We acknowledge Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF are based.
We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Flathead

Directed by Jaydon Martin
2024
Australia
90 minutes
Unclassified 15+
Book Tickets
Buy a Flexipass now and save!
This acclaimed Australian debut combines social realism and an immersive documentary feel, to tell the story of an elderly man returning home to Bundaberg on a spiritual quest.

Shot in striking black-and-white, Jaydon Martin’s directorial debut is part documentary about day-to-day life in coastal Queensland – with a cast playing themselves – and part dream-like narrative. A former drug addict whose life has been marked by tragedy, the frail Cass leaves Sydney and heads back to Bundaberg to take stock of his life. Religion helps console him, while drinking and partying help pass the time. Most touching of all is a budding friendship with Andrew, a Chinese-Australian chip-shop owner who is dealing with his own grief. Observational and contemplative, heartwarming and eerie, Flathead is a memorable portrait of regional Australia.

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.
This affecting ... fiction-documentary hybrid follows septuagenarian Cass Cumerford as he returns to his childhood home, the small Queensland town of Bundaberg in northeastern Australia
Wendy Ide, Screen International
Australian film-maker Jaydon Martin makes an outstanding feature debut with this absorbing, moving and visually beautiful docufiction
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Special Guest

Jaydon Martin
Director, Screenwriter
Jaydon Martin is an Australian-born artist and filmmaker who has worked in both narrative and documentary cinema. He was previously a camera operator for the feature documentary General Hercules (SFF 2022). In the United Kingdom, Martin has also developed BTS documentaries for the BBC, National Theatre of Wales, and Artes Mundi.

Tickets

Wed 12 Jun
6pm
Event Cinemas George Street - Cinema 3
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Past Event Cancel
Sat 15 Jun
5:45pm
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 2
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Past Event Cancel
Program Strand
Features
Year
2024
Classification
Unclassified 15+
Country
Australia
Language
In English
Director
Jaydon Martin
Producer
Patrick McCabe
Cast
Cass Cumerford, Andrew Wong, Rob Sheean
Screenwriter
Jaydon Martin
Cinematographer
Brodie Poole
Editor
Patrick McCabe
Premiere
Australian Premiere
Genre
Australian Films, Festival Award Winners, Religion & Belief, Experimental, Seniors
Company Credits
Australian Distributor: Bonsai Films
Official Website
Visit →
Cart
Clear Cart

Your cart is empty.

View over 500 sessions to find the right films and events for you!

Browse In Cinema Program

Check out our list of films showing in your area

Browse Films

Donate Today
Help us bring you the best in cinema worldwide.
Booking Fee
$0
Subtotal
Total
Planner

Your planner helps you schedule your entire SFF experience. It shows sessions you've saved, purchased or added to your cart in a helpful timeline.

Sign in or register to save your planner!

Your planner is empty.

Use your planner to create your own unique SFF Experience

Browse Films & Events

Share
Your SFF
Let the world know what you'll be watching. Don't forget to tag @sydfilmfest!