BEARING WITNESS: QUEENSLAND DOCUMENTARIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Queensland stories and makers are having a moment. From tales of cowboys reimagining Australia’s cattle industry, to AI lovers in contemporary China, unearthing First Nations family histories, and courageous whistleblowers, in this session local filmmakers will share their unique approaches to crafting striking feature documentaries that showcase the lives of ordinary people with extraordinary stories. 

Showcasing a stellar line up of bold practitioners with distinct storytelling approaches including Ivan O’Mahoney (Sentient), Yale MacGillivray (Moblands), Andy Huang (Replica), and Allan Clarke (Hey Brother), together, these fearless practitioners will share their unique approaches to telling bold character documentaries that reveal as much about the personal as it does the complex worlds their characters inhabit.

MODERATOR: Alice McShane (AIDC)

SPEAKERS: Allan Clarke (Independent / online), Andy Huang (Axel Rise Films), Ivan O’Mahoney (In Films), Yale MacGillivray (Independent)

Image Credit: Replica (Axel Rise Films, 2026)