Joh: Last King Of Queensland
Synopsis
Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen reigned over Queensland for 19 tumultuous years (1968–1987). Hugely popular, he presided over enormous growth – but corruption raged under his tenure, as did electoral manipulation and often violent suppression of dissent. Director (and Queenslander) Kriv Stenders (The Correspondent) tells Joh’s story through rare archival footage and revelatory interviews, exploring a life shaped by a hard yakka, god-fearing upbringing on his family’s farm. Trump’s spectre is evoked in Joh’s famously mangled and meandering way of speaking – brilliantly dramatised by Richard Roxburgh – alongside his unyielding execution of power and the desperate denial of his final days in office.
Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.
Special Guests
Kriv Stenders is one of Australia’s most renowned, respected and prolific film directors. Kriv has made significant contributions to the Australian film industry, most notably, with his acclaimed film Red Dog (2011), a heartwarming tale about a legendary canine in the Australian outback. Other directing credits include: Kill Me Three Times (2014), Danger Close: the Battle of Long Tan (2019) and recently the ABC TV documentary series The Black Hand (2023). Kriv’s latest film, The Correspondent (2024), was released in cinemas this year to wide critical acclaim.
Tickets
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Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.
We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.
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