Out October 3
(Denmark/Norway/UK, documentary)
Director: Joshua Oppenheimer
Starring: Haji Anif, Syamsul Arifin, Sakhyan Asmara
What's it about? Documentary filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer interviews several men who served as death squad leaders for Indonesia's military dictatorship during the 1960s and allows them to explain their methods and motivations via dramatic–and very often surreal–reenactments.
Read review Watch interview with director Joshua Oppenheimer
(France, documentary)
Director: Philippe Béziat
Starring: Natalie Dessay, Charles Castronovo, Louis Langrée, Matthew Polenzani
What's it about? An inside look at the London Symphony Orchestra's rehearsal and production of Verdi's La Traviata in France. Filmmaker Philipe Beziat focuses on the creative process of theatre/opera director Jean-François Sivadier and soprano Natalie Dessay.
(US/UK, sc-fi, thriller)
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris
What's it about?
Children of Men director Alfonso Cuaron returns after a seven-year break with Gravity, an epic sci-fi film starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock as astronauts. After an accident destroys their shuttle, the duo is left stranded together in outer space. Read review
Rush (US/UK/Germany, action, drama, biography) Director: Ron Howard Starring: Daniel Brühl, Chris Hemsworth, Olivia Wilde What's it about? Ron Howard's latest traces the rivalry between two very different Formula One racecar drivers from the 1970s, James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Nikki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl). A study of styles and temperaments, the two battle each other on the track, and in life. Read review Read interview with actor Daniel Brühl
Thanks for Sharing (US, drama, comedy) Director: Stuart Blumberg Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim Robbins What's it about? In the debut film from the writer of The Kids Are All Right, three sex addicts walk the road to recovery. Among them is Mark 'The Hulk' Ruffalo, whose progress hits a snag when he meets a new woman (Gwyneth Paltrow) and has to keep his 'affliction' a secret. Read review
(UK/France/Belgium/Sweden/Mozambique, biograpgy, drama)
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Starring: Naomi Watts, Naveen Andrews, Douglas Hodge
What's it about?
Sixteen years after Diana, Princess of Wales tragically passed away, Downfall director Oliver Hirschbiegal looks at her final love affair with Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan. Australian actor Naomi Watts stars alongside Naveen Andrews (TV's Lost).
The Family (US/France, comedy, action) Director: Luc Besson Starring: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianna Agron What's it about? Robert De Niro again lampoons his gangster film history, this time for Luc Besson. Mafia boss De Niro and his family relocate to France under the witness protection program. But leaving behind old habits is harder than it seems, and soon enough their cover is blown.
Out October 17
Exposed (US, documentary; released Oct 17 in NSW, Oct 24 in VIC) Director: Beth B Starring: Julie Atlas Muz, Mat Fraser, James Habacker What's it about? The world of alternative burlesque is under the spotlight in Exposed, as eight performers explain and showcase how they use their naked bodies to transport people beyond the common taboos of society and what constitutes 'normal' sexuality. Read review
In Bob We Trust (Denmark/Norway/UK, documentary) Director: Lynn-Maree Milburn Starring: Bob Maguire, Archbishop Denis Hart, John Safran What's it about? Over three years, documentary filmmaker Lynn-Maree Milburn surveys the life of Father Bob Maguire, the Catholic Priest and media personality from South Melbourne widely known for his partnership with comedian and friend John Safran (Speaking in Tongues). Read review
Mystery Road (Australian, action, drama) Director: Ivan Sen Starring: Aaron Pederson, Hugo Weaving, Ryan Kwanten What's it about? Beneath Clouds and Toomelah filmmaker Ivan Sen directs his first action drama. Aaron Pederson is a city detective who returns to the Outback to solve the case of a murdered teenager. The opening night film of the 2013 Sydney Film Festival.
Read review Watch interview with director Ivan Sen
Once Upon a Time in Vietnam (Vietnam, action; released Oct 17 in VIC, Oct 24 in NSW) Director: Dustin Nguyen Starring: Dustin Nguyen, Thanh Van Ngo, Thai Hoa Tran What's it about?
Little Fish and 21 Jump Street actor Dustin Nguyen makes his directorial debut with Once Upon a Time in Vietnam, a martial arts western. Nguyen also plays the film's hero, a mysterious warrior monk out to protect a village from a gang of criminals. Read review
Patrick (Australia, horror, thriller) Director: Mark Hartley Starring: Charles Dance, Rachel Griffiths, Sharni Vinson What's it about?
Not Quite Hollywood director Mark Hartley remakes Richard Franklin's 1978 horror shocker. Jackson Gallagher takes over the titular role of the comatose patient with the power of telekinesis. Also starring Rachel Griffiths, Charles Dance and Sharni Vinson.
Read review
Read interview with director Mark Hartley
Prisoners (USA, drama. thriller) Director: Denis Villeneuve Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis What's it about? Denis Villeneuve (Incendies) follows the fallout from the kidnapping of two young girls during a Thanksgiving dinner. Hugh Jackman is a tormented father that takes an active role in trying to find them, while Jake Gyllenhaal is the lead detective on the case. Read review Read interview with Hugh Jackman and Denis Villeneuve
Stranger by the Lake (France, drama) Director: Alain Guiraudie Starring: Pierre Deladonchamps, Christophe Paou, Patrick d'Assumçao What's it about? Two homosexual men (Pierre Del Adonchamps, Christoph Paou) begin a passionate yet dangerous relationship with each other after meeting at a popular cruising spot during the summer. Winner of the Queer Palm Award at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Read review
Out October 24
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (UK/France, comedy) Director: Declan Lowney Starring: Steve Coogan, Colm Meaney, Sean Pertwee What's it about? English comedian Steve Coogan's cult television character finally makes his big screen debut. The egomaniacal DJ and television presenter becomes “siege face” for local police when a former co-worker takes a radio station in Norwich hostage. Read review
Blancanieves (Spain/France/Belgium, drama, fantasy) Director: Pablo Berger Starring: Maribel Verdú, Emilio Gavira, Daniel Giménez Cacho What's it about? The second film from Pablo Berger, the director of Torremolinos 73 (an SBS favourite), this black-and-white gothic fantasy is a celebration of silent cinema. Set in 1920s Spain, the Snow White-inspired tale stars Maribel Verdú as a female bullfighter.
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Captain Phillips (US, biography, action, thriller) Director: Paul Greengrass Starring: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman What's it about? The Bourne Supremacy director Paul Greengrass examines the true story of the 2009 hijacking of an American cargo ship by Somali pirates off the coast of Africa. Tom Hanks plays the ship's captain, with first-time actor Barkhad Adbi leading the pirates. Read review
Renoir (France, biography, drama) Director: Gilles Bourdos Starring: Michel Bouquet, Christa Theret, Vincent Rottiers What's it about? Michel Bouquet plays famous painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Vincent Rottiers his soon-to-be legendary filmmaking son, Jean. Together, the two find inspiration in a beautiful young woman (Christa Theret). France's official entry for next year's Oscars. Read review Watch interview with actors Christa Theret and Vincent Rottiers
The Butler (US, biography, drama) Director: Lee Daniels Starring: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack What's it about? Precious director Lee Daniels' historical drama charts the journey of an African-American butler (Forest Whitaker) who served the White House and eight consecutive U.S presidents for over three decades. Based on the true story of Eugene Allen. Read review
Fly Me to the Moon (France, comedy, adventure) Director: Pascal Chaumeil Starring: Diane Kruger, Dany Boon, Alice Pol What's it about? French comedy superstar Danny Boon (Welcome to the Sticks) and former German model Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds) come together in this light-hearted rom-com from the director of Heartbreaker and writer of I Do. Read review
Sister (France/Switzerland, drama) Director: Ursula Meier Starring: Léa Seydoux, Kacey Mottet Klein, Gillian Anderson What's it about? At a ski resort in the Swiss Alps, a local boy supports himself and his hopeless older sister (Lea Seydoux) by stealing equipment from wealthy tourists. In need of more money, he targets a rich woman (Gillian Anderson) and her family. Read review
