Meet the Imprisoned Filmmaker Who Keeps Winning Prizes
In this month’s news, we celebrate a million-dollar success, find a surprising connection between two award-winning filmmakers, and entries are open for a short film fest with a difference!
good.film
a month ago
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Our Streaming Picks of the Month
Something luxurious…
A new show from Margot Robbie’s production co.? This definitely had us at hello! Julianne Moore heads up this 5-part dramedy, where The White Lotus’ Meghann Fahy starts getting the creeps about the cult-like relationship her younger sister (Australia’s own Milly Alcock) gets into with her mega-wealthy socialite boss. With themes of power and a mouthwatering eat-the-rich vibe, it’s no wonder this Netflix newie has been pulling massive audiences around the globe. PS. Click here to brush up on Milly’s breakout role before she hit House of the Dragon fame!
Something raucous…
Bawdy? Yep. Messy? No doubt. But this heartfelt university-set comedy series, about the (sometimes painful) quest to be loved for who you really are, is hitting all our feels. Created by American comic and online sensation Benny Drama (real name Benito Skinner), it follows a closeted ex-football star who masks his true self by mimicking the usual frat-boy bravado, desperate to fit in. Cue a whirlwind of identity crises and a web of lies unravelling… but you know, in the most watchable and vodka fuelled kinda ways. Catch all the crazy now on Amazon Prime Video.
Something sleek…
Catch this for a premise: In a high-tech future, a self-aware security cyborg hacks its own programming… to watch soap operas all day (while reluctantly protecting humans). It’s the dystopian robot story we’ve been waiting for! And notice Murderbot is an “it”? The original character in the acclaimed sci-fi novel series (written by Martha Wells) was deliberately genderless, whereas lead actor Alexander Skarsgård, um… definitely isn’t. Does that twist wreck the story, or deepen it? With 97% from the critics, it sounds like the latter! Murderbot is streaming now on AppleTV+.
And keep your eyes peeled for…
Family drama? Thrilling whodunit? A dark beachside mystery? How about all three?!? This prestige Aussie adaptation of the bestselling novel by Jane Harper (author of The Dry) explores the lasting guilt of a tight-knit Tasmanian community, and the secrets and ghosts that lie under all those craggy cliffs and crashing waves. Intriguing! All 6 eps of the limited series land on Netflix this Friday, June 6.
Cannes You Believe it?
The top prize was awarded at Cannes’ glittering film festival last week, and 2025’s Palme d’Or went to It Was Just an Accident, written and directed by renowned Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi. Naturally our ears pricked up – the film is a suspenseful, politically charged drama, inspired by Panahi’s own experiences with imprisonment in Iran. That makes it like a spiritual twin to the Oscar-nominated Iranian film The Seed of the Sacred Fig that we got behind earlier this year.
The parallels get even closer when you learn that, just like Seed director Mohammad Rasoulof, Jafar Panahi is acclaimed for making courageous, socially conscious cinema that often critiques Iran’s government. They’ve both faced years of travel bans, imprisonment, and restrictions, and yet both refuse to stop creating films – usually in secret, and sometimes at great personal risk. In July 2022, Panahi was even jailed himself when he visited a prison to check on fellow filmmaker – you guessed it, Mohammad Rasoulof.
Congratulations to Jafar Panahi – he’s now one of the rare directors to have won top honours at the three most prestigious European film festivals: Venice, Berlin, and Cannes. And his personal story is one of resilience, defiance, and unwavering commitment to artistic freedom and human rights. It Was Just an Accident will have its Australian premiere very soon at the Sydney Film Festival on June 13, and tickets are selling fast.
A Million Dollar Message
We’re thrilled to share that Small Things Like These has officially crossed the $1 million mark at the Australian and New Zealand box office! For a tiny Irish film without the marketing might of Marvel Studios, that’s massive – and it goes to show that meaningful stories have a wonderful power to connect us (even when we’re in the dark 😉).
From the moment we shared this powerful story of bravery and standing up to abusive power, we knew it would hit home and resonate with the good.film community. Your responses have been extraordinary – many of you have told us it’s the best film you’ve seen in years, and that Cillian Murphy’s unforgettable performance lingers long after the credits roll.
If you haven’t seen it yet, Small Things Like These is now available to rent or buy on your favourite streamer. And click here to check out some of Oscar-winner Murphy’s thoughts on what drew him to produce and star in the film – he called the story a “a kind of reckoning” for his home country of Ireland.
A Short Film Fest for Every Ability
Australia’s most inspiring film event is back! The “Focus on Ability” Short Film Festival is rolling out the red carpet for its 17th year, inviting films or docos under 5 minutes to submit and shine a spotlight on the talents and triumphs of people with disabilities. For emerging filmmakers, it’s a chance to change hearts and minds – not to mention, win a share of $100,000 in prizemoney!
The Focus on Ability Short Film Festival is more than just a competition, though – it’s proven itself to be a powerful force in challenging societal perceptions and breaking down barriers. Through the universal language of film, the festival continues to drive meaningful change, fostering a world on AND off the silver screen where ability is celebrated.
Click here to check out the Focus on Ability Festival website, and submit your film – entries close on July 1, 2025.
