Hailed as Australia’s film of the year, The Birthday Trip arrives with a special filmmaker Q&A in Geelong

Don’t miss your chance to experience the acclaimed indie satire on the big screen and hear directly from writer and director James Robert Woods at The Pivotonian Cinema.

Whilst everyone is talking about Christopher Nolen’s The Odyssey as deserved, this Australian drama is making waves nationally, signalling a revival in Australian cinema. Described as “one of the best Australian films of the year” by Cinema Australia, The Birthday Trip is coming to Geelong for a special one-off screening featuring a filmmaker Q&A that offers audiences a rare insight into one of the country’s most talked-about new independent films. The Birthday Trip is out today Thursday 30 July, via BADLANDS.

Taking place at The Pivotonian Cinema on Saturday, August 8 at 7:30pm, the special event will see writer and director James Robert Woods join audiences for a post-screening conversation about the making of this bold and biting Australian satire.

The Birthday Trip Filmmaker Q&A

When: Saturday, 8 August, 7:30pm (99 minutes)

Where: The Pivotonian Cinema, Cinema 1.

Tickets: SPECIAL Adult $20.00 | SPECIAL Member $15.00 | SPECIAL Concession $18.00

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Set against the backdrop of a luxurious farmstay getaway, The Birthday Trip follows three upwardly mobile millennial couples as they gather for a joint thirtieth birthday celebration. But beneath the polished surfaces, expensive tastes and carefully managed appearances, cracks begin to emerge. As the weekend unfolds, secrets are revealed and social tensions rise, exposing the darker side of privilege, ambition and modern Australian life.

Blending sharp humour with uncomfortable truths, the film delivers a sophisticated and sardonic examination of the people who have seemingly achieved everything, only to discover that wealth, status and success cannot protect them from their own flaws.

Written and directed by James Robert Woods, The Birthday Trip features a standout ensemble cast including David Quirk (Rosehaven, Please Like Me), Nicola Frew (I Am Woman, The Daughter), Annelise Hall, Ben Gerrard, Sapphire Blossom, Robert Preston and Josephine Starte. Adding an extra layer of intrigue is a brilliantly self-aware performance from television personality Luke Jacobz (X-Factor, Home and Away), bringing a fascinating meta edge to the film’s exploration of image and identity.

After generating significant buzz through screenings around Australia, including a sold-out session at the 400-seat AGNSW Sydney Cinémathèque, The Birthday Trip is now reaching wider audiences with its national cinema release.

Critics have praised the film’s fearless approach and sharp social commentary, with Filmink calling it an “intimately intense character study” and reviewers drawing comparisons to the biting cultural observations of Ruben Östlund, Thomas Vinterberg, Succession and The White Lotus.

Funny, uncomfortable and fiercely intelligent, The Birthday Trip is the necessary Australian film that sparks conversation in the carpark post credits.

Catch this special screening at The Pivotonian Cinema and join James Robert Woods for a unique behind-the-scenes discussion about the film’s creation. Tickets are limited, so secure your seat and experience one of Australia’s most acclaimed independent films of the year on the big screen.

Book your seat here.