LOCALS + Nature Loves To Hide

LEONIE VAN EYK | AUSTRALIA | 2025 | 22'

Nature Loves to Hide follows artist John Wolseley as he paints the hidden habitats of desert animals across Australia. Filmed in the Tanami, Great Sandy Desert, and the Wimmera, the documentary captures Wolseley—often in camouflage—stealthily observing and sketching burrows, nests, and warrens. A quiet portrait of patience, place, and a life spent listening to the land.

LOCALS | REGIONAL VICTORIA | 2025 | 90' Our annual celebration of homegrown storytelling returns!  LOCALS brings together a vibrant collection of short-form works by central Victorian filmmakers. From heartfelt to hilarious, these films offer a window into the people, places, and stories that make our community unlike any other. Come see what’s brewing in Castlemaine’s creative backyard.

Every year, the LOCALS session packs out with applause, laughter, awe, and the occasional “Wait, isn’t that my neighbour?”

This year promises no less. Bursting with creativity and heart, the judges’ selection celebrates the eccentricities, questions, memories, and momentum of regional life. From hand-held reflections to high-vis heroes, this is the heartbeat of our community on screen. We’re thrilled to announce the lineup for LOCALS 2025:

The Elusive Heart Rock – Trace Balla A poetic meditation on rocks, friendship, and Djaara Country.

Jolly Nice – Bergen O’Brian An old woman with dementia and a house full of uni students. What could go wrong?

Sober – Ella Williams A raw, personal journey through addiction, nightlife, and recovery.

Commuter – Elissa Sandgrove A sensory loop between country and city, movement and meaning.

My Generation Rising From The Ashes – Ben Dubuc-Timson A hopeful plea from one generation to protect the next.

Lollipops – Hannah Moon Meet Jeremy: school crossing supervisor, local legend, and unlikely star.