Bendigo Community Health Services fundraiser for people living with or at risk of homelessness. Lillian Hall, a Broadway actress, has never missed a performance throughout her long, illustrious career. Yet in the rehearsals her confidence is challenged. People and events conspire to take away her ability to do what she loves most.

Bendigo Palliative Care Auxiliary fundrasier. An honest and life-affirming true story of the healing power of the natural world.

Introduced live by producer Sean Branney, with a Making Of featurette and Q+A. A trail of documents about a mysterious cult leads a young scholar into madness and doom. A classic 1926 horror story by H.P. Lovecraft made with wit and verve as a 1920s-style silent movie.

Citizens Against Residential Mining (CARM) fundraiser. “A controversial film that exposes the lies, corruption and incompetence at the heart of mine regulation in Victoria” This engaging, highly informative film is a must see for rural communities seeking to understand the environmental and lifestyle implications of Victoria’s 21st century mining boom! Filmed over three-years, Mine-Field shows how a farming community in East Gippsland fought a ruthless mining company and won. It reveals the devastating impact mining has already had in Bendigo and other Victorian rural communities.

A rich high school student tries to boost a new pupil's popularity, but reckons without affairs of the heart getting in the way.

Dragons Abreast Bendigo fundrasier. An honest and life-affirming true story of the healing power of the natural world.

This is the true story of Frida Kahlo (Salma Hayek) and her husband Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina), the larger-than-life painters who became the most acclaimed artists in Mexican history. Their tempestuous love affair, landmark journeys to America, and outrageous personalities made them legendary.

The film highlights the two sides of Frida Kahlo’s spirit: on one side the revolutionary, pioneering artist of contemporary feminism and on the other, the human being, victim of her tortured body and a tormented relationship. With Asia Argento as narrator, the two faces of the artist will be revealed, by pursuing a common thread consisting of Frida’s own words: letters, diaries and private confessions. The film alternates interviews, with original documents, captivating reconstructions and Frida Kahlo’s own paintings, kept in some of the most amazing museums in Mexico.

Charlie, 20, a student returns to the family farm in Virginia to help his ailing mother. They have a different view of life: Charlie studies finance while Laura runs a chicken farm. After a long absence, Solange, Laura’s mother, Charlie’s grandmother, also arrives at the farm… She’s French, feminist and eccentric. Solange left America while her daughter was still a child and they never saw each other again. Will these three women, whom nothing seems to bring together, manage to live together?

Agathe (Camille Rutherford) is a hopelessly clumsy yet charming young woman who works in the legendary Shakespeare & Co. bookshop in Paris, while she dreams of being a successful writer, and of experiencing love akin to a Jane Austen novel, she finds herself desperately single and plagued by writers block. When Agathe’s best friend (Pablo Pauly) gets her invited to the Jane Austen Writers' Residency in England, she finally has her Jane Austen moment…and is caught in a very unexpected romantic triangle. Agathe must let go of her insecurities to decide what she really wants for herself, and to achieve her romantic and professional dreams.

Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services fundraiser. A #1 NZ smash hit, Tinā (Mother) is a powerful, inspirational crowd pleaser about the healing power of music. Samoan teacher Mareta Percival is struggling following a huge personal loss in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Reluctantly taking on the role of substitute teacher at an elite, wealthy private school - she is surprised to find children crying out for guidance, inspiration and love. Using the symphony of her culture to empower her students, she forms a choir, bringing them together while unexpectedly rediscovering her passion again for being a teacher and mother.

OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean. The celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing. Stunning, immersive cinematography showcases the wonder of life under the seas and exposes the realities and challenges facing our ocean as never-before-seen, from destructive fishing techniques to mass coral reef bleaching. Yet the story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to deliver his greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.

Fiery but feeling his years and his illness, ailing filmmaker Leonard Fife (Richard Gere) wants to tell his life story, unfiltered, before it's too late. As the director of lauded documentary exposés, he has much to be proud of, but his avoidance of the Vietnam War draft and his past relationships harbor thorny truths. Finally choosing to reveal the truth and lies in his life and career, Leonard sits for an extended filmed interview with his former student Malcolm (Michael Imperioli), charging ahead with candid stories about his younger self (Jacob Elordi) in the fractious 1960s and beyond. At Leonard's insistence, his wife and indispensable partner, Emma (Uma Thurman), hears it all. Leonard's successes are held up against his failings--the fibs held up against the facts--and as the man in full is cleansed of the myth, Leonard must confront what is left.

ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO is an expansive and revelatory backstage pass to John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s life in Greenwich Village in the early 1970s. The film delivers an immersive cinematic experience that brings to life never-before-seen material and newly restored footage of their only full-length concert.

Mark runs a pirate radio station and causes an uproar when he speaks his mind and enthralls fellow teens.

Free screening for Refugee Week: Q&A with director Jolyon Hoff, and writer/star Muzafar Ali. Sponsored by City of Greater Bendigo. The Afghan Cameleer Descendants, featured in Watandar, My Countryman are Indigenous, Colonial and Immigrants at the same time. When Muzafar decided to photograph them - in an attempt to understand his own new Afghan-Australian identity - we started filming. His experience as a former Afghan-Hazara refugee, along with his wisdom and charisma, presented a rare opportunity to re-examine Australia’s colonial history. Watandar, My Countryman touches on some of Australia and the world’s biggest geopolitical stories including; the relationship between colonial, ancient and immigrant Australians, our treatment of refugees, the division between the world’s dominant religions, the success and or lack of success of the international forces in Afghanistan, and the power of individuals to create change.

Sponsored by Catholic Care Victoria. SEEN is a groundbreaking feature-length documentary that not only explores the transformative power of personal healing for parents but also delves into the scientifically supported effects of such healing on parenting and its impact on child brain development. By focusing on the unexplored aspect of parents confronting their own childhood coping mechanisms, "SEEN" is poised to fill a significant gap in current narratives. It promises not just compelling storytelling but also the potential for profound societal impact, making it an appealing proposition for those looking to invest in content that drives change. Our vision was to craft a film that deeply resonates with audiences, sparking a flame of self-reflection and personal growth. Through the unfiltered and authentic narratives of real parents, we reveal the remarkable potential of addressing trauma and attachment styles. Together, we are illuminating the path toward emotional liberation and healthier connections—with both ourselves and our children.

In 1985 devoted father Bill Furlong discovers disturbing secrets kept by the local convent and uncovers shocking truths of his own.

WIN A GREAT RIDES OF NEW ZEALAND CYCLING HOLIDAY* Purchase a ticket to any Australian screening and, thanks to our presenting partner Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand, you could win an epic cycling holiday in New Zealand for two. T’s and C’s apply* land only, flights not included. You must keep proof of your ticket purchase in the event you are drawn as the winner. One entry per person. ---- The Big Bike Film Night is on a mission - bringing the best short cycling films from around the world together for you. Showcasing 2.5 hours of riveting bike films that have everything a cycle-centric audience could want – action, drama, humour, and plenty of inspiration. The evening is unashamedly and utterly, utterly, utterly designed and devised to delight the two-wheel devotee! The 2025 treasure chest of films includes: • an exhilarating film that redefines what’s possible on a gravel bike on technically challenging terrains • a celebration of grit, camaraderie, and the beauty of "Type 2 Fun", this film is an ode to the ride, not the finish line • a captivating film that promises to take you on a journey of compassion, community, and the joy of cycling • an uplifting film that follows a group of adventurers from Wānaka, New Zealand, who gather to cycle from town out to the local Ski Field and back, carrying all their gear, with the purpose to raise awareness about the climate impact that comes with travelling and adventuring • an inspiring mountain bike ride through back country Queenstown that is both poetic and meaningful • a life-changing experience for a group of friends who undertake a trip to a bothie (hut) in the Highlands of Scotland to show what can be achieved by people with disabilities in relation to having adventures • a film that celebrates the art of “winging it” and how travelling by bicycle and the power of exploration can obliterate preconceptions and contribute to understanding others • and a classic Kiwi story of a young trail blazer participating in a gruelling six-day mountain bike rally, exploring his boundaries with his own signature entirely unsupported style - fueled by a penchant for chocolate milk and a single-minded approach to making it happen ALL in the mix! These short films are a great reminder of why we love to ride our bike; with stories that captivate us, stories that move us, and most importantly of all – inspiring us to get out and ride. All celebrate the fun, adventure, and joy that cycling enables. So...listen to the voice inside you; it’s telling you to go. Grab your mates, GO ON… grab your bike and come along for the ride!! PREVIOUS ATTENDEE’S COMMENTS: “One of the most inspiring events of the year" “The Big Bike Film Night is always a wonderful, eclectic, wacky mix of films and I love it!” “If you haven’t experienced the cinematic excellence of The Big Bike Film Night – then YOU MUST!!!”

Lillian Hall, a Broadway actress, has never missed a performance throughout her long, illustrious career. Yet in the rehearsals her confidence is challenged. People and events conspire to take away her ability to do what she loves most.

NAIDOC WEEK 2025 Filmed around the ephemeral lakes near Boort, it is a story of allyship, heritage preservation and environment. 'Hosted' by beloved Djaara actor Uncle Jack Charles, with music by Jida Gulpilil, the film premiered to rave reviews at the Antenna Film Festival in Sydney in February. The story details the relationship between a white farming family and members of the Yung Balug clan as they seek to gain recognition for Australia's largest collection of scarred trees. In a corner of Victoria exists a place of astounding beauty and rare archaeological and environmental significance. On the verge of being lost forever, an unlikely partnership could see it saved.

THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME. The story of a family and a family business. Starring: Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, one of the richest men in Europe; Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl, his daughter/a nun; Michael Cera as Bjorn Lund, their tutor. With: Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

An honest and life-affirming true story of the healing power of the natural world.

A #1 NZ smash hit, Tinā (Mother) is a powerful, inspirational crowd pleaser about the healing power of music. Samoan teacher Mareta Percival is struggling following a huge personal loss in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Reluctantly taking on the role of substitute teacher at an elite, wealthy private school - she is surprised to find children crying out for guidance, inspiration and love. Using the symphony of her culture to empower her students, she forms a choir, bringing them together while unexpectedly rediscovering her passion again for being a teacher and mother.