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Evenings with DADo: Flathead
Thu July 17, 2025 @ 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm AEST
$20 – $30
Join us at Walsh Street for a screening of Flathead (2024), an Australian docu-fiction about regional working-class life in Northern Queensland. Following the screening we are thrilled to be joined by director Jaydon Martin for a for a moderated discussion exploring the film’s themes.
Title: Flathead (2024) by Jaydon Martin
Run Time: 1hr 29mins
Written & Produced: Jaydon Martin, Patrick McCabe
Despite his ailing health, Cass leaves the big smoke of Sydney, hitting the road for his long-forsaken childhood home of Bundaberg in regional Queensland. Cass’ memories and traumas are reignited as he rediscovers Bundaberg, opening his heart to a spiritual exploration amongst the community. This journey finds him being born again by Baptist Christians and culminates in experimental therapy from new age Buddhists.
With an unprecedented worker shortage in the Bundaberg area, an old mate reaches out to Cass, looking for help to tap into natural springwater on his farm. The deeper Cass digs into the soil he was born upon, the deeper his connection to his past becomes.
On this unwitting journey of self-discovery, Cass crosses paths with a local fish and chip shop worker, Andrew. Andrew is a second generation Chinese Australian who is suddenly confronted with the death of his father. Cass and Andrew’s stories of loss intertwine, seeing them exchange emotional comfort during their most turbulent times.
The story is set against the rhythmic backdrop of manual work in the Bundaberg region, from farms to pubs to recycling centres to cleaners to factories, highlighting the importance of the workers that keep the national economy moving.
The film premiered at the 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam, where it won a Special Jury Award in the Tiger Competition.
Director Jaydon Martin also took home the Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award at MIFF.
Jaydon Martin is a multidisciplinary filmmaker and artist whose practice is deeply rooted in the exploration of maligned cultures and mundane existence. Working class expression is at the forefront of his work both in front and behind the camera. Martin draws a direct line between reality and the subconscious in pursuit of an ecstatic truth. Blending documentary with fiction in the urgent exploration of spirituality, nationalism, masculinity and class. Pushing his cinematic language towards a more emotionally charged aesthetic that absorbs the primal eye.
This event is generously supported by Konpira Maru Wines, Yumbo Soda Co and Shelter. When you subscribe via – shelter.stream/rbf – the Robin Boyd Foundation will receive 10% of the revenue.
Doors will open at 6.30 pm to allow attendees to explore Walsh Street and enjoy refreshments in the courtyard. The talk and screening will commence promptly at 7 pm.
Before your visit, please note:
– Attendees must be 16 years and over.
– No external food or drink is permitted.
– Large bags and backpacks will need to be checked in at entry.
– Stiletto or pointed heels are not permitted due to our cork flooring.
– Tickets are refundable up to 72 hours prior to the event.
– Tickets may be exchanged as long as the purchaser advises us of the new attendee’s name via email.
We offer discounted tickets to RBF Friends and Boyd Circle members – support the Foundation and join today.
Thandi Lane, Andrew MacKinnon, Sushma Prabhu, Tom Hibbert and Jasper Caverly present DADo’s 2025 program.
Evenings with DADo offer an intimate commingling of film and dialogues centred around diverse historical and contemporary stories of architecture, design, landscape and urbanism. Feature-length films, documentaries, shorts and animations all find a home in Robin Boyd’s living room at Walsh Street. Guest speakers contribute unique perspectives on the various film subjects, kicking off the conversation in a home that decidedly sought to reject convention.
Image: stills from Flathead 2024.