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Pike River

Directed by Robert Sarkies
New Zealand
2025
131 mins
Unclassified 15+
Witness the World Premiere of the powerful true story of Anna Osborne (Melanie Lynskey) and Sonya Rockhouse (Robyn Malcolm), and their fight for justice following New Zealand’s deadliest modern mining disaster.

In 2010, a massive explosion trapped 29 men inside the Pike River coal mine in the remote West Coast of New Zealand. This deeply moving film portrays the friendship that grew between Anna, who lost her husband Milt, and Sonya, who lost her youngest son, Ben. Drawing strength from the other they rebuild their shattered lives and gradually discover the scale of the betrayal they’ve endured. Together they find the courage to fight back against the mining bosses, the judiciary and the government. Their joint efforts shake the nation. Capturing their heroism with great sensitivity, Pike River is an inspiring account of the power of friendship.

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.

Tickets

Sat 7 June 2025, 5pm
Past Event
State Theatre
State Theatre
WheelchairAssisted Listening
Sun 8 June 2025, 3pm
Past Event
Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace - Cinema 5
Hayden Orpheum - Cinema 5
Wheelchair
See more, save more with a Flexipass or Youth Pass

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, or see our Access & Inclusion page for more information.

  • Program Strand
    Special Presentations
  • Year
    2025
  • Classification
    Unclassified 15+
  • Country
    New Zealand
  • Language
    In English
  • Director
    Robert Sarkies
  • Producer
    Vicky Pope, Timothy White
  • Cast
    Melanie Lynskey, Robyn Malcolm, Lucy Lawless
  • Screenwriter
    Fiona Samuel
  • Cinematographer
    Gin Loane
  • Editor
    Peter Roberts
  • Genre
    Human Rights, Women’s Stories, History, World Premieres
  • Premiere
    World Premiere
  • Company Credits
    Australian Distributor: Madman Entertainment
Aboriginal FlagTorres Strait Flag

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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