Cinema Australia

Cinema Australia
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Collecting Australian filmmaking stories. Discover more at www.cinemaaustralia.com.au.

  1. Episode #134 | Serge Ou

    MAY 3

    Episode #134 | Serge Ou

    Welcome to the Cinema Australia Podcast. My name is Matthew Eeles. In this very mini episode, I’m joined by Under a Bamboo Sky filmmaker Serge Ou, to discuss his confronting and revealing new documentary which hits Netflix this week after a successful run of Q&A screenings across the country recently. A tale of human connection, hope and resilience in the face of great tragedy, Under a Bamboo Sky uses new technology to bring to life the unbelievable story of Australian soldiers held prisoner by the Japanese in WWII.   Using their own words in their own voices, Under a Bamboo Sky weaves the oral testimonies of more than 60 former POWs together with newly colourised archival material and new location footage to deliver a moving and intimate first-hand account of their experience. Serge’s directorial experience spans drama, documentary, and commercial productions. Across a broad range of genres, he has directed more than 150 hours of broadcast and theatrical content for the domestic and international film and television markets. Dozens of his films have been recognised at festivals around the world. A note to listeners that this short episode of the Cinema Australia Podcast was originally recorded for my radio segment on CRN. Anyway… enjoy.

    16 min
  2. Episode #133 | Tyler Atkins

    APR 24

    Episode #133 | Tyler Atkins

    Welcome to the latest episode of the Cinema Australia Podcast. Straight off the bat, I need to say that this interview with Beast director Tyler Atkins is one of my favourites ever. I always appreciate openness and honesty from my guests, and Tyler delivers it in spades here. It’s one of the most real and raw insights into the difficult world of filmmaking that I’ve ever recorded. If you’re an emerging filmmaker looking to make your mark, take in what Tyler is saying here. It’s no walk in the park and takes a bucket load of dedication. Tyler made his feature debut with Bosch & Rockit in 2024, which he wrote, directed, and produced. The film premiered internationally, won the Grand Jury Prize at the Mammoth Film Festival, and marked the beginning of his work in feature filmmaking. For a film as good as his latest, Beast, you may find it interesting to learn that Tyler didn’t complete his early schooling, and he certainly didn’t attend film school. Beast follows MMA legend Patton James, played by Daniel MacPherson. Now a commercial fisherman, Patton is pulled back into the cage when his brother is in danger. Reuniting with his old coach Sammy (Russell Crowe), he commits to one final fight in ONE Championship against its brutal champion. Anyway… enjoy.

    58 min
  3. Episode #132 | Tilda Cobham-Hervey & James Litchfield

    APR 21

    Episode #132 | Tilda Cobham-Hervey & James Litchfield

    This episode is a special one for me because I finally had an opportunity to interview Tilda Cobham-Hervey, an actor who I have long-admired, and whose name has been on my interview bucket list for many years. It was also special to interview James Litchfield, the writer and director of Alphabet Lane - a film that I can’t seem to shake. I’ve seen it twice since I first watched it a few weeks ago, and it gets better on every viewing. Alphabet Lane follows an isolated couple, Anna, played by Tilda, and Jack, played by Nicholas Denton, who lose control of a joke about imaginary friends. If you haven’t seen the film yet, I recommend watching it, then coming back to this podcast episode to avoid any spoilers. Tilda doesn’t need much of an introduction, having appeared in a ton of films and television shows since her breakout performance in Sophie Hydes 52 Tuesdays in 2013. Tilda has since stared in Girl Asleep, The Kettering Incident, Barracuda, I Am Woman, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and Apple Cider Vinegar. She has also directed and co-directed short films, and recently directed her first feature film, It’s All Going Very Well… which will be released soon. James is a writer and director from Cooma, NSW with a Master’s graduate of Melbourne’s VCA. He has made several shorts, most of which are characterised by a quiet humour, a sense of mystery, and a grappling with meaning and anxiety, and has a few feature film scripts currently in development with Joe Films. He is an EP on The Northern Run, a rodeo documentary currently in post-production with GoodThing Productions for the ABC. Anyway… enjoy.

    52 min
  4. Episode #131 | Natalie Abbott

    APR 8

    Episode #131 | Natalie Abbott

    In this episode, I’m joined by one of my favourite Australian actors, Natalie Abbott, who gives an inspiring performance in The Deb. I think everyone will find something they can relate to with her character Tayla considering the depth and complexities of the character. Also, anyone who’s a fan of musicals in general are going to adore this film. There’s so much to love about The Deb, and Natalie’s performance here really brings the film to life. The Deb is a larger-than-life musical comedy directed by Rebel Wilson. The film follows Natalie Abbott’s Taylah, a high school outcast in a rural town who sees the local debutante ball as her chance to shine. When her cynical, inner-city cousin Maeve (played by Charlotte MacInnes) is sent to live with her, the two clash but eventually unite, searching for self-acceptance, popularity, and a date to the ball Natalie is a performer who made her professional debut playing Muriel Heslop in Muriel’s Wedding The Musical in 2019. The role saw Natalie nominated for a Helpmann Award and a Green Room Award. In 2020, Natalie made her television debut staring in the ABC series Aftertaste, playing opposite Erik Thomson and Rachel Griffiths, reprising her role in 2021 for season 2. Stick around at the end of this interview to find out about the future of Aftertaste if you’re keen. Natalie can be seen most recently in the ABC’ hit series, Austin S2. This is a much shorter episode than usual. As regular listeners know, I like to go much deeper with my Podcast interviews, but this one was recorded as part of a press junket for the film, and time is always limited with these things. Anyway... enjoy.

    21 min
  5. Episode #130 | Miley Tunnecliffe

    MAR 16

    Episode #130 | Miley Tunnecliffe

    Proclivitas writer and director Miley Tennecliffe is my guest on this episode which was recorded with a live audience as part of the WA Made Film Festival where Proclivitas celebrated its WA premiere recently. This one was a really fun episode to record, and I’d like to give a special shoutout to the audience who attended this recording on the day, and for asking some great questions which listeners will be able to hear towards the end of the episode. Proclivitas follows Clare (played by Rose Riley), a recovering addict returning to her hometown to sell her deceased mother's home, where she reunites with former flame Jerry (played by George Mason) and battles a demonic presence. Anyway… enjoy.

    1h 3m
  6. Episode #129 | Jordan Giusti

    MAR 6

    Episode #129 | Jordan Giusti

    Welcome to the Cinema Australia Podcast. My name is Matthew Eeles. In this episode, I’m joined by Floodland director Jordan Giusti to discuss this very topical documentary set in flood-prone Lismore, where residents face life-changing decisions after devastating floods. A man copes pragmatically, his friend turns activist, and an Indigenous social worker builds a healing centre. Jordan is an award-winning director based in Naarm (Melbourne). Prior to Floodland, Jordan completed numerous short films, including Grevillea and Reptile, which we also discuss here. Jordan is also a two-time Australian Directors Guild Awards nominee for his short film work and has had notable festival screenings. As regular Cinema Australia readers and listeners will know, I usually publish my interviews prior to a film’s release, but I was a bit late with this one as I’ve been on WA Made Film Festival duties over here in Perth. Floodland is still screening at some cinema locations, so be sure to check out the film’s website. Anyway… enjoy.

    54 min
  7. Episode #128 | Teresa Palmer & Marcelle Lunam

    JAN 28

    Episode #128 | Teresa Palmer & Marcelle Lunam

    Welcome to the latest episode of the Cinema Australia Podcast. In this episode I’m joined by actor Teresa Palmer, and director Marcelle Lunam to discuss their new rom-com, Addition. Addition follows Grace, played by Palmer, a woman who counts everything because numbers hold her world together. But when a chance encounter with Seamus, played by Joe Dempsie, turns her world upside down, her meticulously ordered life starts to unravel. Having appeared in numerous films and TV shows since the early 2000’s Teresa Palmer really needs no introduction. But if you’re unfamiliar with her work, she has appeared in films such as 2:37, Kieran Darcy-Smith’s Wish You Were Here, Warm Bodies opposite Nicholas Hoult, Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge, and Rachel Griffith’s Ride Like a Girl in which she playa Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, Michelle Payne. Teresa’s TV credits include The Family Next Door, The Clearing and Mixtape. Addition is the first narrative feature film for Marcelle Lunam having previously directed the documentary Habana (Abana) Shakes, and the music video Justine Clarke: I Like to Shake. Marcelle’s work here is quite impressive for a first timer. Anyway… enjoy.

    17 min
  8. Episode #127 | Benjamin Bryan

    JAN 7

    Episode #127 | Benjamin Bryan

    Welcome to the very first episode of the Cinema Australia Podcast for 2026! It’s great to be back. It wasn’t until the back end of 2025 that I realised how few episodes of this Podcast I recorded last year with a focus on more written interviews. I’m going to make it a priority in 2026 to record more episodes and hopefully reach my 150th episode which would be very exciting. On to this episode… I usually stick to interviewing directors and actors, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to guest cinematographer Benjamin Bryan - someone whose career I’ve kept a close eye on since first taking notice of his work on documentary, Franklin in 2022. Few cinematographers working in Australia are shooting films like Benjamin, and his work in his latest film, Iron Winter, is nothing short of breathtaking. Iron Winter observes two friends from Mongolia’s remote Tsakhir (Saak-ear) Valley, as they undertake a grueling rite of passage, herding 2,000 horses across the icy Mongolian steppe in search of grazing land below the snow. This tradition has been under threat in recent times due to harsh weather conditions made worse by climate change and the effects of urbanisation on the local community.  Benjamin’s other films include Glenn Triggs’ Ancestry Road and Sue Thomson’s Careless which we also discuss here along with his directing work on his new series pilot, Lake Boga. Anyway… enjoy.

    57 min
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About

Collecting Australian filmmaking stories. Discover more at www.cinemaaustralia.com.au.

Information

  • Creator
    Cinema Australia
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    135
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Cinema Australia

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