Five titles to watch this International Women’s Day
To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, we’re catching up on the latest female-led Australian screen releases you can watch online this March 8.
From popstars to footy legends, this collection of female-driven and female-led, Screen Australia-supported titles celebrate women as heroes of their own stories. Whether you’re passionate about Australian history and documentary or love a webseries, there’s something for everyone among these recent releases.
The third and final season of the multiple award-winning political drama is a must-see. It’s been two years since outsider turned king maker Alex Irving was instrumental in changing the face of Australian government - and the PM - and is now completely at home in the nation’s capital. But every move has consequences and the implications of Alex’s power move of the last season offers a unique look at the politics of race, gender, and power in Australian society. Showcasing a nuanced and powerful final performance from Deborah Mailman, as the tenacious Alex Irving, alongside Rachel Griffiths as sometime colleague and frequent adversary Rachel Anderson, Total Control season 3 will keep you on the edge of your seat until the stunning conclusion.
All three seasons of Total Control are available now to stream on ABC iview
At the cusp of the year 2000, five hopeful women are thrust into the spotlight in the pursuit of pop-stardom, only to find that their dream of fame has a darker edge. A behind the scenes look at starmaking reality tv in this new drama series from creator Belinda Chapple - herself a former member of girl group Bardot. Featuring a pulsing pop soundtrack, peak 90s fashion, and a superb ensemble cast including Emalisa (Australian Gangster), Naomi Sequeira (The Evermoor Chronchile), Miah Madden (The Clearing), Courtney Clarke (Last King of the Cross) and Courtney Monsma (Frozen The Musical) as the fictional girl group Harlow, who are faced with the challenge of getting everything they ever wanted in an industry intent on cashing in on their aspirations.
Available now to stream on Paramount+
After being brutally dumped by her footy team - and cheating ex - Cameron vows revenge by beating them in the local touch football competition. But, that’s easier said than done when she joins the competitively challenged Galahs and catches feelings for new teammate Angie. If you like your sport with a heavy dose of comedy and sexual tension, then check out the latest webseries from creative duo Mon & Han of Slag Productions - and the creative minds that brought us LGBTQIA+ TikTok series The Formal. Training montages and gay drama are rife in this online comedy series that puts the touch in touch footy.
Catch Touch online on YouTube and TikTok
A trio of nameless statues in the archives of the Australian Museum prompt a great-granddaughter’s quest to honour her ancestors, reclaim their life stories, and rewrite how First Nations people are represented in Australia’s public history. Produced in collaboration with NITV, this moving documentary captures one family’s journey to reconnect with their great-grandmother’s story. This is a highly personal story told by Nanny Nellie’s descendants - great-granddaughter Irene Ridgeway leads the investigation and the feature was written and directed by Ridgeways’ son, filmmaker Daniel King - and traces Nellie’s life, interrogates the cultural narrative of her time, and shows the journey to connect the descendants of the other statues with their own families.
Watch Her Name is Nanny Nellie on SBS OnDemand
A comedy series about love, pop culture, and online communities, Shippers follows video editor Aubrey and YouTube reviewer Tese as they face the onslaught of comments and hate when they unwittingly become the face of a viral campaign against “shipping”. For anyone who has ever secretly wished their two favourite characters hooked up onscreen - or dreamt about them as a couple offscreen - this self-described love letter to fandom and pop culture exposes the joys and traps of fan-love online through the niche sub-fandom of “shipping” - fan-pairing of characters or actors in a relationship. Short, sharp and stylish, you’ll fall in love with online fandom and #HandFlirting.
Catch all eight episodes now on YouTube
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29 Feb 2024
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