Australia is a beautiful country with unique geographical landscape and rich natural resources. Since the last century, with the development of economy and society, Australia's film industry has also made remarkable strides, producing many globally celebrated films.

The 15th Beijing International Film Festival's “Beijing Film Panorama” will present “Australian Film Week” as part of the “Global Vision” section, showcasing six representative Australian films. From historic classics to contemporary masterpieces from the Australian film industry, the program offers audiences a rich glimpse into the diversity of Australia’s cinematic artistry.

The Surfer is psychological thriller starring Nicolas Cage. It was selected for the Midnight Screenings section at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, and received numerous praises at its premiere. Cage plays a father who takes his son to an Australian beach to surf, only to be ruthlessly humiliated by a group of men and encounter a chain of unsettling events in this ominous place. The film delivers an intensely hypnotic and frenzied audio-visual climax, offering an exceptional theatrical experience. Cage's riveting performance in the film is also a highlight of the film.

　　

A still from The Surfer

This is an Australian production filmed on the Mongolian grasslands. It tells the story of how a herder family is forced to move to the city to make a living due to the impact of climate change. The film draws on the characters' real lives and experiences, inviting them to reenact scenes from their own past. This fusion of documentary and fiction is one of the film’s defining features, and the herders’ love for the land is deeply affecting. The film was directed by Australian female documentary director Gabrielle Brady and was previously shortlisted for the Platform competition section at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival in Canada.

　　

Memoir of a Snail is the latest animated film by Adam Elliott, the director of Mary and Max, and it has been nominated for the 2025 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The film continues the particular style of Elliot’s Claymation and tells the story of Grace and her twin brother Gilbert. After their father's death, the twin are separated and adopted by different families. Grace has always longed to reunite with her brother, but reality repeatedly lets her down. Can the brother and sister meet again? With its dramatic twists and tear-jerking moments, this is a must-see animated feature of the year.

　　

This is a clay animation film with a high score of 9.0 on Douban. This film tells the story of Mary, a young Australian girl, and her pen pal Max, who lives far away in the United States. Despite the twists and turns between the two lonely characters, they build a lasting and solid friendship through years of correspondence. The film has moved countless audiences around the world with its meticulous production and nuanced emotions, becoming one of the most popular animated films in the 21st century. It has won multiple awards at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival. It is a well-crafted film that is both artistically rich and accessible to a broad audience.

　　

Directed by acclaimed Australian director Peter Weir, The Last Wave is a monumental work exploring the stories of aboriginal Australians, featuring performances by aboriginal actors. The story follows a white lawyer investigating the death of an aboriginal man, gradually uncovering connections to the mysterious culture of the indigenous people, which makes the case increasingly complicated and confusing. Peter Weir creates a psychological thriller atmosphere, and the finale features a towering tidal wave - one of the most shocking scenes in cinematic history.

　　

As Christmas approaches, a young rural schoolteacher sets off to visit his girlfriend in Sydney. But after stopping in a town and losing all his money gambling, things start to get dark, odd, and violent. Hailed as a representative film of the “Australian New Wave,” the movie merges the Australian landscape with the presentation and critique of human psychology and character. The film achieved major artistic accomplishments and was nominated for the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. This screening features the latest restored 4K version.

　　

A still from Wake in Fright

Special thanks to the Australian Embassy in China for their generous support of this unit!