Best of the Fest: Our Impact Picks at the 2023 Sydney Film Festival
Now in its 70th year, the Sydney Film Festival is surely a cinephile’s heaven. With over 200 films to choose from, here’s our picks for the best of what’s screening from a social impact perspective.
good.film
2 years ago
Share
The 70th Sydney Film Festival runs from 7–18 June, 2023
For tickets and more information head to sff.org.au
THE NEW BOY
Warwick Thornton, Australia
Social Focus: First Nations People
What’s the story? A brave Aboriginal boy is sent off to a remote monastery – and home to orphaned boys – run by Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett).
Why we’re keen: Warwick Thornton’s Cannes-selected new film has already pulled in notices from “beguiling and magical” to “a film of great symbolism and impact”, and with the Sweet Country and Mystery Road director at the helm we’re not surprised. The triple AACTA Award winner always projects a potent message within his First Nations stories, and The New Boy, which Cate Blanchett also co-produced, is her first feature back at home since The Turning a decade ago.
REALITY
Tina Satter, USA
Social Focus: Democracy & Society
What’s the story? An American former intelligence specialist turned yoga teacher becomes the first whistleblower of the Trump era when FBI agents turn up at her home with a search warrant.
Why we’re keen: Euphoria’s Sydney Sweeney might have white-hot “It Girl” status, but she’s using her fame for fascinating projects. This tense thriller, which premiered at the Berlinale, is based on the real-life arrest of Reality Leigh Winner, an NSA translator who leaked an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 US election. The really intriguing bit? The film’s dialogue is taken entirely from the FBI’s actual transcript of their hour-long interrogation with Winner. Check out the trailer to see what we mean.
TRANSITION
Jordan Bryon & Monica Villamizar, Australia
Social Focus: LGBTQIA+, War & Peace
What’s the story? An Australian filmmaker, Jordan Bryon, documents his own gender transition while embedded with Taliban forces in Afghanistan.
Why we’re keen: Um - did you read that one-liner?! Promising more tension than any Mission: Impossible, this Tribeca-competing documentary follows Jordan as he heads to a Taliban stronghold in the north-west of Afghanistan, shortly after he started transitioning. BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning director Bryon (who also shot the film) makes it clear that if the male-centric Taliban knew he was trans, they would likely kill him. Name us some higher stakes than that.
IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?
Ella Glendining, UK
Social Focus: Disability & Divergence
What’s the story? Ella was born with a disability so rare that no reliable statistics about it exist. She goes on a global search for answers and others who share her experience.
Why we’re keen: We’ve probably all felt alone at times, but UK filmmaker Ella Glendining often wondered if she was the only person like her on Earth. Born with no hip joints and very short thigh bones, Ella grew up navigating the world in a different way. This empowering documentary follows her global search to find others who, like Ella, battle ableism on a daily basis. ”Being this way is not the problem”, Ella reminds us. “It’s what you do next that matters.”
THAT AFTERNOON
Nafiss Nia, Netherlands
Social Focus: Human Rights
What’s the story? An Iranian refugee flees to a safe haven, but when she arrives, she’s denied entry by a mysterious man. Separated by a door, the two strike up a conversation.
Why we’re keen: Dutch-Iranian filmmaker Nafiss Nia’s intimate character study promises an authentic perspective on trauma and displacement, no doubt. But it’s the simplicity of two humans connecting that gives this asylum seeker story its power. The storytelling device of slowly earning each other’s trust through (literally) closed doors is fascinating. Nia chose to shoot her moving drama, which premiered at the Rotterdam International Fest earlier this year, with 5 cameras simultaneously - allowing her actors to play out entire scenes in one go.
KEEPING HOPE
Tyson Mowarin, Australia
Social Focus: First Nations People
What’s the story? An Indigenous man from the Kimberley returns to interrogate the alarming suicide rates there - and meet the people working toward its prevention.
Why we’re keen: While magical, it’s clear that there are complexities to living in the Kimberley, the WA region spread over Australia's entire north-western corner. We were alarmed to read that if the Kimberley was a country, at times it would have the highest suicide rates in the world - and the majority by far are young Indigenous men. Actor Mark Coles Smith knows it first hand: he grew up in the Kimberley, and lost his best mate to suicide at 23. Award-winning First Nations filmmaker Tyson Mowarin sensitively covers Mark on his journey home to unpack why, and interview the hopeful folks who are doing everything in their power to change it.
Which film will win the Sydney Film Prize? Head to the Fest to find out!
The 70th Sydney Film Festival runs from 7–18 June, 2023
For tickets and more information head to sff.org.au
