MOVIE | Magellan arrives in Australia – Plainwater Films announces the Australian theatrical release of Lav Diaz’s 16 century epic MAGELLAN, releasing in cinemas from April 23, accompanied by a series of special in-person conversations with the filmmaker.
Filipino writer, director, editor, cinematographer and venerated figure of contemporary cinema Lav Diaz explores themes tied to the Philippines’ political and social history, collective trauma, and the struggle for justice. Across a three-decade career, he’s received numerous international awards, including the Golden Leopard at Locarno, the Silver Bear at the Berlinale, and the Golden Lion at Venice.
MAGELLAN marks the director’s return to the Official Selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, his first since ‘Norte, the End of History’ in 2013 and his first theatrical release in Australia.
MAGELLAN takes place at the dawn of the modern era, telling the story of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan as he secures the backing of the Spanish Crown for a daring voyage into uncharted oceans, attempting the first passage across the vast Pacific.
To coincide with the film’s opening week, director Diaz will appear in in-person conversations at Ritz Cinemas (Sydney) on Wednesday 22 April, the Australian Cinematheque at QAGOMA (Brisbane) on Thursday 23 April, and ACMI (Melbourne) on Sunday 26 April.
“We are thrilled that Lav Diaz’s vision will receive a theatrical release for the first time in Australia through MAGELLAN — a richly cinematic and spiritual epic of unforgettable poetry and scale, remarkable for its partnership between one of the leading figures of contemporary cinema and one of the world’s most soulful actors,”
– said Alexander Back, Founder, Plainwater Films.
“We’re also delighted to have Lav Diaz in Australia for this very special series of in-conversation events.”
Opening Release Date: April 23
Running time: 163 mins
Rating: MA15+
“I’ve always dreamed of making a film about Magellan. I’m a Filipino, and when Magellan arrived at our shores it was the first ‘encounter’ with the West… That started a new era for us.”
— Lav Diaz
Media Release – Plainwater Films
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MOVIE | Magellan arrives in Australia
