MWFF 2020: Stranger Than Fiction

A collection of documentaries that dig deep beneath the surface of Australian society, bringing to light the issues that often remain buried

95 mins / Unclassified

Restricted to persons 18 years and over.

Content Warning: This session contains themes of rape and abortion.

YouTube rap sensations, fighting for reproductive rights, dumpster diving, and the next generation of WAFL footballers...these are some of the stories proving that real life is often stranger than fiction. A collection of documentaries that dig deep beneath the surface of Australian society, bringing to light the issues that often remain buried.

insideOUT

Ngarigo artist Peter Waples-Crowe, feels pushed to the outside of his Aboriginal culture because he is queer. We follow Peter in the lead up to his solo exhibition, insideOUT, as he creates art in various media that unflinchingly challenges stereotypes and assumptions about queer Aboriginal men, including a collaboration with genderless fashion designer Vincent Li.

Director: Sasha Sarago / Writer: Peter Waples-Crowe / Producer: Lisa Albert

Australia / 2019 / 13 mins

No Means

Inspired by the "Me Too" and "Time's Up" movements, the "No Means" video features a diverse cast of women speaking out about sexual harassment and how it affects their lives. Its expressionistic style delivers a heart felt message for women to speak up, say 'no' and stand together.

Director: Danielle Culletorn / Writer & Producer: Shirley Pierce

Australia / 2018 / 3 mins

A Woman's Calling

Doomadgee women look beyond themselves, rekindling a sense of purpose by helping Papua New Guinea women in extreme poverty.

Director: Ivy Staker / Producer: Fisch Rasy

Australia / 2019 / 6 mins

Control

Two Australian women reflect on their fight for reproductive rights in the early 1970's after receiving backyard abortions.

Director & Writer: Abby Jane Dunn / Producer: Paige Farrow

Australia / 2018 / 8 mins

Lily

A poetic documentary about seventeen year old Lily, a young Indigenous woman gave birth to a baby girl in Sydney’s Crown Street Women’s Hospital. The baby was pronounced dead, but Lily believes that the child has been given away. Dr Harry Bailey forcefully advocates her committal to the Callan Park Lunatic Asylum. He convinces her parents that Lily is in the best place for a young woman with “melancholy”. Reluctantly, Lily’s family have her committed and placed in the care of Dr Bailey, not knowing that the doctor has his own personal agenda.

Director, Writer & Producer: Alanna Rose

Australia / 2019 / 12 mins

The Divers

Talitha, who works in the non-profit sector, finds ways to make her dollar stretch by dumpster diving, to rescue and reclaim unused food.

Director & Producer: Angela How

Australia / 2019 / 10 mins

Rapping it up

Rapping it up is a day in the life of Carol George; a Wurundjeri / Bidawel singer-songwriter-rapper, YouTube sensation, mother of five and survivor of domestic violence as she balances motherhood with music making. Carol possesses a golden singing voice as her 2.5 million YouTube viewers can attest to! But ultimately its when Carol becomes Rap Angel that she packs the greatest punch with lyrics that are unapologetic and uncompromising as she tells it like it is about domestic violence, drugs, her love for her nan and her experience as an Aboriginal woman.

Directors: Carol George, Vincent Lamberti / Producer: Lisa Albert

Australia / 2019 / 13 mins

Girls Can Do Anything

A little book, three girls and a big game. In 1975, Jan Harper wrote a children’s book 'Girls Can Do Anything' featuring three girls who wanted to play Aussie Rules Football. With the recent establishment of the AFL Women's League footy continues to be a metaphor for female participation in contemporary life.

Director: Kerreen Ely-Harper

Australia / 2018 / 9 mins

Kiss The Boy

Do women kiss men they don't want to? Told through the experiences of five young women, Kiss the Boy explores the nuanced ways that gender roles and the grey area around consent influence the way we date.

Director, Writer & Producer: Jayde Harding

Australia / 2018 / 4 mins

FEZ

FEZ is a high energy, short documentary spectacle celebrating Samoan-Australian entertainer Fez Faanana and his trailblazing artistic journey from growing up in small town Ipswich, Queensland to representing Australia on the world stage in dazzling drag, with his co-founded all male burlesque company "Briefs Factory".

Producer: Jessica Magro / Director: Jermaine D'Vauz

Australia / 2018 / 7 mins