Deeper

Directed by Jennifer Peedom
Australia
2025
87 mins

Synopsis

The hero of the 2018 Thai cave rescue, Dr. Richard “Harry” Harris, attempts the world’s deepest dive in Jennifer Peedom’s (Sherpa, SFF 2015; Mountain, SFF 2017) enthralling doc.

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.

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.

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
Sydney Opera House Playhouse
WheelchairAssisted Listening
Fri 6 June 2025, 6:30pm
Event Cinemas George Street - Cinema 5
WheelchairAssisted Listening
Tue 10 June 2025, 6pm
Hayden Orpheum Cremorne - Cinema 5
Wheelchair
Presented By
Documentary Australia
  • Program Strand
  • Year
    2025
  • Classification
    Unclassified 15+
  • Country
    Australia
  • Language
    In English
  • Director
    Jennifer Peedom
  • Producer
    Jennifer Peedom, Blayke Hoffman, Paul Ryan
  • Screenwriter
    Jennifer Peedom
  • Cinematographer
    Ben Dowie
  • Editor
    Simon Njoo
  • 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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