In this episode, Andrew interview filmmaker Heidi Lee Douglas about her new film Suka. Written by Tsu Shan Chambers and Lily Cheng, this neon-soaked action flick tells a story that spans decades, detailing the the fury that rages between two feuding families in Western Sydney. Suka is both a multi-cultural Romeo and Juliet style revenge film, with a touch of real-life events thrown into the mix. In this interview Heidi talks about the importance of casting actors who could handle both the acting requirements as well as the fighting sequences, while also touching on the value of global appreciation of the banner term 'genre filmmaking' when it comes to horror, action, and sci-fi films. Additionally, Heidi talks about the role that neon plays in storytelling. Suka is available on demand right now and is released by Umbrella Entertainment.

Listeners are advised that this podcast includes mention of sexual assault and trauma. In this episode, Andrew interviews writer and director Matthew Holmes about his latest film, The Cost. This is a searing vigilante thriller that tells the story of two men, David and Aaron, who abduct the newly released felon Troy to inflict their own version of justice and retribution. While on paper The Cost appears to be a routine rape-revenge film, it eschews the genre trappings to become a grounded thriller that explores the potential brutality of masculinity. In the following interview, which contains slight spoilers, Matthew talks about the construction of the film, how he framed the tension with cinematographer Cable Williams, and what work the actors did to get into the mindspace of three characters who are pushed to horrifying places. The Cost is receiving a limited run in Australian cinemas from October 5th before heading to physical media by Madman films. To find out the details for screenings and where to buy tickets, visit The Cost's Facebook page. To purchase The Cost on Bluray, visit Madman here. Read Andrew's review of The Costhere. To listen to other interviews head over to TheCurb.com.au. New podcast interviews appear each Friday, with bonus interviews appearing on Wednesdays. 

In this episode Andrew interviews Dena Curtis and Citt Williams who are the producers behind the new NITV four part series Rebel With a Cause. This compelling and engaging documentary series follows four First Nations trailblazers - Senator Neville Bonner, poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal, magistrate Pat O'Shane, and radio presenter and media icon Tiga Bayles - and ultimately asks the question of what does it take to make a difference in the world? In the following interview Dena and Citt talk about their work as producers and what it means to delve into culturally sensitive archives and present these stories on screen. Additionally, they reflect on the importance of recontexutalising archives that have so often been curated or managed by white people.  To say that Rebel With a Cause is an essential series feels like an understatement. It's arriving at a time where Australia as a nation is going through a major change, with the referendum on the Voice to Parliament being decided on October 14. Within the stories of Neville, Oodgeroo, Pat, and Tiga, we see four people who saw the potential within themselves and their community to change history and the future of Australia. It encourages viewers to consider and contemplate the impact of their actions, and the manner that they have helped amplify, support, and better the lives of First Nations people in Australia.    Rebel With a Cause is directed by EJ Garret, Jill Robinson, S.F. Tusa and Douglas Watkin. It will screen on NITV from October 1st, with episodes dropping each week.  To listen to other interviews and read reviews, head over to TheCurb.com.au. New podcast interviews appear each Friday, with bonus interviews appearing on Wednesdays.  For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners, the trailer included in this podcast contains the voices of people who have passed away. 

On this episode Andrew chats with Aussie filmmaker Jack Dignan about his found footage horror film, Puzzle Box. Olivia (Laneikka Denne) heads out to a remote house in the woods to help her sister Kait (Kaitlyn Boyé) rehabilitate and escape her life of addiction. Olivia aims to document the process, almost in a way to show how far Kait will heal and change. Little does she know, instead of documenting Kait's rehabilitation, she instead manages to document the labyrinth-like house that they become trapped in where time loops over itself and unsettling events occur in the night. Puzzle Box will have its Australian Premiere at the upcoming A Night of Horror International Film Festival in Sydney on September 29. This is the second time that Jack has had a film screen at the festival, with his previous film After She Died winning the Best Australian Feature Film and Best Australian Feature Performance in 2022. Jack talks about where his interest in found footage films comes from, how working on films like Marvel's Shang-Chi and George Miller's Furiosa differs from working on an independent feature film, as well as how his previous work as a film critic informs his work as a director. To find out more about Jack's work, head over to JackDignan.com.

Oh hey, would you believe it, Awards Don't Matter is back. After almost a two year break, we're back with an episode from the vault where David Giannini and Andrew F Peirce discuss the 1946 Best Picture winner The Best Years of Our Lives. Winner of an impressive seven Academy Awards, including Best Director (William Wyler), Best Actor (Frederic March), and Best Supporting Actor (Harold Russell), The Best Years of Our Lives is widely considered one of the great Best Picture winners. But don't trust everyone else! Listen to two dudes who chat about whether it's good or not and ask whether The Best Years of Our Lives matters any more. We aim to bring more episodes in the future, including a promised discussion on It's a Wonderful Life very soon. And while we mention AwardsDontPod on Twitter, well, that place doesn't really exist anymore, so just make sure you're subscribed to The Curb podcast feed for updates. Clips presented in this episode: The Best Years of Our Lives trailer // Homer and Wilma scene // "And for what?" // PTSD Scene Listen to Dave and Mike discuss Brief Encounter on Off Screen Death here.

On this episode, Andrew chats with the filmmaking duo Glenn Fraser and Amelia Foxton about their latest film Mother Tongue, which screens at the upcoming A Night of Horror International Film Festival alongside Ursula Dabrowsky's The Devil's Work on September 28 2023. Mother Tongue tells the wickedly humourous tale of Alex (Chiara Gizzi) and Jade (Amelia Foxton), a couple who are trying to have a child, yet struggle to do so. After trying all manner of methods, and finding that biology is not on their side, they decide to turn to the realm of the occult with the assistance of suburban bloke Brian (Stephen Hunter) who works his mastery on bringing a baby - of some kind - into their lives. Told with a darkly comedic stretch, alongside a trio of excellent performances that makes the struggle that Alex and Jade are collectively going through all the more believable, Mother Tongue is a treat of a film. In the following interview, Glenn and Amelia generously discuss their working process together, outlining the importance of telling queer stories on screen, while also highlighting the need to tell varied stories about motherhood as well. They also talk about the creation of the Coastal Surge Film Festival and the support they've received from local governments to help create a busy film scene in their local region. To find out more about Mother Tongue, make sure to visit the films Facebook page.

Filmmaker JJ Winlove has managed an impressive feat for Australian film: having two films released in the same year. With the emotional June Again featuring a trio of excellent performances from Noni Hazelhurst, Claudia Karvan, and Stephen Curry, joining the immersive cinematic experience Crossing Paths, an interactive journey through Sydney as the audiences decides which of the twelve characters stories to follow. Screening to sold out audiences at the Sydney Film Festival, Crossing Paths promises to be an engaging and discussion provoking experience. In this interview, JJ talks about what it means to be a New Zealand director making films in Australia, how Crossing Paths was created, and more.

On this episode I chat with director Ingvar Kenne about his haunting film The Land, which screened in 2022 at the Sydney Underground Film Festival and Europe's Snowdance Film Festival where Ingvar won the Best Direction Award. The Land follows Jeremy, played by Steve Rodgers, and Neets, played by Anna Lise Philips, a couple who have a life that many would envy. They have a three-bedroom house, they have a busy family, and they've been married for fourteen years.  They also have a remote property in the middle of nowhere which Jeremy visits with his distant friend Simon, played by Cameron Stewart, who returns after a long sojourn overseas. His returns sets Neets on edge as Simon seeks to atone for something that happened long ago. As they head out to 'the land', Neets is left with the children, who she swiftly leaves with her mother - who she appears to have a fractious relationship with - so she can spend some time by herself.  Yet, it's out on 'the land' that Jeremy and Simon's friendship is both fortified and tested as they unsettle aspects of the past that disrupts who they are as people. Performances across the board are exemplary, with Steve and Cameron building off their real-life friendship to portray a friendship that has been tested by distance and time, even though the echoes of it continue to resonate. For Anna Lise Philips, the moments of solitude where she's finally able to relieve some pent up tension, both in a physical and emotional sense, are all too relatable.  In the following interview with Ingvar, we talk about the foundation of The Land and how his friendship with Steve and Cameron helped create this genuinely powerful film. Our conversation does include discussion about trauma and abuse, so if these aspects are triggering for you, then maybe skip this interview. For everyone else, please enjoy this discussion with Ingvar. To keep track of where the film will be available to view in the future, please visit thelandmovie.com. And for other interviews and reviews, visit thecurb.com.au.

On this episode Andrew turns into a bit of a fanboy as he chats with writer and director Tim Carlier about his feature film Paco. This charming and quirky flick follows Manny, played by Manuel Ashman, a sound recordist who is working on a film set one day and has the worst thing happen to him: one of the actors has walked off with a radio microphone. As many people continually tell him, that's a 'very bad thing'. As he heads off after a long day of filming to find his awol radio microphone, Manny discovers a world of sound - aka Adelaide - and the many creative colleagues and friends he knows as he tries to zone in on the audio of the missing mic. Paco then turns into a charming road trip of a film that sway into all realms of art, including a party which in reality is one large theatre game, and a roaming music video that's being shot around Adelaide. There's an energy and a charm to Paco that simply sweeps you off your feet. Andrew first watched it at Perth's Revelation Film Festival where he had no idea what to expect, and as the film continued on, I felt myself getting lighter and lighter in my seat. It is that kind of charming. It reminds of Platon Theodoris' great film from 2022, The Lonely Spirits Variety Hour, in the sense that it's a film that's confidently full of joy and hope that you can't help but be swept up by it. Paco is also a rare Aussie film to have screened at the prestigious Rotterdam Film Festival. For those who are in Australia and eager to catch Paco, then you're in luck (provided you're in Adelaide) as moviejuice will be presenting a screening on Saturday September 16 at the Mercury Cinema in Adelaide. Tim will be there for a Q&A, as will Bromham and the Empty Threats, two bands who feature in the film. Tickets are available here.

On this episode, Andrew talks with co-directors Indianna Bell and Josiah Allen about their first feature film, You'll Never Find Me. Building on their impressive short film work with Call Connect. and The Recordist, You'll Never Find Me sees a visitor, played by Jordan Cowan, who knocks on the door of Patrick, played by Brendan Rock. She's lost and it's pouring outside, and in the middle of nowhere, his caravan is the only source of sanctuary that she could find. Or is it? What follows is a twisting, turning character piece where two figures push and probe each other trying to figure out just who the other is. It's a double-hander that plays a lot like a card game, with bluffing, truth revealing, and ultimate tension playing out.  I've long been a fan of what both Indianna and Josiah have managed to do with their filmmaking brilliance in South Australia. Call Connect. is a short film that easily stands as one of the most riveting and powerful shorts I've seen, and The Recordist is no different. The two have crafted a visual style with their work that is equally amplified by sound design that creates an immersive sonic landscape that supports Indianna's scripts. If there is a future of independent filmmaking in Australia to keep an eye out for, then it's in the heart of Adelaide with Indi and Josiah's work.  You'll Never Find Me launches at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 16, with a second screening on the 19th. Head over to MIFF.com.au for futher details. To listen or read previous interviews with filmmakers whose work has screened at MIFF, visit TheCurb.com.au.

On this episode, Andrew talks with Nick Kozakis, the director behind the unsettling horror film, Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism. Based on true events, Godless tells the story of Lara, played by Georgia Eyers, and her husband Ron, played by Dan Ewing. Lara has been living with delirious episodes, and instead of following the advice of medical practictioners, Ron instead seeks out the work of Daniel, played by Tim Pocock, an unofficial exorcist. What follows is a horrifying, unsettling and unnerving series of events. In the following spoiler filled interview, Nick Kozakis talks about how he and screenwriter Alexander Angliss-Wilson worked together to present a story like this on screen, also about the importance of having an impactful poster campaign, and also about his own experience with religion, as well as how he worked alongside the supporting cast to explore the ambiguity within the narrative. While this following discussion does contain spoilers, it does not impact the experience of watching the film. Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism screens at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 11 and 18. In between this interview being recorded and it being published, physical media distributor Umbrella Entertainment have announced an extras-stacked Bluray release of Godless which will be released in October.

On this episode, Andrew talks with the filmmakers behind one of the most anxiety provoking films of the year: Birdeater. Jack Clark and Jim Weir are co-directors, with Jack writing the script for this story about a bachelor party that takes horrifying and wild turns. Part thriller, part character piece, always intense, Birdeater is a film that owes its existence to the legacy of the classic Aussie film: Wake in Fright. In the following discussion, Jack and Jim talk about the influence of Wake in Fright on their film, while also touching on their desire to explore modern masculinity. The pair also talk about the troubles they faced in making the film, and the genuine possibility that they might not have been able to finish production on it. There's a truly unsettling nature to Birdeater, yet it's delivered in a masterfully captivating manner. Birdeater screens at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 12, 14, and 16, before heading to Cinefest Oz on Saturday 2 September.

documentary King Coal. Told in an intimate and reflective manner, King Coal details the history of the all powerful fossil fuel in Appalachia, stretching back in time to the foundation of the mining region and utilising the imagery of the coal miner's daughter to explore the myth and dominance that the black rock has on the region. King Coal never condemns those who have worked in and relied on the mining industry as a source of income or stability, with Elaine's supportive narration being one that highlights the importance that coal once held for those in the region, while also spotlighting the need to navigate a path out of relying on it. It's with the focus on two young girls who grow up in the region that we follow this tale of coal and the almost fanatical adoration that people in the region still hold onto it. There's a touch of fantastical realism to King Coal which is amplified by the stunning cinematography that reinforces just how nourishing nature can be. In this interview, recorded ahead of King Coal's national release in America, Elaine talks about the need to explore the story of coal in a tender manner, the importance of telling it from her own lived experience, as well as the vision of hope that it gives at its end. King Coal is screening across America from August 11th in New York, with further screenings: New York City - August 11th @ DCTV Theater Winston-Salem, NC - August 18th @ Aperture Cinema Charleston, WV - August 31st @ Floralee Cinema Akron, OH - September 1st @ The NightLight Cincinnati, OH - September 4th @ The Woodward Theater Columbus, OH - September 8th @ Wexner Center for the Arts Queens, NY - September 9th @ Museum of the Moving Image Blacksburg, VA - September 21st @ Lyric Theater Bluefield, WV - September 22nd @The Granada Theater

On this episode, Andrew chats with American filmmaker Lola Blanc about her new short film Pruning. This creepy flick follows a Fox News adjacent political commentator, played by Madeline Brewer, who finds herself in a moral conflict when a mass shooter cites her as an influence for their actions. Over fifteen minutes, Lola Blanc forces viewers to question the morality of those who spout reactionary and inflammatory comments in the media, all the while trying to distance themselves from the violence that is inspired by their words. In this interview, recorded ahead of Pruning's International Premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival, Lola talks about creating the main character with Madeleine, where her interest in exploring the fractured mindset that emerges from these kinds of fringe voices comes from, and then around the halfway mark we head into spoiler territory as Lola talks about some of the more fantastical and unsettling elements of Pruning. Aside from being a filmmaker, Lola is also an accomplished musician and has a successful podcast called Trust Me. Find out more about Lola's work by visiting LolaBlanc.com. For other interviews and reviews, make sure to visit TheCurb.com.au.

On this episode, I get to chat with Danny and Michael Philippou aka RackaRacka about their bonkers and brutal horror film debut Talk to Me, which lands in cinemas tomorrow.  This fucked up flick is a possession story mixed with a touch of social commentary. Ultimately though, it's a film with no safety nets. It’s not mucking about at all. Talk to Me intends to make you have one of the most unsettling nights watching a horror film, and the best part is that the Philippou’s know that you’re going to enjoy doing it. Talk to Me is a new benchmark for horror films. It instantly stands as one of the grittiest, grimiest, gruelling and grotty, goretastic Aussie horror films ever. Sign me up for whatever the hell these Philippou brothers are going to create, because if it’s anything like this, then it’s going to be a bloody great time. In the following interview, the Philippou brothers talk about how they crafted the film, what they learned from their explosive YouTube career, what working with screen legend Miranda Otto was like, and what it means to be an Australian filmmaker working today. Talk to Me is a film you simply cannot miss on the big screen. 

This interview contains discussion of mental health issues and suicide. Albany based filmmaker Adam Morris returns to the region with his second feature film, Frank and Frank (or the Valley and the Walrus: Ruminations on the Mystery from Soup to Nuts). This introspective and explorative film follows Frank (Myles Pollard), a faith and financial influencer whose life is in turmoil as he faces a potential divorce as he heads out on a talking tour. In the throes of despair, Frank chances upon a stranger, also named Frank (Trevor Jamieson), and the two quickly become salvations for one another. Frank and Frank is a film that explores masculine emotions in an open and honest way, with Pollard's Frank struggling to keep the ground under his feet - both figuratively and literally, as we see him try and reconcile with his faith one day by building a backyard crucifix to hoist himself onto, as if that will be the solution to his problems. The two Frank's share hard truths and engage in a soul searching journey together, lifting each other up. This synopsis suggests that Frank and Frank is a dark, heavy film, and to be fair, it is at times, but it is also reflective of life in the sense that there are frequent moments of lightness and levity to bring a touch of hope to both of the Frank's lives. In this interview, Adam and Myles talk about their working relationship, what changed in them as individuals during filming, and the joy of working the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Frank and Frank (or the Valley and the Walrus: Ruminations on the Mystery from Soup to Nuts) has its world premiere at Perth's Revelation Film Festival on Saturday July 15 at 6pm at Luna Leederville, with a follow up screening on July 16 at 5:45pm at Luna SX. For more details, visit RevelationFilmFest.org.

Robert Machoian is an independent American filmmaker who continues to stun with a body of work that is emotionally shocking, and at times, darkly comedic. His previous film, The Killing of Two Lovers, stands as one of the towering achievements of modern American indie filmmaking, and it's with that strength and the fortitude of low budget filmmaking that he turns the story of a man trying to do the right thing for his family into a darkly comedic tragedy with The Integrity of Joseph Chambers. Robert collaborates once more with Clayne Crawford, with Clayne playing the titular character. Joseph is a skewed version of David from The Killing of Two Lovers: dedicated to his family and their safety, yet unlike David, he is filled with a pride and misguided machismo that he believes will be enough to support his family in the event that there is some kind of massive event where food or supplies are no longer widely available. Yet, while on the surface this may seem to narratively be a COVID-adjacent film, The Integrity of Joseph Chambers instead explores the meaning of masculinity in America, and just like Two Lovers, it shows a nation on the precipice of violence. Here, the violence is not delivered with purpose, instead it's a mishap, a soul-breaking act of accidental mayhem. Integrity sits on the shoulders of Clayne, but it's buoyed by two performances that bookmark the film: at its opening is Jordana Brewster as Joseph's with Tess, where she is given a wealth of character development to work with in a short period of time compared to that famous series she's part of; and then at its close, Jeffrey Dean Morgan portrays a police chief, with Jeffrey delivering a stoic and empathetic performance that closes the film in a devastating manner. In the midst of this is a performance from Michael Raymond-James which is best described as one delivered with a resignation that hints at the desolate future that America faces as it continues to struggle with an epidemic of violence. To be clear, The Integrity of Joseph Chambers is not a film that explores in depth America's relationship with guns or violence, but rather seeks to recontextualise and examine what the 'modern American man' actually is, and just how is someone who realistically should not own a gun, let alone shoot one, supposed to manage in a society that almost dictates the need to have one. It's this discussion point that Robert talks about the most in this interview, recorded ahead of The Integrity of Joseph Chambers launch at Perth's Revelation Film Festival. Integrity screens on July 14 and 15, and tickets are available via RevelationFilmFest.org. Make sure to listen to the previous discussion with Robert, where he talked about being influenced by Kelly Reichardt, on TheCurb.com.au.

Kaya and welcome to The Curb podcast. My name is Andrew Peirce and this podcast is recorded on the lands of the Wadjuk people of Boorloo Perth. Sovereignty never ceded. On this episode, I chat with WA local Ben Young about his new film, Devil's Peak, which features Robin Wright, Billy Bob Thornton, Hopper Penn, Jackie Earl Haley, and regular collaborator, Emma Booth. It's a thriller set in the Appalachian Mountains and focuses on a famiy torn apart by drug related crime.  In this chat, Ben talks about working with mother-son relationship with Robin and Hopper, as well as the grounded nature of someone like Billy Bob Thornton. He also gives open advice about finding the right creative path forward as a filmmaker. Devil's Peak is the opening night film for Perth's Revelation Film Festival on July 12th, with the night kicking off at 7pm at Luna Cinemas Leederville. Visit revelationfilmfest.org for more details. We've got extensive coverage from the festival taking place this week, with interviews with filmmakers like soda jerk, Robert Machoain, Adam Morris and Myles Pollard. To read or listen to those interviews, head over to thecurb.com.au. For now, here's a slice of the trailer of Devil's Peak followed by the interview with Ben Young. 

On this episode I chat with new author Monica Vuu about her first novel, When One of Us Hurts. This is a tight thriller set in a small coastal town. Tragedy has struck the region with a baby being abandoned at a lighthouse, while a teenager has drowned. The novel unravels in captivating fashion, following two characters - Livvy and Marie. Monica's writing vividly brings the their stories to life, leading to a gripping conclusion.  In this interview, Monica talks about how she started writing, and the transition from living in Dubai to moving to Tasmania with her partner.  When One of Us Hurts is published by Pan Macmillan Australia and a copy of the book was provided for this interview. When One of Us Hurts is now available through all good bookstores. https://www.thecurb.com.au/when-one-of-us-hurts-author-monica-vuu-talks-crime-and-tasmania-in-this-interview/

On this episode, Andrew chats with director Luzia Schmid about her stunning documentary Trained to See, which is screening at the Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival. It will launch at the in person screening on June 17, with online sessions available to everyone in Australia afterwards. Trained to See tells the story of three American women journalists - Martha Gellhorn, Lee Miller, and Margaret Bourke-White - who each documented the Second World War in a fearless manner, putting themselves on the front line to capture their stories. Throughout Trained to See, we hear their stories from correspondence and journals that they kept during the period, and ultimately get to see the difficulties they faced as the power of misogyny arose during the war. This is both a powerful and engaging film, and is one of the finest archival documentaries of the year. As mentioned, Trained to See is available to watch for Australian audiences via CDocFF.com.au, alongside other great films including the brilliant football-focused documentary Equal the Contest, directed by Mitch Nivalis, and tells about their journey to push for equality in Aussie football. Other films available to watch online are Watandar My Countryman, The Thief Collector, Into the Ice, Weed & Wine, and Young Plato. For more information about the Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival, read interviews with Mitch Nivalis and Festival Director Claire Jager, and read Nadine's review of Trained to Seehere.

Flyways is a visually stunning and emotionally enriching film about three different groups of endangered migratory shorebirds from around the globe. Each of these birds fly thousands of kilometers around the globe through migratory routes, traversing hemispheres and continents to reach breeding grounds. Often they will fly days without food or water. Directed and shot by Randall Wood, Flyways is a passionate film that presents parts of the avian species that are threatened by humanity alongside the many bird watchers and scientists who eagerly follow their journeys. These scientists use tracking devices and location data, and occasionally, if luck is their side, visual verification from humans, to monitor where the birds move. Flyways plays out like a blend between Travelling Birds and Jennifer Peedom's River and Mountain, acting as a plea for mankind to respect nature and to consider just how we impact the living world around us. With a soaring score by Cezary Skubieszewski, and gentle narration by Mia Wasikowska, Flyways is a soul-enriching film that deserves to be seen on the big screen. In this interview, Randall talks about the importance of capturing these images, how documentaries can be advocacy films, as well as the Q&A sessions that he's embarking upon throughout May and June across Australia. For more information, head to flywaysfilm.com.

The Blue Caftan screens at Perth Festival from March 20th to 26th, before having a theatrical release in cinemas. Maryam Touzani’s sublime and sweet drama, The Blue Caftan, is a film that will stick with me for a long time. Filmed in Morocco, a region of the world where gay relationships come with a criminal sentence, this tells the story of Halim (Saleh Bakri), a maalem, or a master tailor, who works with the support of his wife Mina (Lubna Azabal) to craft stunning, intricate and personal garments. In this interview, Maryam talks about how the titular garment, the Blue Caftan, was created, how she presented the sense of touch on screen, and about the power of giving her actors the space to explore emotional intimacy. Throughout the film, we see Halim work on crafting the titular ‘blue caftan’ for an extremely demanding client who cannot understand why he’s taking so long. After all, the machine made garments can be constructed in half the time and, to their eyes, look just as good. Halim and Mina have a tender, caring relationship with one another, and it’s a testament to simply how great Maryam Touzani’s direction is that she’s able to give these two actors the space to create a loving, genuine relationship on screen. Equally important is the understanding that the two have in their relationship, with Halim seeking the comfort of men outside of his relationship with Mina. Knowing that the art of being a maalem is dying out, Halim brings on an apprentice, Youssef (Ayoub Missioui) to learn the trade. On paper, The Blue Caftan suggests that it’s going to lean into some very high drama stakes, but Maryam cares so tenderly for her characters that she allows them each to find a moment of joy in the time of darkness. The Blue Caftan was shortlisted for the Academy Awards, and continues the great work that Maryam is creating after her previous stellar feature film, Adam, which also showed marginalised groups finding comfort with one another on screen.

Kaya, welcome to The Curb podcast. My name is Andrew Peirce and this podcast is recorded in Boorloo, Perth, Wadjuk Nation, and I pay respect to the elders past present and emerging. On this episode, Andrew talks with director Clayton Orgles, whose latest film Dissociation, a retelling of the HP Lovecraft story The Picture in the House, is screening at the Long Shorts, Short Longs session at the WA Made Film Festival. This impressive short horror film utilises the countryside of Western Australia to unsettling effect, with central performances from Angela Leta Kaye and James Hagan conjuring particularly unnerving characters. in this interview, Clayton talks about how his work on music videos has informed his filmmaking work, the role horror plays in his work, as well as how he created the imagery of the film.  The Long Shorts, Short Longs session is now sold out, but there is a waitlist available, so head over to the WA Made Film Festival facebook page for further details.

On this episode, filmmaker Molly Haddon talks about her brilliant indie family drama The Longest Weekend, which tells the story of three siblings Lou (Mia Artemis), Avery (Elly Hiraani Clapin), and Rio (Adam Golledge), who are each going through a personal crisis and congregate at their mother's (Tammy MacIntosh) home to support one another and work their way through familial tensions. The Longest Weekend is a wonderful performed triple hander, with rich dialogue and narrative that comes from a script written by Jorrden Daley. On paper, this sounds like it might be a rather leaden experience, but there is frequent levity throughout the narrative, and the true to life bonds between each of the characters helps make the story of a family being gradually pulled back together after being stretched apart by the machinations of life feel genuine and grounded. In the following interview, Molly talks about the production process of the film, how she worked with each of the characters, as well as talking about the support from Queer Screen Film Festival. The Longest Weekend has toured around Australia, and will be screened at the Queer Screen Film Festival on Thursday February 23, with Molly and Jorrden, and actor Tammy MacIntosh in attendance for a Q&A. Tickets for Queer Screen are available here.

Andrew heads down the rabbit hole with the travelling exhibition at Boola Bardip WA Museum in Perth, ACMI's Alice in Wonderland exhibition. Featuring a mammoth array of archival materials from since Lewis Carroll's iconic and formative book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, was first released in 1865, this exhibition takes you on a magical journey with early silent era films, to Jan Svankmajer's haunting and eerie stop motion feature, to Disney's animated version, all the way to the recent Tim Burton entries. Along the way, there is a wealth of knowledge about the various different versions of the story, whether it be through drug awareness campaigns, anime, or even x-rated musical comedies: you name it, it's here in some capacity. Yet, don't let the mention of X-rated musical comedies make you feel that this is solely an adult experience, as kids of all ages can find something to enjoy here, with a mystical maze like hallway experience with small doors, a spectacular Mad Hatter tea party experience where a bare table comes to life in front of you, and so much more. Once you've experienced the exhibition, you can also take part in the Story Time, which is for families with young kids, and features a half-hour story telling session on Friday and Sunday mornings. Additionally, on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays while the exhibition is on, you can participate in an elaborate Mad Hatter's Tea Party with high tea sessions running at 1030am and 2pm until the exhibition wraps up on the 23rd of April. To help give a bit of insight into the exhibition, I chatted with the director of exhibitions and touring, Chris Harris, about his favourite part of the exhibtion, how the exhibition has been pulled together, and the logistics of bringing Jan Svankmajer's puppetry to Australia and around the globe. Chris starts the conversation talking about the journey of the exhibition, which launched in 2018 in Melbourne, and has visited Singapore prior to landing in Perth. For more details, visit museum.wa.gov.au or jump to the link in the shownotes.

In this episode Andrew chats with writer, director, actor Greg Sestero about his latest film, Miracle Valley, which is screening around Australia from today - February 15 - with Q&A screenings taking place around the country. Naturally, when Greg is in town, screenings of The Room take place too, and Greg will be on hand to chat with audiences about his work on those two films. But Greg's more than just a guy who's received fame from The Room. He's also starred in films like The Christmas Tapes, which Perth local Rob Livings co-directed. Greg talks about Miracle Valley, twenty years of The Room and what the title 'the worst film of all time' means to him. This interview was recorded in Northbridge so there is some atmospheric sound, and you'll have to excuse the mic dropping midway through, the wind knocked it over. The interview starts with Andrew, naturally, talking about Mac and Me, another 'worst film of all time'. If you're in Perth, head along to catch Miracle Valley and The Room at Luna Leederville on February 15 and 16..

We Are Still Here is a First Nations anthology film featuring the directing and writing work from Chantelle Burgoyne, Dena Curtis, Richard Curtis, Mario Gaoa, Danielle MacLean, Miki Magasiva, Renae Maihi, Tracey Rigney, Tim Worrall, Samuel Paynter, Tiraroa Reweti, and supervising director Beck Cole. It is a film that spans from the past, to the present, and into the future, and is a response to 250 years of colonisation after the arrival of Captain Cook to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific island nations. In this interview, Andrew talked with Dena Curtis about her entry in the anthology, Woke, featuring co-lead performances from Sean Mununggurr and Robert Taylor. It's a powerful short that pulls back in time and presents colonial Central Australia and the fractious relationship between Taylor's coloniser who is lost, and Mununggurr's Kngwarraye who guides him back home to a truth he doesn't want to hear. Dena also talks about her career, and what has changed in the twenty years since she started working on film and now, as well as about the upcoming Australian International Documentary Conference, and what to expect from the panel she is part of: First and Foremost: First Nations Knowledge Through Documentary. We Are Still Here launches in Australian cinemas on February 16, with Q&A sessions around the nation. Visit the We Are Still Here Facebook page for further details.

Allegra Teo launched an impressive career in 2022 with two films: The Curious Case of Dolphin Bay and the AACTA award nominated and WA Screen Culture Award winning Pieces. With sell-out screenings and national support, Pieces is heading to the upcoming WA Made Film Festivalon February 18 2023. Tickets are moving out the door, so pick up yours before they sell out. In this interview, Allegra talks about the difference of working on both productions, what her dream roles are and the actors who have inspired her, and what working alongside Martin Wilson to tell a story of mental illness was like. Check out other episodes at www.TheCurb.com.au

Still Standing is an Aussie made doco about the golden era of arcade and pinball machines. It's a nostalgic trip down memory lane, where director Brad Gilbertson heads into the legendary arcades around the nation and chats with the people who helped form many childhood memories. Brad is based in Adelaide, and as such frequented local arcades like Downtown and Magic Mountain, and chatted with the godfather of amusement venues, Frank Sebastyan, for the documentary, alongside many other folks. Independently produced and made by BGVC Films, Still Standing is releasing around the globe on February 22. In this interview, Andrew chats with Brad about how he made the film, what his favourite arcade game was, and some of the uniquely Australian stories about Australian arcades that he discovered during filming. To find out more, heading over to theStill Standing Facebook page and check out the trailer below.

Perth based filmmaker Hassib Kushkaki's feature film Rampage Electra will have its world premiere at the upcoming WA Made Film Festival, which screens at Palace Cinemas Raine Square, Perth, between February 17 to 26. This is a Perth shot action film that features Mikayla Levy as Hannah Electra, a young girl who has a shadowy past that is revealed to her by her father, throwing her into a harsh world of gangsters and guns. Featuring a huge cast and shot in iconic Perth locations like Fremantle Prison and Lancelin, Rampage Electra shows creative ingenuity on a micro-budget. Hassib caught up with me to talk about the film ahead of its world premiere on February 24 at the WA Made Film Festival. Hassib is also taking part in the free Indie Filmmaker Panel on February 19 at The Globe, alongside producer Stephanie Davis who produced the web series Love Me Lex, filmmaker Aaron Kamp who recently made Thorns & Thistles at the End of the World, Arnold Carter, who made Sun Moon & Thalia, Sarah Legg who made Cherubhead, and has a new short film Impression, and producer Ruby Schmidt, who helped bring General Hercules to life. All of these films, and many more are at the WA Made Film Festival. Check out the WA Made Film Festival here, and purchase tickets to Rampage Electrahere. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivgAC7I-oM

The story of Julie Peters is explored in the documentary The Accidental Archivist, which is screening at the upcoming Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney on Monday February 20th alongside the great short Trans Glamoré, about DJ Victoria Anthony. In The Accidental Archivist, Julie tells her story of how her extensive collection of trans-related media came into existence prior to her story of transitioning while working at the ABC in the 1990s. In the following interview, Julie talks about the years of working at the ABC, the way that change takes place in workplaces, as well as about her live show at the Midsumma Festival, Mutton is the New Lamb, between the 3rd of February and the 12th of February. In this interview, Julie also talks about her PhD, A feminist post-transsexual autoethnography on challenging normative gender coercion, which is available to read via Deakin University or can be purchased in book format via Routledge.com here. The Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festivalruns from February 15 through to March 2 2023 with both in person and online screenings. To purchase tickets and to view the rest of the festival, head over to the website here: https://queerscreen.org.au/.

Filmmaker Phoebe Wolfe's short film The Overthrow tells the story of two friends, Cleo (Annabel Wolfe) and Iris (Miah Madden), who head out in the heat of summer to rollerskate from Sydney to Parliament House in Canberra to protest for more action on climate change. The two set off with the best of intentions, spreading awareness via social media with #Skate4Climate, but as the journey carries on, tensions erupt between the two, with Cleo questioning Iris' dedication to action on climate change. The Overthrow is a superb short film that is screening at Flickerfest 2023. In this interview, Phoebe talks about where the idea for the short came from, how working with her sister Annabel went, and the casting of Miah Madden, while also touching on how they managed to film outside Parliament House. Head over to Flickerfest.com.auto purchase tickets and follow where the national tour will take place.

The Curb is proudly part of the Auscast Network. Subscribe via RSS feed, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or Google Podcasts. Flickerfest is one of the leading Academy Award accredited and BAFTA recognised competitive short film festivals in the world. The 2023 festival takes place from January 20-29 in Bondi Beach, Sydney before heading out on a national tour. Festival director Bronwyn Kidd joins Andrew on this podcast to discuss the 2023 festival, looking back at 25 years of working with Flickerfest, and providing some 2023 festival highlights. The 2023 festival embraces the spirit of the Aussie classic, The Castle, and Bronwyn talks about what "it's Bondi, it's the vibe" means for the festival. Head over to Flickerfest.com.auto purchase tickets and follow where the national tour will take place.

On this episode, I'm joined by emerging Noongar Wongi rapper Ethan Eggington, also known as Inkabee, who recently released his debut single and music video Beat the Odds, and his father Joshua Egginton, aka award-winning Noongar Wongi rapper Flewnt MC. The two talk about the relationship they have working with each other, how Inkabee was inspired by Flewnt growing up, and the work of Kwinana Beats, a youth music program facilitated by hip hop artist Rush Wepiha. Beat the Odds is out on all streaming platforms now and was recorded at The Kwinana Beats studio. Make sure to check it out and follow Inkabee and Flewnt on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and other music platforms. Head over to TheCurb.com.au for previous podcast episodes, interviews and reviews. Check out the music video for Beat the Odds here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P830e214Ois

ACMI (the Australian Centre for the Moving Image) is one of the finest cultural institutions in the nation, sitting in the heart of Melbourne's Federation Square. Over the summer months, ACMI is screening two curated film selections that celebrate some of the best films of 2022 and a series of films that represent and celebrate the season of summer. Joining Andrew to discuss this catalogue of films is ACMI film curator Reece Godwin who talks about his personal favourite pick of the line-up of 22 films in the Best 22 of 2022 line-up, how the films were selected, and what the importance of experiencing films in a cinema is. More about the curated film selections here: Best 22 of 2022 (1 Dec - 29 Jan) Spanning filmmaking, documentary and animation from Australia and around the world, this program celebrates the best cinema of 2022 - a great opportunity to dive in and catch the new films set to be awards-season favourites in 2023. Highlights include a preview screening of Ruben Östlund latest social satire Triangle of Sadness ahead of its official release. Days of Summer (17 Dec - 14 Feb) From sun-dappled picnics to summer solstices to surf; cool off in our cinema with a selection of classic and contemporary films that capture the best of summer. Every day at 7pm, audiences can catch cult classics like Puberty Blues and Sexy Beast. The Curb is proudly part of the Auscast Network. Subscribe via RSS feed, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or Google Podcasts.

Kaya, welcome to The Curb podcast. My name is Andrew Peirce and this podcast is recorded in Boorloo, Western Australia. It’s been a while between drinks for this audio podcast, and I’m proud to jump back in with a fascinating discussion with composer and filmmaker Ashley Davies in relation to his new film, album, and art exhibition entitled Gold. Gold is an album that is inspired by Ashley’s uncle, Len Davies, an artist who upon his death left a legacy of over 500 paintings to be distributed amongst his family. Ashley chose ‘The Lasseter series’, a group of paintings that told the tale of Lasseter’s Reef, the tale of Harold Bell Lasseter as he headed into Central Australia to search for a 15 k gold reef. The series of paintings, and Ashley’s score itself, reflect Lasseter’s fateful journey that resulted with his reputation tarnished and his death. Len Davies paintings work as a counterpoint to those legends, presenting Lasseter’s journey and death as a radiant, beautiful one. In the following interview, Ashley talks about Len’s time during the war, which is further detailed in an impressive article by Claire Hunter on the Australian War Memorial website. Ashley also talks about the presentation of Gold at the Sun Theatre in Victoria, on November 30, and what audiences will encounter when they watch the half hour film and witness the paintings after the screening. Tickets are available on the Sun Theatre website. The link will be available in the show notes. For previous episodes of The Curb podcast, head over to TheCurb.com.au. While you’re there, pick up a copy of The Australian Film Yearbook – 2021 Edition, which details Australian feature films, documentaries and short films released during 2021. Here’s a snippet of Birth on the album Gold by Ashley Davies. Purchase Gold by Ashley Davies on Bandcamp here. Read about Len Davies time in the war here. Purchase tickets to see Gold at the Sun Theatre in Victoria here.

Filmmaker and award-winning journalist Yaara Bou Melhem makes their documentary debut with their impressive new film, Unseen Skies. Following artist-activist-writer-musician Trevor Paglen as he makes art out of the plentiful black op sites around the world, Unseen Skies interrogates what it means to be surveilled, what is happening with the wealth of data being collected from us, and more. It's a visually stunning film with a soaring score by Helena Czajka. Unseen Skies plays at the Sydney Film Festival on November 10th, November 13th, and will be available online via SFF On Demand on November 12th. Purchase tickets here.

Over six years, a couple battles to stay together as one of them transitions genders; confronting the effects of new body parts, changing gender roles as well as navigating their own evolving sexual identities.

With blood, guts, and a whole bunch of indie filmmaking gusto, genre-fiends brother duo Kiah and Tristan Roache-Turner flipped the Aussie film industry on its with the outback-zombie flick Wyrmood: Road of the Dead in 2014. With sci-fi follow up Nekrotronic under their belts, they turned their attention to the hotly anticipated and equally bloody follow-up, Wyrmwood: Apocalypse. Continuing on this post-apocalyptic mayhem journey where zombies breath has become a substitute for fuel, Kiah grows as a director in impressive ways with this new entry. In part one of a deep dive interview with Kiah, we explores how this entry came about, the influence of Ozploitation masters, and dig into the freedom that low budget filmmaking affords. Make sure to come back and check out part two on Wednesday, where Kiah talks about recognising the talent in yourself, inventive drone shots, and more.  

The Curb is proudly part of the Auscast Network. Subscribe via RSS feed, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or Google Podcasts.Download the episode directly here. Shahn Devendran is the series creator and producer of the powerful Amazon and LADbible Australia show, UNHEARD. Telling the story of racism in Australia from the perspective of those who live with the impact of racial discrimination, this is a powerful, important series. Andrew interviews Shahn about the creation of the series, the social impact campaigns that LADbible has engaged with, and how to encourage people who might not feel they live in a racist society to watch this show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXp6JXi1F1Y&ab_channel=AmazonPrimeVideoAUNZ Song featured in this episode: Everything's Fucked - The Dirty Three Find out more about the series below. Amazon Prime Video today announced a ground-breaking new six-episode documentary series, UNHEARD, the first feature produced by LADbible Australia Originals and with production funding from Screen Australia. All six episodes of UNHEARD will premiere on Amazon Prime Video in Australia, New Zealand and select countries around the world on 29 October, with the first two episodes also available to stream for free on primevideo.com. UNHEARD will give Prime Video members an insight into critical issues of racial discrimination in Australia, including Indigenous deaths in custody, the targeting of Indigenous youth, attacks towards Asians during COVID, Islamophobia, the vilification of the African community and the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees. The six stand-alone episodes in the UNHEARD series are told through intimate interviews, blended with animation, archive footage, podcasts, photographs, phone conversations and infographics revealing the shocking statistics and complexities behind the larger issues. Each episode is led by the voices of personal accounts, so their experiences and calls for justice are presented without filter. “The opportunity to program this compelling investigative series is significant to us,” said Tyler Bern, Head of Content, Amazon Prime Video Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. “UNHEARD is a necessary action and awareness series that is globally relevant to Prime members in Australia and makes them aware of social injustice locally.  We are very proud to be involved with LADbible Australia on this production and showcasing this important documentary series.” The UNHEARD documentary series is an extension of LADbible Australia’s UNHEARD campaign. Launched in February 2021, the campaign utilises LADbible Group’s global audience of almost a billion and Australian audience of 11.8 million to support their campaign partners; the National Justice Project, Human Rights Commission, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, The Refugee Council of Australia, Change.org, African Women Australia, Asian Australian Alliance, Islamophobia Register Australia, Deadly Connections Community and Justice Services and All Together Now. “The UNHEARD campaign and documentary series not only provides a platform for these powerful stories to be told, but also helps put a global focus on Australian incidents of racial injustice that are often overlooked,” says executive producer, writer and creator, Shahn Devendran, Head of Originals, LADbible APAC. “We are proud that LADbible’s first feature documentary series is able to support our campaign partners, and in working with Amazon Prime Video and Screen Australia will help bring these important issues to light.” UNHEARD was written and produced by Shahn Devendran (LADbible Australia Originals), Jack Steele (Between Two Lines), Cathy Vu (SBS), Luke Cornish (Alone Out Here), Dan Mansour (The Final Word), Olivia Suleimon (Rosaline’s Untaming) and Ellen Dedes-Vallas (Nickelodeon). UNHEARDwill join a growing list of Australian produced content available on Amazon Prime Video. Since 2019, Prime Video has commissioned14 Amazon Original series in Australia including The Test: A New Era for Australia’s Team, Making Their Mark, a series of 10 stand-up comedy specials by some of Australia’s best comedians, LOL: Last One Laughing AU with Rebel Wilson, Head Above Water, Luxe Listings Sydney, The Moth Effect and the upcoming Back to the Rafters. UNHEARD will also join thousands of TV shows and movies in the Prime Video catalogue, including hits like Golden Globe award-winner Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Underground Railroad, Them, Val, The Boys, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Coming 2 America, Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse, The Tomorrow War, Cinderella, Nine Perfect Strangers, Upload, plus Emmy Award winners Fleabag, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Prime members will be able to watch UNHEARD anywhere and anytime on the Prime Video app for smart TVs, mobile devices, Fire TV, Fire TV stick, Fire tablets, Apple TV, and stream online. In the Prime Video app, Prime members can download episodes on their mobile devices and tablets and watch anywhere offline at no additional cost. Prime Video is available in Australia at no additional cost to a Prime membership for just $6.99 a month; new customers can find out more at www.primevideo.com and subscribe to a free 30-day trial.

Subscribe via: RSS Feed// Spotify // Apple Podcasts // Google Podcasts// Pocket Casts For some reason, the last Alfred Hitchcock film to be nominated for Best Picture is his 1945 psychological thriller, Spellbound. Featuring an early performance from Gregory Peck, and another lead performance from Ingrid Bergman, Spellbound was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and winning the Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture Oscar for Miklós Rózsa. While co-hosts Dave and Andrew could have gone the easy route by discussing Mildred Pierce, a much more worthy Best Picture nominee (and deserving winner too), they instead digest how psychology is presented by Hitchcock, how to present a good amnesia film, while also being surprised by the fun of the film. Spoilers abound for The Yearling too. Clips presented in this episode: Spellbound trailer // Liverwurst scene // Therapy Scene Follow the hosts on social media at the links below: Andrew F Peirce – @TheCurbAU David Giannini – @Darnthatdave Awards Don’t Matter – @AwardsDontPod

Aussie filmmaker Josephine Croft joins Andrew to discuss her new short film, Grounded, which is currently engaging in festival submissions. In this deep discussion, Josephine talks about how the idea for the stranded horror came about, while also discussing the creative process of making a short film during lockdowns. Find out more about Grounded from Dayna Di Fulvio below, and to keep up to date with Josephine's work, and Grounded, visit www.josephinecroft.com.au and www.tenaciousstories.net. Short Thriller Grounded Awakens Your Worst Fears on an Aeroplane Set on a decommissioned aeroplane at Avalon Airport in Victoria, Grounded takes viewers on a thrilling journey of entrapment and isolation. The film centres around a uniquely chilling circumstance where main character Anne (Josephine Croft) wakes to find herself locked up, forgotten and alone on a grounded aeroplane. Inspired by the true story of a woman travelling on a USA airline who fell asleep and was accidentally abandoned after everyone disembarked. Melbourne based filmmaker Josephine Croft envisioned the nightmare scenario with a twist. “Though in real life she just called someone and they came to get her. I thought it would make a good short film and spit-balled the idea of some sort of monster being stuck on board with her.” The audience follows the character Anne played by Croft, as she comes to the realisation the cabin has been sealed and she must escape. Her fight quickly turns to flight from the unknown locked inside with her. As something hunts her, she tries to scramble for safety, knowing she’s trapped. Croft raises the stakes of her short thriller about survival by intertwining it with the supernatural themes, "I think being trapped with something unknown takes the horror and anxiety to the next level. Firstly to survive and secondly to get off the plane."  To date, the short film has been selected as a finalist in the European Cinematography Awards, New York Cinematography Awards and AFIN - International Film Festival. Along with winning an honourable mention award for best soundtrack at the Oniros Film Awards New York.  Award-winning key creatives based throughout Australia tied to the project include Syndey/Melbourne director, Jesse Richards. Melbourne cinematographer Marcus Cropp and Perth based music composer, Sean Tinnion.  Grounded is anticipated to be hitting the Australian film festival circuit during 2021 and 2022. To keep up to date with their screening information and to watch their trailer check out the links below.  FB: www.facebook.com/groundedtheshortfilm/ IG: www.instagram.com/groundedtheshortfilm/ W: www.tenaciousstories.net/grounded Grounded - trailer from Josephine Croft on Vimeo.

My Cherry Pie is one of the brilliant Aussie horror films screening at the online film fest: A NIGHT OF HORROR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. With a clear adoration for horror cinema, My Cherry Pie is a gruesome and hilarious dive into the world of criminals who end up in the wrong part of the country, and in deadly strife. Certain to delight horror fans, this is a genuinely exciting entry into the all-too-sparse Aussie horror film canon. Co-directors Addison Heath and Jasmine Jakupi talk about their influences, how they made the film in rural Victoria, and turning Sotiris Tzelios into a Roger Ward-lookalike in this interview. Make sure to check out My Cherry Piewhen A NIGHT OF HORROR lands on October 18th.

The Lost Weekend is Billy Wilder's first Best Picture winning film, and first time winning Best Director as well. For a director that many may know as a comedy-focused great, this journey into the darkness of alcohol addiction is bleak, powerful, and ultimately a very sobering affair. With a searing Best Actor award winning performance from Ray Milland, and a comforting supporting turn from the ever-reliable Jane Wyman, The Lost Weekend stands as a Best Picture winner that has fallen out of conversation but deserves reappraisal. On Awards Don't Matter, co-hosts Dave and Andrew discuss this noir-tinged drama at length, touching on some very sensitive and possibly triggering subjects. Ultimately, this leads them to the enduring question: does The Lost Weekend still matter? Clips in this episode: The Lost Weekend trailer // Benefits of Drinking clip Follow the hosts on social media at the links below: Andrew F Peirce – @TheCurbAU David Giannini – @Darnthatdave Awards Don’t Matter – @AwardsDontPod

Subscribe via: RSS Feed// Spotify // Apple Podcasts // Google Podcasts// Pocket Casts Trigger Warning: This episode discusses instances of abuse, manipulation, and gaslighting. We arrive at one of the films that Andrew was anticipating the most when coming to discussion Best Picture winners and nominees: George Cukor's thriller Gaslight. Starring Ingrid Bergman in one of her Oscar winning roles, alongside Charles Boyer, Joseph Cotten, and Oscar nominee Angela Lansbury, this thriller is a film that coined a phrase that has become synonymous with a horrifying act of bruality that people enact on one another. Co-hosts Dave and Andrew discuss the intensity of this  powerful, enduring classic, while also discussing the morality of Joseph Cotten's heroic character, exploring the 'one perfect shot' aspect of the film, and theorising what kind of impact Gaslight might have had on the film industry if it won Best Picture. And then they wrap up deciding how to pronounce Dune. Clips featured in this episode: A Wife's Revenge Scene // Gaslight trailer // Bloodthirsty Bessie Scene // You Think I'm Insane Scene Follow the hosts on social media at the links below: Andrew F Peirce – @TheCurbAU David Giannini – @Darnthatdave Awards Don’t Matter – @AwardsDontPod

As World War Two wraps up, we ease out of one of the worst events of modern humankind with one of the most charming and inconsequential Best Picture winners yet, Leo McCarey's Going My Way. Bing Crosby won Best Actor, and dual nominee for the same role, Barry Fitzgerald won Best Supporting Actor, both playing priests keeping their church and its constiuents alive. Dave and Andrew navigate religion, priests, music, and charm in this discussion that tries to pat this nice little film on the shoulder for trying. Thankfully, this isn't the musical Cats, nor is it another Best Picture winner, Spotlight. Clips featured in this episode: Going My Way trailer // Right Field Pitcher // They Let it Happen from Spotlight Follow the hosts on social media at the links below: Andrew F Peirce – @TheCurbAU David Giannini – @Darnthatdave Awards Don’t Matter – @AwardsDontPod Follow the hosts on social media at the links below: Andrew F Peirce – @TheCurbAU David Giannini – @Darnthatdave Awards Don’t Matter – @AwardsDontPod

The Curb is proudly part of the Auscast Network. Subscribe via RSS feed, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or Google Podcasts.Download the episode directly here. Filmmaker Robert Machoian has crafted a searing depiction of separation and despair in his essential drama, The Killing of Two Lovers. Following David (Clayne Crawford), this narrative tumbles and turns as he tries to maintain a hold on his relationship with his wife Niki (Sepideh Moafi) and his children. The title hints at violence, but the film is devoid of any significant bloodshed, instead focusing on the violence that is conjured in a separation. Andrew caught up with Robert to talk about the production of the film, depicting separation and tragedy on screen, and being influence by Kelly Reichardt. The Killing of Two Lovers is in Australian cinemas from September 16th 2021.

The Curb is proudly part of the Auscast Network. Subscribe via RSS feed, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or Google Podcasts.Download the episode directly here. BAFTA Award winning writer, Anthony Mullins, joins Andrew to discuss his new book, Beyond the Hero's Journey: A Screenwriting Guide for When You've Got a Different Story to Tell. In this deep discussion, Anthony talks about the process of writing a book on screenwriting, how he decided on what films to include in the book (and which big title he excludes), while also talking about the need for emotional openness when it comes to talking about films. Music included in this episode: The Nightingale, Burning. Available via New South Books here.

Jonathan Alley's powerful documentary, Love in Bright Landscapes, tells the story of David McComb and The Triffids - arguably the greatest West Aussie band to have existed. In this grand interview, Jonathan talks about the long journey to bringing David's story to a film, the power of The Triffids music, while also touching on how it feels to be an interviewer who has interview someone who has passed away. This is a deep, informative interview, just like the film itself. Love in Bright Landscapes is in cinemas from September 9th. In Perth, Luna Leederville has a series of special events celebrating the film. Tickets can be found here. If you're a fan of The Triffids, or want to support the documentary, then visit the Love in Bright Landscapes website here, and pick up a copy ofDeep in a Dreamhere.