Australian Catholics’ film reviewers have chosen two movies for its annual prize for the best Australian film of 2025.
The Australian Catholics judges’ panel of Peter Sheehan, Ann Rennie and Fr Peter Malone MSC chose The Correspondent and The Travellers as the joint winners for its 2025 Annual Awards for the best Australian film.
The Correspondent, directed by Kriv Stenders, is a tightly drawn portrait of one man’s determination to speak the truth, regardless of the consequences.
Based on the true story of Australian correspondent Peter Greste, who was arrested and imprisoned for 13 months in Cairo, the film starkly contrasts the injustice of human imprisonment of journalists with the lucidity of verbal accounts of what can happen to them.
The Travellers, directed by Bruce Beresford, is a warm, insightful, and revealing comedy-drama about the complexities of old age and the problems of returning to one’s family after a long time away.
The film is set in small-town regional Australia and is thoroughly Australian in character.
The judges awarded a commendation to Kangaroo Island, directed by Timothy David.
Kangaroo Island makes an impact. While the story is universal and could take place anywhere, it reminds us that Australian audiences want to see Australian stories, characters they can identify with, and events and themes that may not be part of their family experience, but are part of families they know.
The annual awards were inaugurated by the Australian Catholic Film Office in 1979 and continue under the auspices of Australian Catholics.
FULL STORY
Australian Catholics Awards for Australian Films 2026 (Australian Catholics)
