Documentary | 2023 | Australia | European Premiere | 85 min | English | No subtitles | Directed by Isabel Darling

This screening will take place at Moviemento.

Synopsis

The Bells and their workers have a mission: to keep their carnival alive and thriving, and to keep it in the family. This sixth-generation travelling show family have been touring Australia for a hundred years, and now, facing some of the toughest times they’ve ever seen, are preparing to hand over the reins to the next generation with the empire expected to be handed down to the next boy in line. Filmed over 7 years, this epic road trip unveils not only the mystery of the travelling show-people, but also reveals a family grappling with traditional life in a modern world.

Director’s Bio

Isabel Darling’s feature documentary, The Carnival, made its debut at the 70th Sydney Film Festival and received considerable recognition in The Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald, and had The Monthly hailing it as one of the ‘top two Australian films at the ‘Melbourne International Film Festival’. Her short film Being Frank (2015) received international recognition and her film Corey The Warrior (2017), was a finalist at both the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival and the Cannes International Film Festival on Disability. In 2023, Isabel was nominated for a prestigious Walkley award for her work on The Carnival, which is currently screening on SBS.