Remake

Directed by Ross McElwee
United States
2025
116 mins

Synopsis

Revered filmmaker Ross McElwee (Sherman's March, SFF 1986; Bright Leaves, SFF 2004) returns after 14 years with a heart-rending tribute to his lost son. Award winner, Venice 2025.

Ross McElwee has always dared to look where other filmmakers wouldn’t, and with this haunting new film, he faces the worst thing that can happen to a parent – the loss of a child. Crafted from decades of McElwee’s own home video footage and past films, alongside material filmed by his son Adrian, the film traces their story from the life-affirming moments of Adrian’s early life to his later struggles as a young adult. Woven throughout is McElwee’s unsuccessful attempt to remake Sherman’s March as a Hollywood film. As McElwee reflects: “Remake is both my attempt to hold onto Adrian, and to let him go.” A heartbreaker that serves as a powerful exploration of the balance between documenting life and understanding it.

A profound and piercing portrait of loss.
Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter

Tickets

Sun 7 June 2026, 4pm
Palace Norton Street - Cinema 3
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
Sat 13 June 2026, 12:45pm
Event Cinemas George Street - Cinema 3
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
  • Program Strand
  • Year
    2025
  • Classification
    Unclassified 18+
  • Country
    USA
  • Language
    In English
  • Director
    Ross McElwee
  • Producer
    Mark Meatto, Ross McElwee
  • Screenwriter
    Ross McElwee
  • Cinematographer
    Ross McElwee, Adrian McElwee
  • Editor
    Ross McElwee, Joe Bini
  • Genre
  • Premiere
    Australian Premiere
  • Company Credits
    Australian Distributor: Madman Entertainment
  • Official Website
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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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