Ross Gibson at the Melbourne CTEQ
Cinema Reborn’s great friend Ray Argall is a key figure in the world of restoring classic Australian titles. All up we’ve presented close to a dozen films that Ray through his company Piccolo Films has brought back into glowing new life. This includes Ray’s own AFI Award-winning film RETURN HOME which we screened in 2022. Among the films Ray has recently restored are a collection of the work of Sydney filmmaker, author and historian Ross Gibson (1956-2023).
Ray writes: “The Melbourne Cinematheque are screening 3 Ross Gibson films that we at Piccolo Films have recently restored. The program is screening on Wednesday 25th November. Of particular interest is CAMERA NATURA (30 mins) which is a fascinating study of Australian landscape and how it is represented in Cinema (Ross and his producer John Cruthers referred to it as a Pop Clip Essay Film) It’s full of archival film excerpts, many that we’ve been able to update with more recently created restoration works.
“Along with the second film WILD are newly accessed excerpts from BACK OF BEYOND which the NFSA has scanned and we’ve restored for these films. Absolutely gorgeous B&W film material directed by John Heyer, as you’re no doubt aware.
“DEAD TO THE WORLD is the feature film made by Ross with the Huzzah team and this is the never released Director’s Cut version, with remastered audio.
“John Cruthers produced all three films and will attend the screenings, as will I. Kathryn Bird is introducing them.
“So please share the info with any Melbourne Cinema Reborn patrons. NOTE that the ACMI and Melbourne Cinematheque website links don’t refer to these as newly presented restoration works - These are world premieres.”
Click on this link to read the introductory notes about Ross published on the Melbourne Cinematheque website.
Adrian Martin on Fritz Lang
Cinema Reborn dedicated supporter Adrian Martin has uploaded a superb series of video lectures devoted to the master Fritz Lang.
Adrian writes: “Today on my Substack I posted the 1st video (with clips & screenshots) in a 5-part lecture course about the films of Fritz Lang. This first one (which runs for 53 mins) is free; for the rest, you’ll need to be a paid subscriber. Link in comments. There’s several years of stuff on my Substack now: texts, translations, videos – none of it reproducing what is on my website. Check it out, and help keep me afloat by becoming a paying subscriber!”
Click on this link to find the first lecture.
Masters of Iranian Cinema launches Sydney screenings.
Get to know the filmmakers who shaped Iranian cinema in a new series presented by Persian Film Festival Australia’s CineCircle in partnership with UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture.
Part of the festival’s ongoing program, Masters of Iranian Cinema invites students, film enthusiasts and the wider community to explore landmark works through their artistic, cultural and historical contexts.
The series opens with Ebrahim Golestan’s BRICK AND MIRROR (1965), a pioneering work that helped lay the foundations for the Iranian New Wave. When a Tehran taxi driver discovers a baby left in his cab, he and his girlfriend confront questions of care, responsibility and their future together. Combining striking black-and-white imagery with an intimate human story, Golestan’s debut feature offers a searching portrait of a society caught between compassion and indifference.
Join us for the opening screening and an opportunity to encounter a defining work of modern Iranian cinema.
Date and time: 7th November 3 PM
Venue: Building EGO2, UNSW Paddington Campus
Details and bookings click here.
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