Deeper

Directed by Jennifer Peedom
Australia
2025
87 mins
Hold your breath. Thai cave rescue hero Dr Richard “Harry” Harris takes on his most perilous adventure yet – the world’s deepest cave dive – in Jennifer Peedom’s (Sherpa, SFF 2015; Mountain, SFF 2017) SXSW-selected nailbiter.

In a remote part of New Zealand’s South Island, "Harry” and his fellow underwater obsessives set out to dive deeper than anyone ever has before. Controversially, they plan to use hydrogen as a breathing gas – its explosive nature adding to the many hazards the close-knit team faces. As the 2019 Australian of the Year prepares to confront the dark waters and life-threatening cold, he questions the costs of his passion. In this SXSW-selected nailbiter, Peedom and co-director Alex Barry capture the tension, euphoria and mateship of this endeavour using Harris’s own vertigo-inducing cave footage, along with DOP Ben Dowie’s striking above-ground imagery and a compelling score by multi-award-winner Antony Partos.

  • Guest filmmaker introduction and Q&A will take place at the Sydney Opera House screening on Thursday 5 June and the Event Cinemas George Street screening on Friday 6 June.
  • Sessions at Sydney Opera House are available for SFF Flexipass redeems only until 12pm the day prior to the event. Please see our Terms & Conditions for full details.
  • Flexipass redeems & exchanges are no longer available for Sydney Opera House screening of this film
You know the dangers, but you simply must do it anyway, not because of the danger, but despite the danger. Deeper captures that feeling, that emotion, that drive, perfectly.
Peter Martin, ScreenAnarchy

Special Guests

Richard Harris
Subject

Dr Richard “Harry” Harris has worked in anaesthesia, diving and aeromedical medicine around the world. An interest in accident investigation, and search and rescue activities has been a theme during his diving and caving career. The 2018 Thai cave rescue was an opportunity to put those skills to work. Harry and his colleagues have explored caves to 285m depth, and shipwrecks to over 150m, in dives lasting over 16 hours. He is an experienced UW photographer and videographer who is now building a career in documentary films.

Tickets

Thu 5 June 2025, 6pm
Past Event
Sydney Opera House
WheelchairAssisted Listening
Fri 6 June 2025, 6:30pm
Past Event
Event George St - Cinema 5
WheelchairAssisted Listening
Tue 10 June 2025, 6pm
Past Event
Hayden Orpheum - Cinema 5
Wheelchair
Presented By
Documentary Australia
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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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