PUBLISHED07 May 2026

New to Documentary Australia

See the latest documentaries approved for fiscal sponsorship

Side Quest Stories

An artist transforms a neglected house into a creative sanctuary that supports survivors and drives social change.

Impact area: Women & Girls, Human Rights & Social Justice, The Arts

Songlines

As Australia’s mining interests expand on sacred land, one Mardathoonera woman risks everything to save her Country.

Impact area: Indigenous, Environment, Human Rights & Social Justice

Coral Kids

When self-taught coral gardener Mike Lee realises he cannot save Aitutaki’s lagoon alone, he invites local children to join him, only to discover they’ve lost the cultural practice of swimming, forcing them all on a journey to reclaim what was lost before they can protect what remains.

Impact area: Environment, Indigenous, Youth & Education

The Life and Art of Javier Lara Gomez

In a maximum security prison built for punishment, one man’s imagination became an act of resistance.

Impact area: Human Rights & Social Justice, The Arts

One Thousand and One Pool

Rockpools are iconic features and living archives of Australia’s coastline, history, and shared community spirit.

Impact area: The Arts, Human Rights & Social Justice, Women & Girls

The Art Keepers

We meet security guards and tradespeople at three major art galleries, and explore their new-found appreciation for art.

Impact area: The Arts, Health & Wellbeing, Youth & Education

The Influencers

What if the most dangerous men you’ll ever meet are now the ones fighting hardest to save lives?

Impact area: Human Rights & Social Justice, Health & Wellbeing

Carn The Chinese!

Three former footballers share their stories of playing footy in the 60s to the 80s in an all-Chinese-Australian team.

Impact area: Human Rights & Social Justice, Health & Wellbeing, Youth & Education

Anchorwoman

23

The meteoric rise and sensationalised ‘fall’ of TV News’ “Golden Girl”.

Impact area: Women & Girls, Human Rights & Social Justice

My Name Is Robert Ruark

Silenced in court, an Ohio man fights for clemency as his family and supporters break their silence about the injustice.

Impact area: Human Rights & Social Justice

John Martins | The Big Store

The Beatles, four State Premiers and Father Christmas. Their unlikely connection? A department store that closed 30 years ago.

Impact area: Health & Wellbeing, Human Rights & Social Justice, The Arts

Unspeakable

We follow eight victim-survivors of sexual violence on their paths to healing, cultivating a movement and redefining sexual liberation from the ground up.

Impact area: Women & Girls, Human Rights & Social Justice

The Toy Smuggler of Aleppo

Rami Adham smuggled toys into war-ravaged Syria 36 times to bring joy to refugee children.

Impact area: Human Rights & Social Justice, Health & Wellbeing

Trade Secret

Trade Secret unearths the hidden history of the underground hormone trades among trans and gender-diverse people in 1980s St Kilda, revealing a world of passed-down knowledge and whispered networks.

Impact area: Human Rights & Social Justice, Health & Wellbeing

Unorthodoctor

From skateboarding doctor to medicinal cannabis guru, Dr Jay struggles to find fulfilment after a young onset Parkinson’s diagnosis.

Impact area: Health & Wellbeing

Elsie: We Will not be Beaten

14

Elsie: We Will Not be Beaten tells the story of Australia’s first refuge for women escaping domestic violence.

Impact area: Women & Girls, Human Rights & Social Justice

Road to Venice

2

When his selection for the most prestigious art exhibition in the world is spectacularly revoked, Khaled Sabsabi undertakes the fight of his life and a history-making artwork on his road to Venice.

Impact area: The Arts, Human Rights & Social Justice

Bloom

Can the worst marine disaster in living memory be the wake up call we need?

Impact area: Environment, Health & Wellbeing, Indigenous

Rio

A brain injury survivor and single mother, Rio Clark chases her dream.

Impact area: Women & Girls, Health & Wellbeing, Human Rights & Social Justice

Final Fight for the Bight

A journey into the Blue Heart: A grassroots quest for World Heritage protection of the Great Australian Bight.

Impact area: Environment, Health & Wellbeing, Indigenous

The Mouse That Roared

From poetry to parliament, outsider politician Birgitta Jónsdóttir shows how one voice can reshape democracy.

Impact area: Human Rights & Social Justice, The Arts, Women & Girls

Red Matildas – A restoration project for the digital age

In Depression-era Australia, three women rose against war, poverty and inequality – their voices still inspire today.

Impact area: Women & Girls, Human Rights & Social Justice, Youth & Education

The Show

A heartfelt glimpse into a wonderful group of volunteers as they prepare for the 163rd Whittlesea Show.

Impact area: Health & Wellbeing, Environment, The Arts

The Price of Gold

When Brisbane’s Olympic dreams threaten sacred land, everyday citizens rise to defend Barrambin.

Impact area: Environment, Human Rights & Social Justice, Indigenous