Sunburnt Screens An Australian Film Odyssey
Hosted by Australia's favourite cinephile Alexei Toliopoulos at the Sydney Opera House this June, Sunburnt Screens: An Australian Cinema Odyssey presents a rollicking journey through the last 50 years of Australian cinema.
Inspired by the Sunburnt Screens podcast, highlights of the season include the world premiere of the new 4K restoration of underseen Sydney beach noir The Empty Beach (1985) starring Bryan Brown, plus a preview screening of the buzzy contemporary outback thriller Birdeater from debut directors Jack Clark and Jim Weir. Rounding out the program is a 25th anniversary screening of Two Hands (1999), a new 4K restoration of Rolf de Heer’s Cannes award-winning Ten Canoes (2006), Gillian Armstrong’s The Last Days of Chez Nous (1992) written by Helen Garner and a screening of Brian Trenchard-Smith’s Sydney Harbour-set Ozploitation extravaganza The Man from Hong Kong (1975).
Tickets for all films are $30. Purchase a ticket to two films from the season to save 15%.
Each session will feature a special introduction by Alexei Toliopoulos and is presented by Sydney Opera House and Umbrella Entertainment.
The Last Days of Chez Nous + Director Q&A
30 Jun 2024
Birdeater + Director Introduction
27 Jun 2024
The Man from Hong Kong
29 Jun 2024
Ten Canoes
29 Jun 2024
The Empty Beach
30 Jun 2024
Two Hands
30 Jun 2024
A note from Alexei Toliopoulos
I’ve always felt like my mission on earth was to connect people with the films they love and, particularly, celebrate Australian cinema. Sunburnt Screens is genuinely one of the most exciting, distinguished and prestigious honours of my life to share with you special screenings of some of my most cherished films in one of the country’s most recognisable landmarks (which I think is actually a really cool place to watch a flick). Each film has been lovingly curated and cared for - ready for you to unearth or rediscover a film you’ll treasure for the rest of your life.
Alexei Toliopolous
Writer, comedian, podcaster, film critic