What's on DocPlay in May

This May, we’re thrilled to champion high-quality Australian films. Our AFTRS Shorts showcase champions the work of six emerging documentary filmmakers from Australia’s premiere film school. We collaborate with another celebrated Australian institution, the National Film and Sound Archive, to present the streaming premieres of two iconic local docs - Bob Connolly's Rats in the Ranks and Facing the Music.

Other highlights for the month include the Syrian Oscar-nominated film For Sama, and Kash Kash, a cinematic portrait of Beirut, and its surprising community of men who love pigeons.

Decades in Colour  |  2 May  |  Series

Mixing lost images sourced from everyday New Zealanders alongside new interviews, Decades in Colour traces from the post-war suburbia of the 50s, to rugby, racing and beer in the 60s, to emerging challenges to cultural norms in the 70s, as jet travel and TV broadened perspectives and a more independent national identity emerged.

Citizen K  |  13 May

Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) examines Russia's power, president Vladimir Putin's political dominance, and Mikhail Khodorkovsky—a former Siberian prisoner who continues to challenge Putin's reign.

AFTRS Shorts  |  20 May  |  Shorts

Six of Australia’s finest emerging documentary filmmakers present new works that span diverse stories including the pro-life movement; migrant mothers; the Australian poet Robert Adamson; and one man’s mission to teach a million people how to perform CPR.

For Sama  |  23 May 

This Oscar-nominated documentary follows one woman's journey through love, motherhood, war and survival during the Syrian conflict.

Kash Kash  |  23 May

A vital portrait of Beirut, and its surprising community of pigeon lovers.

Rats in the Ranks  |  27 May

This remarkable film takes a behind-locked-doors look at how politicians get the numbers. Every September Sydney's Leichhardt Council elects its mayor. Incumbent Larry Hand was popular with citizenry, but they don't vote for the position of mayor - the 12 councillors do - and after three years of Larry some of them are after his job.

Facing the Music  |  27 May

In their fifth major film together, acclaimed documentary makers Bob Connolly and Robin Anderson step inside the halls of Sydney University’s Music Department, where sublime music is being made in a setting that’s far from serene.