In 1978, when the push to decriminalise homosexuality has stalled in Australia, a group of activists decide they must make one final attempt to celebrate who they are. Led by former union boss, Lance Gowland, they get a police permit and spread the word. On a freezing winter's night, they cloak themselves in fancy dress, join hands, and parade down oxford street. But they have no idea that angry police lie in wait, and the courage they find that night will finally mobilise the nation.

Interview with Director Jeffrey Walker

Watch Riot on iTunes

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I was really drawn to Greg’s script and this impactful, important, and true Australian story.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

For Damon Herriman and Kate Box’s performances alone, you should watch this film. Two fine actors playing wonderful, strong characters.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I end up personalising the universal themes of all of my projects. I can then tread between the macro and the micro of the story with relative ease.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

Once our actors came on board, they took ownership of their characters and the script evolved to lean into our combined vision for the piece.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The reaction has been quite special. I’ve never received more texts, emails and phone calls about a project I’ve directed before.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I would say it has been eye-opening, thanks to the audience kind enough to tell me about it.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

More audience to this film will help this story find people who may not know anything about the origins of the Sydney Mardi Gras.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

The audience is the biggest thing for us right now. Film festivals are always wonderful for this.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I’d like you to laugh and cry, and feel for these incredible real-life characters, human rights heroes.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Do you know the brutal origins of the Sydney Mardi Gras?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Damon Herriman, our lead, has some extremely exciting projects being filmed in the US as we speak.

Interview: July 2018

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

RIOT

Come out fighting!

Length: 104mins

Director: Jeffrey Walker

Producer: Joanna Werner

Writer: Greg Waters

Key cast: Damon Herriman, Kate Box, Xavier Samuel.

Looking for: buyers.

Social media handles: @jlwalk

Funders: ABC and government funding bodies.