News & Events
Follow our News & Events page to keep updated about Down Under Berlin and trends and talents in Australian and New Zealand film.
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Expat Filmmakers in Berlin – Aaron Lucas
For Aussie filmmaker Aaron Lucas, the decision to move to Berlin in June 2018 was very spontaneous – he didn’t know anyone here, didn’t speak German, but it still seemed like a great idea. Well, we’ve seen Free Therapy (...)
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The Rise of the Short Film
Why are short films so important? Guest blogger Holly Barnard asks this burning question to filmmakers and finds out why the short film format is so universally loved and what we need to do to keep them being made.
The medium o (...)
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DUB board members: from Australia to Berlin and back.
The Down Under Berlin board members are going through a little change, so we thought it a good idea to keep you informed at what they are up to.
Since its inception in 2011, the Down Under Berlin film festival has had three boa (...)
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Submissions are OPEN!
Down Under Berlin's Call For Entries for the 2019 festival is open!
It's true, the moment you've all been waiting for! (well, waiting since the end of the last festival at least!) Submissions are open for this year's festival. (...)
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Berlinale 2019 celebrates New Zealand and Australia!
With an impressive list of Australian and New Zealand films at the Berlinale 2019, DUB will be there to cheer them on!
As per usual, the Berlinale Film Festival has been drip-feeding information to the public about their 2019 (...)
Videos & Photos
Have a look at our YouTube channel and Flickr or click below for some samples.
Past Festival Films
Find out more what we had in store over the past years in our Films A-Z or click below for some samples.
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After the Apology
Larissa Behrendt | AUS | 2017 | Documentary, Indigenous | 82 min | English | International Premiere
Four Aboriginal grannies each face their own battle to challenge government policies to bring their grandkids home. Their grassroots actions spearhead a national conversation to curb the skyrocketing rates of child removal. (...) -
She Said
Candy Royalle & Patch Sinclair | AUS | 2013 | Experimental | 3:34 min | English| International Premiere
A lyrical musing on a love affair that ended in heartbreak. A poetic meditation on the transience of time and being. (...) -
Centrepiece
Hassan Bajwa | AUS| 2015| Short | 07:36 min | English| International Premiere
Liam, a goofy dad and country veterinarian turns 40 – and with it comes a crisis. Teased by another woman and an obnoxious duck, Liam tries hard to fulfill his dreams. (...) -
Bless You
Philip Watts | AUS | 2013 | Animation | 3 min | English | German Premiere
An architect in the skies grows bored with his creation and decides to spice things up. (...) -
Embrace
George-Alex Nagle | AUS | 2013 | Drama | 16 min | English | German Premiere
Therese is bed stricken and spends her days motionless and seemingly unaware of the world. When she turns 18, pent up issues between family members surface. (...) -
Waru
Briar Grace-Smith, Casey Kaa, Ainsley Gardiner, Katie Wolfe, Renae Maihi, Chelsea Cohen, Paula Jones, Awanui Simich-Pene | NZ | 2017 | Drama | 88 min | English, Māori | German Premiere
Following the death of a child at the hands of his caregiver, eight Māori women are confronted by guilt, shame, pride and defeat but will ultimately risk everything for the greater good of their community… (...) -
The Dark Horse
James Napier Robertson | NZ | 2014 | Drama, biography | 124 min | English | Berlin Premiere
Based on a true story, this festival hit follows Genesis Potini, a once heralded chess champion. Just released from psychiatric care he finds little support from his family who runs the local gang business. Genesis takes on a se (...) -
Short Films: Lucky Dip
Diverse directors | AUS | 2015 | 57 min | English | Diverse Premieres
In this short film slot, Down Under Berlin serves its audience a fine selection of exquisite film nibbles. Bon appétit! Centrepiece Hassan Bajwa | AUS | 2015 | 07:36 min | International Premiere A Real Buzz Lachlan Marks (...) -
Am I Dancing
Jacqueline Hanlin | AUS | 2014 | Drama | 14:23 min | English | International Premiere
26-year-old art school graduate Andie loses her job as a commercial photographer. It’s the starting point for a tragicomic odyssey from one narcissistic misfortune to the next: mishaps of Riesling, pet cannibalism, and run-ins w (...) -
Shorts: Discover Your Self
Diverse directors | AUS & NZ | 2016 | 65 min | English | Diverse Premieres
In this short film slot, the protagonists of these Australian and New Zeland short films discover their past, future and their inner truth. Deep Storage Susan Earl | AUS | 2016 | 14 min | International Premiere Without Cons (...) -
Split Me
Andrew Shanks | AUS | 2016 | Comedy | 15 min | English | European Premiere
A boring small town, an unexpected friendship, and the joy of bowling. (...) -
Hungry Man
Jordan Prosser | AUS | 2012 | Horror | 18 min | English | European Premiere
The story of a man, his tapeworm, and the girl who comes between them. (...) -
Broke
Heath Davis | AUS| 2016| Drama | 105 min | English| German Premiere
Broke tells the fictional story of former North Sydney rugby league star Ben “BK” Kelly (Steve Le Marquand), whose life spirals out of control in retirement at the hands of alcohol and a gambling addiction. Cec (Max Cullen), a (...) -
Hounds of Love
Ben Young | AUS | 2016 | Thriller | 108 min | English
Vicki Maloney is randomly abducted from a suburban street by a disturbed couple. As she observes the dynamic between her captors, she quickly realises she must drive a wedge between them if she is to survive. “Snowtown meets (...) -
Like Breathing
Liz Cooper | AUS | 2013| Drama, romance | 13 min | English | European Premiere
Working in her father’s mechanic shop, Max surpresses her true colours. When a young woman comes in with car trouble, attraction is instant and Max surrenders. (...) -
Lemons
Eloise Walker | AUS | 2017 | Drama, Comedy | 13 min | English | World Premiere
A hollow young woman shares a final joke with her dead mother. (...) -
The Kangaroo Guy
Joel Loxton | AUS| 2015| Comedy, drama, thriller | 15 min | English| German Premiere
Keith Donavon, a regional MP struggling to be taken more seriously, is accidentally drawn into telling a lie during a TV interview. Now he must choose to either face the consequences from his comments, or do whatever it takes to a (...) -
Welcome Home Allen
Andrew Kavanagh | AUS | 2016 | Action, Drama | 11 min | no dialogue | German Premiere
Four soldiers return to a home they don’t recognise and that doesn’t recognise them. (...) -
Etch
Monique Terry | AUS | 2016 | 5 min | English | German Premiere
Can others shape your identity? Can words carve at your soul? What marks are left behind when love ebbs and flows? (...) -
Call of the Wild
Frank Hofmann | NZ | 2015 | Documentary | 11 min | English
In 1914 the Laughing Owl or Whekau (Māori) became extinct. 100 years later, New Zealand artist Hayden Fowler is looking for a contemporary language to mourn this loss. In a unique art performance he reenacts the specimen and tran (...)