crave-worthy mix of home-cooked burgers, pulled pork, gourmet hot dogs, southern fried chicken and so on — will be available. And there'll be a couple of special, Winehouse-inspired additions to the drinks menu: The Winehouse Sour (raspberry, red wine, vanilla, egg white, lemon, vodka) and Valerie’s Secret Sangria (citrus fruits, cointreau, cinnamon, red wine). Doors open at 5pm.
Cinephiles, fans of on-screen dreams outside the norm and those with all-round offbeat tastes, it's time for your mosey through the movies that exist far beyond the mainstream. You know the ones — they won't be coming soon to a multiplex near you, and you wouldn't want them to. They're strange and sublime, odd and eccentric, and weird and wonderful. They're also the kind of fare that the Sydney Underground Film Festival lives, breathes, champions and screens, and has done for nine years now. And with efforts about a Finnish bunny with a genital fetish and the space where concepts become crimes in their 2015 lineup, there's no doubting that this year's SUFF is overflowing with off-kilter sensibilities. Accordingly, expect brain-exploding big-screen brilliance, raucous parties, a mind-expanding masterclass program and more, jam-packed into four days of film fun from September 17–20 at The Factory Theatre, Marrickville. Here are ten SUFF movies you won't want to miss.
The stars are out for Queer Screen Film Fest 2015, which returns to Event Cinema George Street in September. Kicking off on the evening of Tuesday, September 22, the festival begins with the Australian premiere of Boulevard, featuring the late Robin Williams in his final dramatic role as a depressed man whose life is changed when he befriends a young male sex worker. Other highlights on the six-day program include Cut Snake, a brooding Aussie crime thriller from director Tony Ayres featuring an unforgettable performance from Sullivan Stapleton, A Sinner in Mecca, which follows documentarian Parvez Sharma as he makes his pilgrimage to the holy city while struggling to reconcile his sexuality with his faith, and Guidance, a comedy about a washed-up former child star masquerading as a high school guidance councillor. The festival concludes with another major title straight from its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Based on a true story, Freeheld stars Julianne Moore as a New York Police detective with a terminal illness who is forced to fight for the legal right to pass her pension benefits onto her domestic partner (Ellen Page).
Part of the Giant Dwarf festival-within-a-festival at Sydney Fringe, Free to a Good Home sees comedians Michael Hing (Triple J, Good Game) and Ben Jenkins (The Checkout, Story Club) bring their hilarious podcast series to the stage, inviting a host of guests along as they delve into the weird and wonderful world of Australia’s classifieds. Watch them scour Gumtree, Craigslist, Etsy et al as they discover and discuss, in detail, what people are shamelessly selling or giving away for cheap via the convenient anonymity of the internet. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Sydney Fringe Festival. See the other nine here.
The best of Korean cinema will once again be on full display when the Korean Film Festival in Australia returns for its sixth straight year. Kicking off in Sydney on Wednesday, August 12, the program is headlined by a number of gripping crime thrillers — the genre having become synonymous with Korean cinema thanks to films like Oldboy and I Saw the Devil. This year, the mantle passes to the likes of A Hard Day, The Target and Gangnam Blues (and no, we're not talking about Psy). Other highlights among the KOFFIA 2015 program include the powerful coming-of-age film Han Gong-ju and the brilliantly titled opening night feature How To Steal A Dog. We're also pretty intrigued by period drama My Dictator, about a man hired as a body double for North Korean leader Kim Il-sung, only for him to become convinced that he is actually the genuine article. For the full KOFFIA program, visit their website.
Sydney's inner west is about to get in on the openair cinema action. Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema has just announced they'll be opening their very first inner west cinema this summer, adding another location to their free ice cream-loving lineup of Bondi, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth this November. Setting up on the lawns of Cadigal Green at the University of Sydney, Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema will debut with new releases and cult classics including Joseph Gordon Levitt's Oscar tip The Walk, Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway teaming up in The Intern, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies, Kate Winslet's The Dressmaker in rural Australia and the Christmas rom-com to rule them all, Love Actually. Plus, there'll be a 25th anniversary screening of Thelma and Louise. The team are keeping their tried and true formula intact — live music and free ice cream nights. Local artists will hit the stage before the film for cruisy sets, including Nic Cassey, Angus Murphy and many more, and local DJs will spin a few for Aperol Sunsets — with free Aperol samples aplenty. There'll also be a fully-licensed bar, gourmet food stands, and lawn games aplenty, with putt putt and something called Giant Cow Jenga. Tickets for the Bondi Openair Cinema tend to sell out, so get in early. Earlybird tickets are just $15 online ($10 concession), until October 21. You can also hire deckchairs, beanbags and blankets, or go all in for a Volkswagen Polo Class ticket with reserved seating, blanket, cushion, beer or wine and a Ben & Jerry's ice cream included. Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema will take over Cadigal Green, University of Sydney from November 19 to December 12, 2015. For the full program or to buy tickets, head to the website. Check out CP's roundup of Sydney's best openair cinemas over here. Image: Artof2 Designs.
Stories from one of the most volatile regions on earth will be in the spotlight at Australia's Palestinian Film Festival. Hosted at Palace Norton Street in Leichhardt, this year's program includes seven full length features and five shorts that showcase the experiences of Palestinians, from Gaza to the West Bank and beyond. The festival begins with animated documentary The Wanted 18, a tragicomic true tale about how a herd of Palestinian cows became the centrepiece of a protest against Israeli occupation. Degrade, meanwhile, takes place almost entirely within a Gaza beauty salon, where employees attempt to maintain some semblance of normalcy while violence rages just outside their door. But the most intriguing film in the program would have to be The Idol. Directed by two-time Oscar nominee Hany Abu-Assad, the movie tells the true story of a wedding singer from a Gaza refugee camp who became the second ever winner of Arab Idol. For the full festival program, visit palestinianfilmfestival.com.au
Michael Ware, the lawyer turned Courier-Mail, Time and CNN journalist turned filmmaker, calls Only the Dead a film that wasn't meant to be made. His documentary is cobbled together from hundreds of hours of footage he shot while in Iraq as a reporter, with a movie never part of his plans. Perhaps that's why the trembling handicam images feel immediate and urgent, even in a time where alarming visuals of combat have become commonplace. Only the Dead charts Ware's obsession with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi following the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. Al-Zarqawi wasn't a point of focus for many at the time, but his brutal methods — starting with suicide bombings, then escalating to filmed beheadings of foreign hostages and worse — certainly earned him increasing attention. The faction he founded would become the Islamic State. There's more to Ware and al-Zarqawi's story, just as there's more behind the documentary's existence. Many of the remarkable sights contained within only became possible after Ware forged a connection with the insurgents, who began to feed him discs of their own videos, wanting him to disseminate them to the western media. Becoming an unofficial intermediary, he was placed in a tenuous and tricky position. While Only the Dead doesn't delve into the ethical side of Ware's interactions, it does chart the clear influence the situation had upon his viewpoint. A picture really does speak a thousand words in that regard, although the film isn't short on the latter — filling in the history of the Iraq war, as well as conveying Ware's reflections. Context is helpful, but verbal explanation almost seems unnecessary given how striking the shaky footage proves. And yet, there's something about the combination of distressing visuals and voiceover insights that hits the mark. Ware is the key, starting out "young and dumb enough for war to have its false sense of adventure", but slowly changing as a result of his time chronicling the Iraqi conflict. As his narration makes plain, even as the film depicts violent and bloody events gone by and horrors occurring in a nation far from his own, this strory is overwhelmingly personal. Entertainment, this is not. Cast Homeland, American Sniper or any other screen effort that claim to dissect the war on terror far from your thoughts. Ware's offering — as co-directed with veteran filmmaker Bill Guttentag — walks in the shoes and offers the mindset of someone who's there, and is then lucky enough to be able to look back at what he lived through. It's worth remembering that his account, though released within a world now brimming with YouTube videos and social media posts from those on the ground, predates this now unavoidable phenomenon. You might have seen the likes of Ware's offering before; however prior to this, you've never been brought not just beyond the front lines, but into the complications of his harrowing journey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWdi8JJG-7U
Working out the difference between a good song and a hit single can be a mystery, even for experienced songwriters. A talk series at Giant Dwarf, dubbed Anthem! and hosted by triple j's The Doctor (Lindsay McDougall), is attempting to unravel it. Once a month, he's joining an Australian hit-maker for a 90-minute chat about his/her most enduring songs. Together, they delve into what has made the tunes so powerful — from how and why they were written to what they evoke, in terms of memories, emotions and experiences. The next Anthem! will take place on Wednesday, November 4, with The Doctor hosting Jebediah's frontman, Kevin Mitchell. Since 1995, the alternative rock band has released five studio albums, including four ARIA chart top tenners. Mitchell also writes, records and performs solo under the moniker Bob Evans. He won a 2006 ARIA for his second studio release, Suburban Songbook, and Best Male Artist in Rolling Stone Australia's 2007 annual reader poll.
American comedian Joel McHale is coming to Australia. The star of Community, The Soup and that one recurring daydream we have where he asks us to be his best friend (shut up, it could happen) has announced a one night only standup show in Sydney next fortnight. Tickets go on sale this Friday. Please remain calm. McHale is best known for his role as Jeff Winger in Community, a sitcom that people apparently feel quite strongly about (#sixseasonsandamovie). He's also hosted pop culture current affairs program The Soup on E! since 2004 and last year headlined the White House Correspondents Dinner. Admittedly, he also had a role in Spy Kids 4D — but then again, nobody's perfect. At this stage there's no indication that McHale will perform any additional dates or locations. Image: Frank Ockenfels.
Guillaume Brahimi may well be Australia's busiest man. Only months after taking over the dining room at Paddington's Four In Hand, Brahimi is back at it again, announcing he'll be opening Bistro Guillaume in Sydney's CBD next month. As well as The Four in Hand, Brahimi currently runs his namesake restaurant Guillaume, also in Paddington. But this new CBD resto — which was announced towards the end of last year — steps away from fine dining, and will be a new iteration of his flagship French bistro enterprise, Bistro Guillaume. This will be his third bistro (the other two are located in Melbourne and Perth), and will see him serve up a classic, protein-heavy French menu with a dessert offering that will bring a happiness tear to your eye. Located in the Suncorp Building on George Street, the new Bistro G will continue the trend established by it's predecessors. The restaurants are known for their use of playful textures and pops of vibrant green to offset the old-world luxury oozing from every sconce, and this one will follow suit along with some unique touches from Sydney interior designer Blainey North. At the moment the only clue pointing to the restaurant's look is an image of the signage in silver instead of the iconic green. The venue is set to open in August, so for now we can only speculate wildly about colour schemes. Bistro Guillaume Sydney is set to open in August in the Suncorp Building at 259 George Street, Sydney. Keep checking back for updates closer to the launch.
Earlier this year we wondered what strange muralist vista would emerge when the winner of the Brad Robson Mural competition saw the last lick of paint applied to their wall. Now we know. Local artist Robson was at the time recently returned from a residency in New York, and generously offered to paint up one winning Concrete Playground reader's home with a unique design. This one, as is happens. The winner of the competition was Sydneysider Glen Archibald, and it wasn't long ago that Robson got started permanently tarting his place up. The mural went up over the course of two weekends at his inner-city home, and the results, as you can see, are pretty amazing. Robson's work has been on show during Jurassic Lounge, and one of his murals is currently visible at the Hive Bar. And if you want to get a closer work at his wall-free work, you can see some of it on show until December 5 at Platform 72. Definitely more convenient in its Oxford Street premises that the ticket to Brooklyn you'll need to check out Robson's next exhibition. To keep up with Concrete Playground's giveaways keep an eye on our front page and make sure you've subscribed to our Sydney newsletter.
There are few greater, more indulgent and Instagrammable weekend things to do than kicking back with a bubbly and judgementally watching dachshunds parade around in lifeguard costumes in a pub beer garden. Are there? Holler if so. But this is an actual thing you can do in Sydney, and could quite possibly be the greatest date idea you'll see today. Back by popular demand (of course it is) for a special Mardi Gras edition, the Beresford Dog Show is taking over the leafy Beresford courtyard with an afternoon of games, entertainment and a big ol' dog show. Aside from pups to pat and prizes to be given freely, there'll be bacon and egg rolls and coffee on offer — to complete the powerful triumvirate of requirements for a damn nec-level Sunday. Plus, there'll be a marketplace with stalls from Pup N Pussy, Monika's Doggie Rescue and more serving up tasty treats, funky toys and designer accessories. Entry is free, and registrations commence at 10am. If you can think of a more adorable thing to do on Sunday please let us know. No really. Comments are right there and no one is stopping you from holding a ferret festival.
It's the story of 82-year-old Ruth Flowers (aka DJ Mamy Rock) that helps form the basis of Lachlan Philpott's new play, M.Rock. After attending her grandson's birthday bash at a nightclub in London, Ruth took a liking to the DJ scene. Up until her recent passing, DJ Mamy Rock was releasing dance floor club hits like 'Still Rocking' and '69' and performing in late-night venues all over the world (even in Australia). In M.Rock, Philpott (Silent Disco, Truck Stop) and director Fraser Corfield start with a more Australian premise. Tracy (Clementine Mills) is an 18-year-old school-leaver whose gap year in Europe just turned sour. After she runs into trouble in Berlin and misses her flight home, Tracy's grandma — the knitting, piano-playing Mabel (Valerie Bader) — comes to the rescue and stumbles on a new nightlife hobby in the process. M.Rock is a testament to the fact that it's never too late to become a shades-on-always type of show-stopping DJ. Dance floors don't discriminate.
Sydney yacht rock dudes The Holidays will play a string of huge shows around Australia, following on from their wildly successful album release tour in March. Filling out venues from Sydney's Metro Theatre, Melbourne's Hi-Fi to Brisbane's Alhambra Lounge with hyped up Sydney electronic producer Thief, the threesome will also stop by Newcastle's Bar on the Hill on campus with indie pop maestro Pluto Jonze, Wollongong's Uni Bar with Sydney garage ratbags Step-Panther. The new Groupie Magazine-presented dates coincide with the release of third single 'Tongue Talk', taken from the outfit's super pop-fuelled second album Real Feel. Tickets on sale Wednesday 14 May, with more details on The Holidays' Facebook page. https://youtube.com/watch?v=aiHQLvAu2lg
Veganism is no longer a fad. One of your friends is probably vegan. Vegan eateries run rife throughout Sydney, no longer restricted to Newtown's King Street. With ethical concerns, breaking news stories about farming atrocities and climate change giving people more and more reasons to change their eating habits, there's a been a considerable rise in vegetarians and vegans — often meaning more likeminded buddies to survive pot luck dinner parties with. More and more people are 'waking up' to the realities of food production, primarily through reading Jonathan Safran Foer and watching groundbreaking, important documentaries like Food Inc. But this abrasive, slapped face strategy can turn a lot of potential vegans off. Marking its Australian premiere at a special Sydney event this Saturday, feature documentary 'Live and Let Live' attempts to enlighten without frightening; a thorough examination of our relationship with animals, the history of veganism and the reasons people go vegan (whether ethical, environmental or health-related). Produced by Marc Pierschel, the documentary checks in with six individuals who have decided to stop eating animals or animal products for their own reasons and assesses how veganism has impacted their lives. In addition to the premiere screening of 'Live and Let Live' guest speakers Dr Glenn Singleman (professional basejumper and doco maker) and psychologist Clare Mann will dig into the film's core topics. Sydney blues and roots festival favourite Jasmine Beth will revisit tracks from her eponymous EP in a smoky-voiced acoustic set, ahead of her first full-length album due for release later this year. There'll be tasty vegan treats on offer, including faux bacon, vegan chocolate, new types of vegan cheeses, aromatic herbal teas and a plant milk bar. And to top things off you can wander through art installations and bid in the silent auction aiding Peanuts Funny Farm Animal Sanctuary. https://youtube.com/watch?v=10MK7v6Mhjc
If ever your heart could be hugged by a live show, Tiny Ruins will leave yours well and truly cuddled. Following the release of their enchanting folk release Brightly Painted One, the native New Zealanders will head to Australia to crank out their softly spoken repertoire in a national tour. As well as giving their newest album a big ol' run around, Tiny Ruins will revisit tunes from their 2010 release Some Were Meant for Sea as well as their 2013 EP Haunts. Expanding her solo flight into a touring trio, Tiny Ruins' Hollie Fullbrook now hangs with bassist Cass Basil and drummer Alexander Freer as a trio. The threesome haven't had a holiday for quite some time, touring for the past few years through Australia, Europe and the US in highly coveted support slots for Fleet Foxes, Beach House, Joanna Newsom and Father John Misty to name a few. But now's no time for Tiny vacationing, with a national tour ready to kick off this July. The NZ folksters have plenty of Aussie radio feature albums, festival slots and critical accolades under their belts and have been gaining traction over the past few years with folk lovers worldwide. But Tiny Ruins are no stage hogs, inviting their buds Shining Bird and Aldous Harding along for the ride this time. Sydney favourites Shining Bird have spent the last year gaining high fives Australia-wide after the release of their debut album Leisure Coast gained the crew some serious festival appearances. Shining Bird aren't dudes to waste a touring opp, combining their support spot with their brand new 7" single. Aldous Harding is one of those Kiwi musical talents we'll casually be calling our own in a few years. You may not have heard much from her yet, but this Christchurch folk queen is just about to drop her debut album and counts this support slot on her first tour of Australia. Be sure to check her out — by all accounts, she's killin' it across the Tasman. Her self-titled debut so far has just the one single, 'Hunter', with the rest to be released on July 25. These shows are sure to be a very chilled affair — perfect for red wine, big jumpers and melodious swaying. Words by Shannon Connellan and Meg Watson. https://youtube.com/watch?v=jnqc4falhGk
2013 is the year organisers were promising Future be their "biggest festival lineup yet", and after rifling through the massive line-up pinata, it seems they have indeed delivered. After an already big 2012 outing, Future Entertainment has topped that with a bill straddling nearly every sub-genre of pop or dance, ensuring they'll draw not only a larger but a more diverse crowd. 2013's Day of the Dead-Set Awesome will be headlined by English electronic dance commanders The Prodigy, grime MC Dizzee Rascal, indie rockers Bloc Party and reformed rockers The Stone Roses, making it more of a Brit-fest than a Mexican one. Other exciting acts joining the bill include Harlem femcee Azealia Banks, Rita Ora, electro house mainstay Steve Aoki and our own The Temper Trap. And PSY will also be there, just in case you feel like contracting a South Korean virus without actually paying for a ticket to his own upcoming show. Thanks to the Jack Daniel's Barrel House, we have a double GA pass (valued at $350) to the Future Music Festival to give away. To go in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au.
GRAPHIC Festival — with its melange of comics, animation, illustration, music, multimedia and storytelling — puts on some of the most new and daring events in the country. In past years, the program has included Gotye's live animated album preview for Making Mirrors and Elefant Traks' Dr Seuss-inspired concert. The headliners are here in abundance in 2013, and they're mainly drawn (ha) from the world of comics. The man most credited with introducing comics as a 'serious' medium and Pulitzer Prize winner for Holocaust-themed Maus, Art Spiegelman, will present a hybrid of slides, talk and music in a performance specially commissioned for the festival. The event, called WORDLESS!, will see Spiegelman share his own history while expounding on the depth comics are capable of. The writer and cartoonist sneaks so much emotion and revelation into humble, scratchy packaging that this special, premiere event should be no less than spectacular. Sydney-based New Yorker Phillip Johnston provides the music, bringing his experience scoring silent films such as The Adventures of Prince Achmed to Spiegelman's inspiring imagery. Art Spiegelman's WORDLESS! with Music by Phillip Johnston in on at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, on Saturday, 5 October. Thanks to the Sydney Opera House, we have three double passes to giveaway. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
The two shows on now at Stills Gallery are by established, mature photographers creating their own dreamworlds and representing fantasy and identity in ways that provoke enthusiasm as childlike as their mysterious subjects and a Lacanian freak-out. Mark Kimber's All That Glisters series is framed in smoothly finished black and mounted deep under immaculate glass. The 40x40 prints themselves are of — deep breath — seagoing outer-space rock-star Victoriana collectibles in diorama. They're shiny, with little glitter-encrusted gold men in them and glossy fires and glassy waters in the tableaux, light reflecting off the hermetically encapsulated domes. It's like he's made snow globes of images from exploits imagined for a grown-up future then photographed them in a grown-up way, making fun of the images but preserving them as complete and inviolable. Inscrutable rather than impenetrable, the creature-masked children of Between Worlds almost seem to be superimposed on Polixeni Papapetrou's crisply coloured landscapes. Captured in motion, engrossed in an adventure, the pictures' ornately vintage-costumed inhabitants don't evade or deflect scrutiny but seem unaware of it. The larger-proportioned animal heads situate them in a 105x105 fairytale and subvert the usually authoritative gaze of the observer. Stuck in the Symbolic order, the viewer is confronted with a staging of Imaginary they may conceive of but cannot properly enter. It's beautiful, but a bit like not being invited to play.
Future Music have popped the line-up piñata, revealing what they promised would be their "biggest festival lineup yet". 2013's Day of the Dead-Set Awesome will be headlined by English electronic dance commanders The Prodigy, grime MC Dizzee Rascal, indie rockers Bloc Party and reformed rockers The Stone Roses, making it more of a Brit-fest than a Mexican one. Other exciting acts joining the bill include Harlem femcee Azealia Banks, Rita Ora, electro house mainstay Steve Aoki and our own The Temper Trap. Having set the standard with 2012's hefty bill, the Future Music organisers have really confirmed the festival's pulling power this time around. And PSY will also be there, just in case you feel like contracting a South Korean virus without actually paying for a ticket to his own upcoming show. Future Music Festival 2013 dates: Brisbane – Saturday March 2 Perth – Sunday March 3 Sydney – Saturday March 9 Melbourne – Sunday March 10 Adelaide – Monday March 11 https://youtube.com/watch?v=i3Jv9fNPjgk
Do you enjoy open-air cinema, a few coldies and good company? We certainly do and we want you to join us. It was only a matter of time before we sought out such activity and we're in luck. Let us present to you Summer Movie Nights at the Beresford. Every Monday from October 2012 through to March 2013, the Beresford are inviting you to free screenings of cult, rom-com and comedy classics. Set in the venue's outdoor courtyard, we're most certainly feeling the joy of the cinema outdoors. During the featured film (7 – 9pm) you can also snag $15 pasta dishes and $5 Heinekens. Yes please. And for all those 'tache fiends out there, we'd definitely recommend heading the Beresford's way for their own version of Movember. With a line up including Brewster's Millions, Shaft, The Artist and The Bird Cage we wish you a joyous time gazing at the upper lip art on the leading men in these films. Visit the Beresford’s website for monthly screenings.
Those masters of dark yet joyful surf rock are back with a one more album and one less band member. After weathering a near-breakup, this newly downsized dup are returning to Australia for a full national tour to usher in the lazy summer months. If one thing's for sure, fans will get something different from what they've seen before. The band's new album Encyclopedia is a blunter, simpler take on their classic sound. The Drums' own brand of misanthropy is more persistent and when paired with their characteristic whistling and hand clapping give the band a new eerie quality. In the face of original member Connor Hanwick's desertion earlier in the year and a fan base that seems to have gradually forgotten their favourite kings of the summer roadtrip soundtrack, The Drums have come back with a new kind of emotion behind the same sound. Get set for a new incarnation of The Drums, clapping their hands and shaking their fists. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nWc4mZoGK2k
In breaking-stop-everything-tell-your-friends news, The Barber Shop is making things a little more extravagant for the single gentlemen of Sydney. Australia’s first barber shop/bar and the 2014 Bartender Awards' Bar Operator of the Year, the Barber Shop has teamed up with Chivas to celebrate their very first birthday, and the romantic among you reap all the rewards. If you take a Tinder date to the party, you'll get a free cheese board. FREE. CHEESE. BOARD. Part of a flurry of birthday pampering options created especially for the occasion by Chivas and the Barber Shop — whisky tasting flights, cocktail-paired haircuts, hot shaves, face scrubs, acid jazz — the bar has created a special menu for the second half of the evening: over 40 gins to choose from, sharing plates by David O'Brien (ex-Merivale). But the pièce de résistance for us? When you're booking your table, tell 'em you'll be on a Tinder date and they'll throw in a cheese board for zilch — served with cornichons and baguette. But hold up. There are a few factors at play here, most only dependent on how much you care about strangers' opinions of you. Firstly, if you get a cheese board without being on a Tinder date, you're going to look like you're on a Tinder date anyway; a kind of Scarlet Letter sitch where you're branded with the cheese plate. So if you're one to get shuffly about everyone knowing you're on a Tinder date, maybe take it to Shady Pines for the free peanuts. Next, are you going on Tinder to specifically to get a free cheese board? In which case, should you be up front with your date about this? Should you be changing your profile deets to not mislead poor, innocent Tinder users who thought you were here because you liked their holiday selfie? You monster, using people for delicious, delicious cheese. This is serious, people. If you're going to score a free cheese board, you'd better know what's up or innocent people are going to get hurt. Don't run any birthdays now. Find The Barber Shop at 89 York Street, Sydney. The birthday sitch? The Chivas Ultimate package is $125 and includes Chivas signature cocktail, haircut, hot towel shave, face scrub and Chivas Whisky Tasting Flight (12yr, 18yr and 25 yr). The Chivas Experience is slightly less at $98 and includes Chivas signature cocktail, haircut, and hot towel shave. (All appointments from 2pm receive complimentary White Rabbit White/Dark Ale, MOAR freebies). Bookings essential via 9299 9699 (or website). And remember to tell them it's a Tinder date if you're after that cheese board.
Have you ever felt the urge to cover a yacht in mirror tiles? Artists Zoe Walker and Neil Bromwich did, and the result was the boat Celeste. The pair have sailed this mirror-ball vessel along the British coast, collecting and transmitting local sounds along the way from the boat itself. The boat for the Sydney incarnation of Celestial Radio is newly made — Celestra is doing the sailing duties — but its sister vessel's modus operandi remains intact. Taking inspiration from pirate radio of the 60s, the artistic pair have put music from Sydney musician James Brown together with Sydney sounds and words into an hour's loop of radio, broadcast from the yacht 24 hours on 95.9FM. During the day the yacht will flit between bridge and Opera House, occasionally brushing up to the MCA itself to schedule, reflecting Sydney back to itself in borrowed light and sound. Visitors without radios can borrow FM headsets from the Celestial Radio booth outside the MCA. A film on the adventures of the Celeste off the Isle of Skye will be screened at the MCA the night of March 29.
This weekend you’re in for quite a treat. Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well is coming to Sydney directly from Britain’s National Theatre. The screenings are part of a new initiative called NT Live, which sees theatrical treasures beamed around the world in high definition. Alas the ‘live’ component isn’t exactly true of the Sydney screenings* â€" the production was filmed on October 1st â€" but the experience certainly evokes the dynamism of a performance captured live. The event begins with an introduction to this, the pilot season of NT Live. Hoped to be a theatrical/cinematic hybrid that will broaden the appeal and the accessibility of the National Theatre, NT Live then brings you into the wings to meet the play’s director Marianne Elliott. Then, after learning more about the play and the history of the National Theatre itself, it’s on with the show. 
All’s Well That Ends Well is not one of Shakespeare’s best-known works. And this probably heightens the cinematic adventure of NT Live, as you discover this wonderful play in a new way. The story of fearless and love struck Helena, who goes to great lengths to win the affections of a haughty Count, All’s Well That Ends Well sees Shakespeare toying with the tropes of folklore and fable. Elliot’s direction and Rae Smith’s gorgeous costume and production design certainly heighten this fairytale atmosphere, with Helena even donning a red cloak as she sets off to win her man. Adapting to Robin Lough’s screen direction is at first a curious experience. For audiences so used to taking in the entire stage, the close ups and framing might at first seem jarring, but much like Shakespeare’s mellifluous language, the live editing takes on a rhythm of its own. With wonderful performances, brilliant banter and a lot of laughs, All’s Well That Ends Well is well worth a trip to the cinema. * All’s Well That Ends Well will also be screening this weekend at the Hayden Orpheum and the Dendy Opera Quays. Click on the links for booking details. https://youtube.com/watch?v=BTGXH1Y-PTA
Believe it or not, it's been 14 years since Stephenie Meyer's vampire romance saga first hit the big screen — and since tweens across the globe collectively fell in love with Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, too. The pair's careers have rocketed since, with KStew hopping between everything from Clouds of Sils Maria and Personal Shopper to Charlie's Angels and Spencer, and RPatz going from The Rover and Good Time to Tenet and The Batman. They'll always have that undead franchise on their resumes, though. Forgotten what the five vamp films are like? Love them and want to see them on a big screen again? Just adore movie marathons in general? Whatever reason you have, the Twilight Saga Movie Marathon wants you to sink your fans in. Stewart, Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and all-star supporting cast that spans Dakota Fanning, Anna Kendrick, Michael Sheen and Bryce Dallas Howard will all feature on Saturday, August 6 as the five blockbusters hit the silver screen once more at Sydney's Palace Chauvel Cinema. Tickets cost $30, and the lengthy journey of glorious supernatural light-erotica will kick off at 6.30pm as Bella lands in Forks, Washington in the original Twilight film. From there, it's all love triangles, revengeful vampires, and half-human babies as New Moon, Eclipse and the two-part Breaking Dawn features run back-to-back.
Campfire Collective is a boutique arts production group, and they’re sticklers for doing things properly. That means they make new stuff happen that otherwise just wouldn't exist — switched-on, intelligent, DIY kind of stuff. Lately, they've curated a season of Late Night Library, organised a bunch of alternative stand-up comedy nights, and hosted storytelling workshops for writers and performers to hone their skills. Now they're turning over the stage to you. Forget that it's in a library; Bites After Work is a night where real people tell real stories around the proverbial campfire. The collective will also share their own last-minute tips, techniques and tricks to help you tell your story. It's free, but book online or call 8512 4250.
Red envelopes and firecrackers are strewing the streets of Chinatown, bowls of incense and fruit are lining the front of your favourite Chinese diner, and before you can say kung hei fat choi (Chinese for 'happy new year'), there's a lion dancing in your doorway. This is the year of the snake, a sign of introspection and intuitiveness but also stylishness and exceptional good taste — Jessica Mauboy, David Wenham, and Audrey Hepburn are just a few of the characters born under it. Whether you're keen as a cracker to cheer on the parade floats, dying to slip on your glad rags for the jazzy Dragon Ball, or just want to gorge yourself on a Lunar Feast, you'll find it on our list of top ten things to do during Chinese New Year 2013.
Over the past decade, Melbourne's Chin Chin has well and truly earned a spot among the city's food institutions. Now, it's celebrating turning the big one-zero in style with an extended spread of tasty birthday festivities — both in its hometown and at its Sydney sibling restaurant. Here, it all kicks off on Monday, June 7, when the restaurant fires up for the spice-fuelled Chilli Inferno dinner, matching inventive plates like seafood pad khaprao and a pork belly dry red curry with a special curation of cooling cocktails, beer and wine. On Tuesday, June 8, plant-based feast The Garden of Eatin' serves up a meat-free spread of bold southeast Asian fare with matched drinks, while Wednesday, June 9 sees Chin Chin Executive Chef Benjamin Cooper treat diners to his ultimate dinner — featuring a parade of boundary-pushing dishes that never made it onto the menu. And on Thursday, June 10, Sydneysiders are invited to one heck of a wrap party, starring a roll call of Chin Chin's favourite collaborators from across the years. Expect a night of high-energy celebrations, complete with tunes and artistic delights from the likes of Estée Louder, DJ Sveta and I Am Offerings, plus a food and cocktail lineup heroing some of Chin Chin's best-loved flavours. Tickets to each of the four events are $165 per person each and they're expected to sell out fast. Book yours by heading online.
How better to experience the fun, food and festivities of Chinese New Year, than on the back of a rickshaw? This year, Sydney's 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art is celebrating the annual cultural extravaganza with Rickshaw Tales, a series of rickshaw food tours, which'll see punters jump aboard their artist-commissioned vehicle for a roving foodie fest through Haymarket. Local multidisciplinary Chinese-Australian artist Louise Zhang is the talent behind the rickshaw's visually-arresting get-up, with her candy-coloured globular painting and sculpture style suggestive of vibrant Asian desserts and sweets. The highly visible rickshaw will be doing tours for two people at a time on weekends and Thursday nights across the CNY festival, from January 28 through to Tuesday, February 14, when they'll do a special Valentine's Day tour. For a very reasonable $33 per person, riders will be pedalled around Chinatown in style with commentary by 4A Director Mikala Tai via video. Participants will gain a swag of insight into the area's culinary offerings, with the ticket price inclusive of snacks at each restaurant, café, and hole-in-the-wall they stop at along the way. Prefer to experience it all on foot? Rickshaw Tales will also host a series of small group walking tours for $22, guided by 4A's team of Chinatown experts. Either way, you better get booking — the rickshaw rides will no doubt be snapped up quicker than a dozen Emperor Puffs. 4A's Rickshaw Tales tours will take place on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and Thursday nights between January 28 and February 14. Book here. Image: Sven Scheuermeier.
Initiated by Sydney Institute students and presented by A Series of Fortunate Events, Bizarre Bazaar has a cult following of style-conscious Sydneysiders. The twilight fashion market reclaims a Sydney laneway (or, on colder occasions, an indoor space) on odd Thursday eves to showcase the quirky garments and new collections of numerous local designers, including ATAT, Moons of Apollo, Roger and Peach, Blessed are the Meek and Auckland Stockholm. Bizarre Bazaar also plays host to pop-up bars, meaning that you can pick up a bevvy after pawing over discounted threads and channelling Patsy Stone in the free photo booth. So break open your piggy bank and bring your designer dreams to the latest Bizarre Bazaar location, if for no other reason than to collect your free goody bag and chill out to crispy beats.
Having been a constant presence on Pittwater Road for nearly ten years, White House Flowers was a Manly institution. It recently moved to Brookvale, with founder Kye Carqueville passing the reins over to Mel Anderson and Jess Hapl. It's hard to miss, with vibrant bunches of flowers spilling from the store's interior onto the pavement outside. The team favours slipper orchids, ranunculus, and hydrangeas, but are always experimenting and exploring new palettes and designs. You'll want to have these blooms in your house at all times.
A new all-day cafe has just popped up on Oxford Street with a dreamy pastel interior and a line-up of Italian eats. To celebrate its opening and the co-owner's birthday, Poppy Planet is giving away free coffee all month. All you have to do is head inside and mention the phrase 'Happy Birthday' when ordering your coffee and you'll be treated to your caffeine fix free of charge. Along with your free coffee, feel free to pick up one of the cafe's tasty brekkie items including zucchini fritters, granola in a cup and a stacked bacon and egg roll, or come back for dinner where you'll find a range of antipasti, pasta and spritzes. The free coffee promotion is limited to one per person so choose which day you're in need of a free coffee pick-me-up carefully, just make sure you take advantage of the promotion before the end of this month.
If it weren't for the spellbinding work of Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle), the artistry and sheer beauty of anime may never have received the global recognition it so sorely deserves. And while the fantastical world of EVANGELION is yet to gain Miyazaki levels of cinematic attention, it has managed to garner the sort of cult following of which only sci-fi fans appear to be capable. It's story about a 14-year-old boy taking on intergalactic aliens with the help of a giant, piloted robotic humanoid, makes it easy to see why the mere utterance of the word "Evangelion" tends to have comic book fans frothing at the mouth. For a unique insight into how these hand-drawn masterpieces become silver screen magic check out the Evangelion Art Exhibition, which drops into Sydney soon, and Melbourne later this month. With an amazing collection of original production art, character drawings, tapestries, books and filmic artifacts, this unique exhibition will take you behind-the-scenes into the mysterious world of Japanese animation and the far-out universe that is Evangelion. Get your hands on a copy of EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE or EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE if you want to find out what the fuss is all about. The Evangelion Art exhibition is open 11-4, Monday to Saturday.
If laughter is the best medicine, why are doctors and pharmacists still allowed to practise their quackery? Surely I can limp my broken leg into David O'Doherty's show and, with the final pants-saturating guffaw, dance about in the aisle like a Southern revivalist on ice? The day that Des Bishop banters about the craic in his spiritual homeland is the day I regenerate my crystallised kidney and you can bet I'll be happy for it. So, when the laugh clinic hits Sydney next year, expect a mass healing greater than anything provided by Dr Jesus. Whether its groin pimples cured by Jason Byrne, or Dom Irrera's sure-fire lung cleanser, you will go home happy from this Festival. And if you don't, Shane Mauss will inject you with his own brand of "shut up and stop whining" that will guarantee no-one will ever have to hear about how sick you are, ever again. Though, maybe go see a doctor before spreading your communicable filth at the Opening Night. Just in case.Image by Julia Andersonhttps://youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0LhopENCg
