Concrete Playground

5 days ago | concreteplayground.com | Sarah Ward

It's been almost five years since Australian viewers scored a dedicated platform to indulge their love of British television. When Britbox launched towards the end of 2020, back when new streaming services kept popping up every month — or so it seemed — it brought shows new and old from two English networks, the BBC and ITV, Down Under. If that's been your TV-watching niche since, then you'll be interested in its next plans, expanding its range and adding dedicated channels.

5 days ago | concreteplayground.com | Sarah Ward

Whether she's behind the camera or in front of it — or both — a movie that involves Miranda July in some shape or form is instantly worth everyone's attention. The same applies to the American talent's recordings, art and books, too, because displaying at the Venice Biennale and hitting the New York Times bestsellers list are also on her resume. July's filmography is small but impactful. She's packed a punch by opting for quality over quantity so far, and viewers have been able to reap the rewards.

5 days ago | concreteplayground.com | Sarah Ward

Getting excited about 2025's Melt Festival has been easy for a few months now. First, the Brisbane LGBTQIA+ event announced that Broadway icon Bernadette Peters was making the River City her only Australian stop just for the fest. Then, it also confirmed that the River Pride Parade would float its boats for another year. After that came news of 1000 Voices, uniting singers from queer and pride choirs en masse. Need more?

5 days ago | concreteplayground.com | Sarah Ward

A snowy camp, crosses, bad dreams, creepy houses, lurking shadows, ringing phones and an immensely unsettling mask: welcome to the world of Black Phone 2. Four years after writer/director Scott Derrickson (The Gorge) adapted a short story by Joe Hill — an author with a hefty horror pedigree as the son of Stephen King — into The Black Phone to box-office success, he's now helming his first sequel to his own work.

6 days ago | concreteplayground.com | Sarah Ward

When it comes to sharing movies that've recently premiered at Cannes with Australian audiences, timing is kind to Sydney Film Festival. One fest is in May, the other is in June — and SFF makes the most of it. Indeed, in 2025, its main program announcement was packed with 15 films that would hit Cannes, then Sydney. Next, Eddington joined the lineup, doing the same. The event's closing-night pick Splitsville falls into that category as well.