SATURDAY 24 MAY 2025
4:30 PM | Live Music with Kate Leopold & Kids' Activities including a recycling and composting discovery station and a face painter.
6.00 PM | Film Screening
7.00PM | Q&A Panel with Kieran Richardt, Amy McDonald and our very own Paul Cook from Ground Grocer
PASTURE & CO CAFE OPEN WITH SPECIAL MENU
Messy is a powerful and timely docu-series that showcases how transforming agricultural landscapes into biodiverse, regenerative ecosystems is key to sustainable and resilient farming. From revitalising soil health to nurturing pollinators and preserving native habitats, each episode delves into the real-world benefits of a “Messy” approach. This film explores the growing movement of regenerative agriculture and its potential to heal the planet, reverse climate change, and reshape our food systems.
Co-hosted by Kieran Richardt and Amy McDonald and featuring passionate advocates such as Associate Professor Guy Castley, Head Chef Dayan Hartill-Law, and President of the Granite Belt Sustainable Action Network and regen farmer Rick Humphries, Messy dives deep into how farming practices that prioritise soil health, biodiversity, and ecological balance can restore ecosystems and empower communities.
The key theme of the documentary is regeneration, of land, of food systems, and of relationships between humans and nature. By spotlighting farmers, scientists, and activists who are leading the regenerative revolution, the film offers hopeful solutions to some of the world's most pressing environmental and social challenges.
With stunning cinematography and moving personal stories, Messy aims to inspire a groundswell of action. Its impact goal is clear: to educate audiences, influence agricultural policy, and motivate individuals and communities to support regenerative farming practices that build resilience, equity, and a healthier planet for future generations.
SOLD OUT
PREVIOUS SHOWINGS
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COMMON GROUND
WED 20TH NOVEMBER 2024
From the filmmakers of ‘Kiss the Ground’ (Netflix) comes the follow-up documentary ‘Common Ground’, winner of the Tribeca Film Festival. Common Ground is an important new documentary film featuring Laura Dern, Jason Momoa, Woody Harrelson, Ian Somerhalder, Donald Glover, Rosario Dawson, Mark Hyman, Gabe Brown, and many others. Directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell, Common Ground provides hope for future generations with concrete ways to fix a broken planetary system. The film explores how regenerative agriculture can help heal the soil, our health and the planet.
For decades, we’ve handed control of our food to others. Now, it’s time to truly grow together.
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THE HEALING
WED 7TH AUGUST 2024
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Southern Highlands of NSW, the stakes are literally life and death for the thoroughbreds and veterans participating in the film. The two vulnerable groups are brought together by professional horseman Scott Brodie, whose unique system of retraining teaches both horses and humans new skills that build trust, patience and confidence.
The Healing has created enormous interest in Scott’s groundbreaking program, which can revolutionise the way the Australian Defence Force and Racing Industry responds to the crisis afflicting veterans and ex-racehorses. Urgent change is needed and we need to act now.
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WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
WED 5TH JUNE 2024
Short 1 - BEING THE CHANGE AT 85 - Is there an age at which you stop being an activist for change? Not according to Helen Dew! In fact, Helen’s activism didn’t even begin until she was in her 60s!
Short 2 - CREATURES OF PLACE - We’ve all dreamed of a life living off grid, off the land, no bills, no mortgage, no worries. Meet Meg Ulman, Patrick Jones, and their youngest son, Woody, living on an urban 1/4-acre section in a small Australian town.
Short 3 - BEN & BERTHA - In Ben & bEartha (or Ben and Bertha) we follow the story of passionate composter Ben Bushell of Community Compost, Nelson. Ben’s taking community composting to the next level!n goes here
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THE TRUST FALL
WED 13TH MARCH 2024
A man who risked everything to bring the truth to light. With special guest, filmmaker Kym Staton for an exclusive Q&A after the film.
The film examines the meaning and significance of the insights that WikiLeaks shared with the world, the resulting behaviour of the governments involved, the extraordinary personal risk taken by Assange, and the wider fundamental issues around press freedom that affect all of us and our right to know.
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EVICTED, A MODERN ROMANCE
WED 18TH OCT 2023 6-9PM
Sydney Film Festival people’s choice award 2022. Four spuriously employed housemates on the verge of eviction trawl Sydney's fraught rental market in search of a new place to call home in this irreverent Aussie comedy.
With an impending eviction hanging over their heads, freshly unemployed Maggie, gig-economy worker Will, and feuding couple Isabelle and May embark on a seemingly futile hunt for an affordable share house.
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GROWERS + HOMEGROWN REVOLUTION
WED 6TH SEPTEMBER 2023
A Double Documentary About Modern Day Urban Farmers & Young Homesteaders.
"GROWERS a Growing Revolution" by Award Winning film maker Charlie Wood, showcasing our future of food.
HOMEGROWN - THE HIGHEST PRODUCING URBAN FARM IN THE WORLD!
This family of eco-pioneers grow so much of their own food they sell their excess to local chefs. Come see how it's done, one garden bed at a time.
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A SIMPLER WAY: CRISIS AS OPPORTUNITY
WED 5TH JULY 2023 6-9PM
A feature-length documentary that follows a community in Australia who came together to explore and demonstrate a simpler way to live in response to global crises. Throughout the year the group build tiny houses, plant veggie gardens, practice simple living, and discover the challenges of living in community.
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Joost Greenhouse
WED 1ST MARCH 2023 6-9PM
Imagine a house that grows its own food. That’s the vision of environmental campaigner Joost Bakker, once dubbed the ‘Poster Boy of Zero Waste Living’ by The New York Times. This inspiring feature documentary follows Bakker as he builds a self-sustaining home, an ecosystem that provides its occupants with food, shelter, water and energy. Filmed over a year in beautiful central Melbourne, Greenhouse is an uplifting look at the teamwork and ingenuity behind a paradigm-shifting project bursting with life. goes here
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'The Seeds of Vandana Shiva'
WED 1ST FEBRUARY 2023 6-9PM
How did the willful daughter of a Himalayan forest conservator become Monsanto’s worst nightmare? The Seeds of Vandana Shiva tells the remarkable life story of Gandhian eco-activist Dr. Vandana Shiva, how she stood up to the corporate Goliaths of industrial agriculture, rose to prominence in the seed saving and organic food movements, and is inspiring an international crusade for change.
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'Living the Change'
WED 9TH NOV 2022 6 - 9PM
Living the Change explores solutions to the global crises we face today – solutions any one of us can be part of – through the inspiring stories of people pioneering change in their own lives and in their communities in order to live in a sustainable and regenerative way.
Our movie series is carefully curated with deep thought and determination, a hand picked selection of beautiful documentary films that will leave you yearning for more. We hope the movies inspire you to live your best life, whether you aim to be off the grid, self sufficient, get educated or just curious about different ways of doing things.
These amazing film makers and the solutions they bring might just inspire you to create your own village in your own street, town and suburb - today - together.
Movies that Matter is brought to you by Kim Oconnell, previously known for her series ‘Life Changing Events’ which started our community conversation in the Basement at HOTA in February 2009.
Thankyou for your inspiration Kim and here’s to your forever home @ Ground Currumbin.