Music Documentaries @STROBE Festival
9 AUG – 8 SEPT 2024 Sydney
Sydney’s music documentary film festival STROBE returns for its 4th year, with brand new films from around the globe on-screen for their Australian or Sydney Premieres. From docs about Brazil‘s soul music fuelled political awakening of the ’70s and the “Rolls Royce” of all festivals, The Montreux Jazz Festival, to deep-dives into artists as diverse as Devo, Luther Vandross, J Dilla and trailblazing Black Trans performer Jackie Shane, there’s something for all music and documentary fans at STROBE. Presented by Groovescooter and screening at Golden Age Cinema and the Sydney Opera House, see below for programme highlights and browse full the full programme here.
MOGWAI: IF THE STARS HAD A SOUND
Following its World Premiere at SXSW in Texas earlier this year, Antony Crook’s documentary about Scotland’s most beloved post-rock group MOGWAI now comes to Sydney. Using brute sonic force mixed with subtlety and grace, the band have built a cult global following on the back of 25 years of incredible (and loud!) live shows, 10 albums, numerous soundtracks, collaborations and an independent, forward-thinking spirit. Eschewing the usual band interviews and sycophantic talking heads found in many music docs, If The Stars Had A Sound is instead full of the band’s music, while anecdotes and theories (some funny, some moving) are recounted by fans, record producers and members of The Delgados and Franz Ferdinand.
SYDNEY PREMIERE
6.00pm, FRI AUG 9th
Sydney Opera House
LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH
Easy on the eyes ‘n’ ears, Luther Vandross is on of one of the greatest soul/r’n’b voices to ever take up a microphone. Best remembered for topping the charts with his ubiquitous crossover hit Never Too Much, the vocal virtuoso did everything from sing on and arrange David Bowie’s iconic Young Americans album, to taking home 8 Grammy Awards. In this new film, friends and musical collaborators including Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Nile Rodgers (Chic) and Roberta Flack help relive many stunning moments in Luther’s musical career, while exploring his unrequited love life, health struggles and a lifelong battle to earn the respect his music deserved.
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
8.30pm, THU AUG 15th
Golden Age Cinema
ANY OTHER WAY: THE JACKIE SHANE STORY
A pioneering Black Trans performer on the edge of stardom, suddenly disappears. On first hearing Jackie Shane‘s stirring soul voice – perhaps singing lyrics like “tell her that I’m happy / tell her that I’m gay / tell her that I wouldn’t have it any other way” – you may well ask yourself why you haven’t heard of this remarkable soul/r’n’b artist until now. Via recorded telephone conversations, newly uncovered archival materials and an evocative use of animation, the trailblazing Jackie Shane vividly recounts her journey, struggles with homophobia and racism, and the reason she became a recluse in this beautiful and complete portrait of a life lived authentically and without compromise.
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
8.10pm, FRI AUG 30th
Golden Age Cinema
THE LEGACY OF J DILLA
During a lifetime that was tragically cut too short, J Dilla (aka James Yancey) profoundly influenced the hip hop world, along with neo-soul and jazz genres, from his Detroit basement. Given his creativity, groundbreaking techniques and prolific output – which includes work with Janet Jackson, The Pharcyde, De La Soul, Erykah Badu and A Tribe Called Quest – recognition should have been wider and come sooner. He passed away just three days after his 32nd birthday and the release of his magnum opus Donuts, but his legacy lives on. But how will the legacy of someone who was taken too soon and was perhaps generous to a fault with his collaborations, be managed in the future?
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
8.30pm, THU AUG 22nd
Golden Age Cinema
APOLONIA APOLONIA
Missed ‘APOLONIA APOLONIA’ at Antenna or just want to experience it again? Great news! 🌟 This remarkable film won the Special Jury Award at Antenna and is now available for streaming on DocPlay.
But that’s not all. Thanks to our partners, we can offer you free of charge 2 x 3-month subscriptions to DocPlay. This is your chance to dive into an incredible collection of documentaries, including ‘APOLONIA APOLONIA’.
To be in the pool to win, please send your name and email address to antenna@antennafestival.org with the subject DocPlay Giveaway.
AFRICA FILM FEST AUSTRALIA 2024
From July 19 – 21, 2024, join Africa Film Fest Australia at Riverside Theatres for a three-day celebration of African cinema, curated by a passionate team of African Australian curators. Highlights include the opening night film, the documentary RISE: SIYA KOLISI STORY, which tells the inspiring tale of the first black South African rugby captain who, against all odds, led the national team to win the 2019 World Cup Rugby, uniting the country in the process and COLETTE & JUSTIN, In which filmmaker Alain Kassanda travels through time and his own past, in the process bringing postcolonial Congo to evocative life.
