January
Better Man tanked, but Aussie filmmakers want more of its boldness
Made in Melbourne, the $110 million Robbie Williams biopic flopped, but some in the industry want taxpayer funding diverted to such chutzpah, and less to a rump of local films few people watch.
- Michael Bodey and Michael Bailey
Magic Beach the movie is the opposite of Pixar and Disney
This film of the beloved book feels like an antidote to the hypercharged Hollywood animations that have come to dominate our children’s screens.
- Michael Bodey
December 2024
How the Queen’s death cost this Aussie filmmaker $1m
A Melbourne-based producer and director somehow raised $100 million to make a movie starring Robbie Williams as a CGI monkey. It didn’t all go smoothly.
- Patrick Durkin
November 2024
From Cats to the Babe sequel, the most disastrous films of all time
Andrew Lloyd Webber was left so traumatised by what Hollywood did to Cats that he bought an emotional support dog.
- Leaf Arbuthnot
November 2023
How Aussies with a party bus turned Top Deck into a 50-year business
Flight Centre boss “Skroo” Turner was in London for the half-century birthday bash of his coach-tour company. A new film breathes life into its origin story.
- Hans van Leeuwen
May 2023
Miranda Otto on cults, soft drinks and working with family
The actor is chilling to watch in her role as a cult leader in The Clearing, the antithesis of the warm, friendly woman in real life.
- Lauren Sams
Blackstone in dress circle for Ticketek auction
Blackstone boss Michael Blickstead was quick out of the gates at Silver Lake’s Australian born-and-bred ticketing and live entertainment business TEG.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
January 2023
- Exclusive
- AFR Magazine
How Brian Sherman inspired his Oscar-winning son
As the film and television production company he co-founded hits new heights, Emile Sherman has spoken about the lessons learnt from his father, Brian Sherman.
- Brook Turner
The burnout that transformed Oscar-winner Emile Sherman’s career
By backing his own taste, and with a flair for finance, the Australian producer is making films and TV series that stand out from the crowd.
- Brook Turner
How tarot cards help this company founder (even when hiring)
For Savage River writer and producer Polly Staniford, tarot card reading has parallels to the craft of storytelling.
- Philippa Coates
December 2022
A Rich Lister’s daughter made her toughest movie ever. Then remade it
Sophia Banks wasn’t happy with the cut of her first feature, so she put her hand in her pocket and created the film she wanted.
- Lauren Sams
August 2022
New documentary highlights the inner turmoil of Jeffrey Smart
Director Catherine Hunter provides a candid insight into the passions and insecurities of an artist whose work remains highly sought after.
- Steve Meacham
July 2022
The ACO’s next concert will have a crowd of millions
Richard Tognetti and colleagues will provide the live soundtrack to a new film examining the behaviour of people when they gather en masse.
- Michael Bailey
June 2022
Baz Luhrmann explains why Elvis wasn’t a racist
A genre unto himself, the Australian director was determined to make much more than a biopic when he brought the story of “The King” to the big screen.
- Maureen Dowd
May 2022
Cult drama headlines new Disney+ Australian shows
Disney is the latest international streaming company to unveil new Australian-made shows as the they seek to avoid regulation forcing investment in local content.
- Miranda Ward
March 2022
The Bond girl who bounced back from a $US9m property debt
Conversation with Hollywood star Jane Seymour ranges from career highs to what she learnt from a country singer for her latest role as a woman with dementia.
- Michael Bailey
January 2022
Because we can-can: Australian film costumes in the spotlight
Muriel’s wedding dress and a borrowed 1920s couture gown are just part of the story of Australian cinema, on display now at a dazzling new exhibition.
- Lauren Sams
November 2021
Composers say film and TV tax changes strike the wrong note
Popular Australian documentaries would struggle to be made under changes to tax rebates, according to industry figures
- Tom McIlroy
September 2021
Film and TV industry oppose tax change
Changes to a tax offset for post-production and visual effects will hurt local productions, the industry says.
- Tom McIlroy
August 2021
Why an Aussie gay rights campaigner is defending homophobes
A new film about Footscray-born activist Peter Tatchell follows his journey from scourge of Britain’s mainstream to almost establishment status.
- Hans van Leeuwen