R18+
Presented as a part of FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL AUSTRALIA 2024. Shy and looking for love, Mark becomes smitten with the outgoing and mysterious Ash, who, much to his surprise, reciprocates the attraction. As his feelings for her intensify, so does his unexpected submersion into Ash’s biggest fixation: the wild world of mukbanging. And with it, lots of bloodshed. A dash of Jennifer's Body, a twist of Scott Pilgrim, and a pinch of Pearl are the tasting notes for this knockout indie rom-com turned gonzo exploitation horror by first-timer Aimee Kuge. Carried by a razor-sharp script, palpable chemistry between its lead performers, and enough blood and bone to make a butcher blush, Cannibal Mukbang is a deviant delight and certainly one of the most unhinged love stories ever set to celluloid.
R18+
Presented as part of FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL AUSTRALIA 2024. In a barren dystopia, scientist Sterling Pierce has dedicated his life to the quest for immortality, slowly creating the building blocks of a groundbreaking serum named ‘Divinity’. His son Jaxxon (Stephen Dorff) now controls and manufactures his father's once-benevolent dream, and is developing plans to commercialise the drug, causing horrible ramifications for humanity. That is, until two cosmic brothers crash into the decaying Earth to abduct Jaxxon and put a stop to his monstrous scheme. Written and directed by Eddie Alcazar, produced by Steven Soderbergh (Solaris) and gorgeously shot on 16mm black and white reversal film, Divinity is a mind-melting retro-futurist experience like no other. Featuring an eclectic ensemble cast that includes Stephen Dorff, former teen star Bella Thorne (The DUFF), four-time Mr. Universe champion Michael O'Hearn, TV star Karrueche Tran (TNT's Claws) and contemporary adult film performer Emily Willis. This future cult classic must be seen to be believed.
R18+
Presented as part of FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL AUSTRALIA 2024 In the 23rd century, a private detective and her android partner are hired by a wealthy businessman to hunt down an infamous cybernetics hacker. On Mars, they venture deep into the heart of the planet's capital, discovering a web of intrigue involving brain farms, corruption and a girl's disappearance that may reveal a truth about robots that could revolutionize society. Mars Express fuses the science fiction neon noir of Blade Runner with the sleek animation of mind melters like Ghost in the Shell and Paprika to reach for new philosophical insight into our relationship with technology, without ever compromising the excitement of its race-against-the-clock pacing. Presented in French with English Subtitles.
MA15+
30th Anniversary screening presented as part of FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL AUSTRALIA 2024 Revheads, hot roads and satanic mysticism coarse through the mean streets of the Melbourne suburb of Altona in this singularly dark Australian thriller. Joe, a timid teenager grappling with the challenges of caring for his ailing father, finds solace in his obsession with petrol-guzzling muscle cars. Joe worships his best mate and fellow gearhead Dazey (a young Ben Mendelsohn), whose womanising ways have strained his romance with Roslyn. Joe’s bleak worldview begins to expand when he falls for the devil-worshipping mystic Savina. But it is Dazey that Savina truly desires, entwining the fates of all four on a journey destined for tragedy. This breathtaking new 2K restoration awakens the complex depths of director Geoffrey Wright’s follow-up to the classic Romper Stomper, breathing new life into its gritty aesthetic and revolutionary editing techniques, and making it ripe for rediscovery and a cult classic of cinematic grime."
R18+
Presented as part of FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL AUSTRALIA 2024. Jessica is on the run. Scrounging for her next meal whilst dodging the authorities who are hot on her tail, her life has been ripped from her for reasons she cannot fully comprehend. All she knows is that she has to make it to the Canadian border to regain some form of freedom. On the other side is Elsa, a ‘fixer’ operating in a legal grey zone, tasked with hunting down Jessica. As the pursuit tightens, a horrific truth is revealed, and the stakes of their inevitable confrontation become greater than either of them could have ever imagined. A powerhouse thriller that begins as a classic game of cat and mouse, only for the rug to be pulled from underneath us as it shifts into jaw dropping, unexpected territory, keeping us on the edge of our seats as its many layers begin to peel away. New Life is a blazing debut from John Rosman, who treats us to a fresh, commanding and unforgettable chase film of world-ending proportions.
M
Unknown Pleasures presents: FLAUSFILM, a collage-documentary celebration of Australia's film culture giant John Flaus, as he is about to turn 90. Q&A with Peter Tammer (director) and Kit Guyatt (editor, direct from NSW), moderated by Bill Mousoulis (programmer). We present a newly Restored HD version of legendary indie filmmaker Peter Tammer's documentary film FLAUSFILM (2009, 99 mins). John Flaus was born on April 17, 1934, so on the eve of his 90th birthday, we will present FLAUSFILM, an incredibly valuable documentation of Flaus mainly from the '80s to the early '90s, with the filmmaker having access to many private moments, and with many clips from films Flaus has been in. John Flaus' body of work is extraordinary - film criticism (including co-hosting Film Buff's Forecast on 3RRR-FM), acting (in many feature and short films from the late '60s to the late '10s), script editing, teaching, poetry, anarchist advocacy, and he has always been up for a Socratic yarn. He is a much loved figure in Australian film culture, for many years now. Presented by Unknown Pleasures, a series of screenings curated by Chris Luscri & Bill Mousoulis, featuring the best of Australian indie cinema, both new and old, with discussions with the filmmakers. LINK – www.pureshitauscinema.com/unknown_pleasures.html
M
GAZA takes us to a unique place beyond the reach of television news reports to reveal a world rich with eloquent and resilient characters, offering us a cinematic and enriching portrait of a people that are determined to lead meaningful lives against the rubble of perennial conflict. This film was produced prior to the 2024 conflict. TPH will be making a donation to OLIVE KIDS following our limited season of this film. OLIVE KIDS is a Melbourne based charity improving the lives of Palestinian children.
M
Follow breadcrumbs scattered by Girls, Frances Ha and every modern story about friendships between creative women, and they'll eventually lead to Girlfriends, Claudia Weill's directorial debut from 1978. Co-written by Vicki Polon, it stars Melanie Mayron as Susan Weinblatt, who has a perfect face and spends her days shooting bar mitzvahs and waiting for her big, artistic break in late-'70s New York City. When her best friend and roommate, Anne (Anita Skinner), a writer, gets married and moves out of their apartment, Susan searches for ways to repair her loneliness. She meets Eric (a hunky young Christopher Guest), grows close to Rabbi Aaron Gold (Eli Wallach), brings home a hitchhiker named Ceil (Amy Wright) and tries to bridge the distance by spending time upstate with Anne and her husband, Martin (Bob Balaban). A film about friendship, making art and platonic love, Girlfriends is so much more than the sum of its parts and a tidy plot summary. Join Kate Jinx and Brodie Lancaster, the hosts of the weekly pop culture conversation podcast SEE ALSO, for a post-film chat about this rarely seen, deeply loved classic.
MA15+
Nominated for best international feature at the 2024 Academy Awards, Director Matteo Garrone (Gomorrah) has crafted a suspenseful contemporary odyssey, offering a perspective far removed from the images we are used to seeing in the Western media. At its heart is a captivating performance from newcomer Seydou Sarr. Io Capitano is the epic story of two teenagers, Seydou and Moussa, who decide to leave Dakar, Senegal and make their way to Europe. They do this secretly, although they are repeatedly warned about the arduous journey. The dream of becoming rich and famous as a musician in Europe is too enticing. But their journey is not as easy as they imagined and they are quickly confronted with horror: the obstacles of the Sahara, the horrors of detention centres in Libya and the perils of the open sea.
PGMild fantasy themes, animated violence and occasional coarse language
Follow Po on his wide-eyed adventures in ancient China, whose love of kung fu is matched only by an insatiable appetite.
MA15+Strong horror themes
IN CINEMA Q&A WITH THE DIRECTORS - SATURDAY 13TH APRIL, 6PM. TICKETS ON SALE NOW. A live television broadcast in 1977 goes horribly wrong, unloosing evil into the nation's living rooms. 31 October 1977. Johnny Carson rival, Jack Delroy, is the host of ‘Night Owls’, a once hugely popular syndicated talk show. A year on from the tragic death of Jack’s wife, ratings have plummeted, and sponsors are getting nervous. Desperate to turn his fortunes around, Jack pulls out all the stops for his annual Halloween special, booking a psychic, a professional skeptic, a parapsychologist, and a young girl allegedly possessed by the devil... What could possibly go wrong? Colin and Cameron Cairnes dove into footage of veterans like Carson, David Letterman, Don Lane and Dick Cavett to ensure Late Night With the Devil captures the flavour of the era’s iconic late-night broadcasts. Presented as a lost recording of a fateful episode, this deviously fun twist on the genre features a standout leading turn from David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight; Dune) and a cast that includes Fayssal Bazzi (Measure for Measure) and Laura Gordon (Undertow).
MA15+Strong themes, violence, injury detail, sex scenes and coarse language
From Director Rose Glass comes an electric new love story and revenge thriller; reclusive gym manager Lou (Kristen Stewart) falls hard for Jackie (Katy O'Brian) an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family. Sexy, violent and doesn't let you go.
MA15+Strong bloody violence
Oscar® nominee Dev Patel (Lion, Slumdog Millionaire) achieves an astonishing, tour-de-force feature directing debut with an action thriller about one man’s quest for vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless. Inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage, Monkey Man stars Patel as Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash. After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him. Packed with thrilling and spectacular fight and chase scenes, Monkey Man is directed by Dev Patel from his original story and his screenplay with Paul Angunawela and John Collee (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World).
PGMild coarse language and nudity
Winner Best Actor 2023 Cannes Film Festival After several years away from the silver screen, Wim Wenders (The Salt of the Earth, Perth Festival 2015) is back with a poignant character study and a deeply moving, poetic reflection on finding beauty in the everyday world around us. Set in Tokyo, Perfect Days follows Hirayama (Kôji Yakusho in a Cannes Best Actor Award-winning role), a meticulous man of routine who seems to find joy in his job as a toilet cleaner. He speaks very little but has a great passion for music, books and the trees he loves to photograph. He drives to work in his minivan, fully equipped with his cleaning gear, while The Rolling Stones, Patti Smith or Lou Reed ring in ageless, husky hums from a tape player. As if in search of a new cinema on the road, Wenders follows his protagonist and instead discovers new places of the heart. Through Yakusho/Hirayama, Wenders captures the poetry of the everyday with intimacy and stunning simplicity. Filled with surprising delight, and with a soaring lead performance by Yakusho, Perfect Days is a gentle, inspirational ode to simple but profound pleasures.
CTC
Reel Rock is coming to Australia and New Zealand in April 2024! Immerse yourself in four gripping new climbing films from across the globe: a visionary first ascent on Japan’s mythical Mt. Mizugaki; a climbing community held together in war-torn Ukraine; a treacherous free ascent of Jirishanca in the Peruvian Andes; and an exploration of Mallorca’s deep-water soloing. Reel Rock 18 is presented by The North Face and supported by Black Diamond
CTC
On March 28th 2023, legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away after his struggle against cancer. In the years leading up to his death, Sakamoto could no longer perform live. Single concerts, not to mention sprawling global tours, were too taxing. Despite this, in late 2022, Sakamoto mustered all of his energy to leave the world with one final performance: a concert film, featuring just him and his piano.
PGMild science fiction violence.
A very rare chance that this film has been made available by LUCAS FILMS for a theatrical screening! Come and experience it on the big screen with us! The adventure continues in this "Star Wars" sequel. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) face attack by the Imperial forces and its AT-AT walkers on the ice planet Hoth. While Han and Leia escape in the Millennium Falcon, Luke travels to Dagobah in search of Yoda. Only with the Jedi master's help will Luke survive when the dark side of the Force beckons him into the ultimate duel with Darth Vader (David Prowse).
CTCStrong coarse language
A 1920s English seaside town bears witness to a farcical and occasionally sinister scandal in this riotous mystery comedy. Based on a stranger than fiction true story, WICKED LITTLE LETTERS follows two neighbours: deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). When Edith and fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues. However, as the town’s women - led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) - begin to investigate the crime themselves, they suspect that something is amiss, and Rose may not be the culprit after all.