The ArtsLab

23/02/2026

Through stunning images, live soundscape, film and performance, Solastalgia is a moving poem about grief and hope; a shared vigil that asks not “How can we save ourselves?” but “What becomes possible when we turn toward one another?”.

Only a handful of tickets left for

🗓 SAT 28 Feb @ 7:30pm
🗓 SUN 1 Mar @ 2pm

Don't miss this extraordinary work!

Tickets and information: www.artslab.com.au

09/02/2026

Do not miss this visually stunning, moving poem of loss and hope. The Upper River Hall will be transformed, this new theatre work will be spectacular! Tickets are selling fast. Limited seats. Information and tickets at: www.artslab.com.au

21/01/2026

Our new short doc MORNING MR GERREY will have its World Premiere at FLiCKERFEST Short Film Festival this Sunday January 25 at 4.00pm. See you there!!!

10/11/2025

Happy 25 years Shark Island Institute and thank you!! For supporting the ARTSLAB and the Upper River Hall for over a decade and bringing such great documentaries to our community.

Shark Island - Celebrating 25 Years of Documentary Filmmaking

We are delighted to celebrate 25 years of Shark Island Institute – a remarkable milestone for an independent Australian documentary production company. Over the past 25 years, Shark Island has grown from a two-person production house into the multi-faceted Institute that produces award-winning films through Shark Island Productions, funds and nurtures the documentary sector with Shark Island Foundation, and creates space for artists to develop story-led work at Shark Island Kangaroo Valley.

Shark Island has built a distinctive legacy in film, social impact, and community engagement. Since premiering our first film, Woodstock for Capitalists in 2000, we have produced some of Australia’s most acclaimed social impact documentaries, including The Final Quarter (2019) a landmark film confronting racism in sport through the story of AFL legend Adam Goodes; The Oasis (2008), which brought national attention to youth homelessness; and its follow-up films Life After The Oasis (2019) and The Department (2020). Our films have also explored themes of identity, belonging, art, and resilience through films such as Paul Kelly - Stories of Me (2012), In the Company of Actors (2007), Alone Across Australia (2004), and most recently The Pool (2024), celebrating Australian community and culture.

Over the last twenty five years we have supported the documentary sector in a variety of ways. The founding and establishment of Documentary Australia enabled philanthropic support of films and their outreach campaigns. This led to hosting three years of Good Pitch Australia events and a decade of support for 19 film projects. Our investment in a portfolio of international and domestic feature-length documentaries has resulted in positive change in communities and the environment globally.

As Shark Island Institute celebrates 25 years of storytelling with purpose, we look forward to the next chapter and thank everyone who has been a part of this journey – filmmakers, donors and funders, partners, audiences, staff, and the subjects and participants whose stories we’ve been honoured to share. Here's to the next 25 years!

09/08/2025

What a huge hopeful sold-out night at The ARTSLAB. ‘Future Council’ is an inspiring and uplifting film - every human should see it and then do something!! It is in cinemas now if you missed our special screening last night. Thank you Damon Gameau and Regenerators for such a gift of a film and for being there to introduce the film and answer questions after. Thank you Ruby Rodgers for your beautiful song and performance. Thank you Ian Darling for asking the important questions and hosting the Q&A and Shark Island Institute for supporting this film and the ARTSLAB. and thanks Caterina KV for the popcorn!!
Hope is an action! What are you going to do?

07/08/2025

FUTURE COUNCIL - this Saturday night 6pm at Upper River Hall. Don't miss out! Only a handful of tickets left for this beautiful hopeful film, live music and a Q&A with director Damon Gameau and one of the films young stars Ruby Rodgers. Hosted by Ian Darling and Shark Island Institute - it's going to be a wonderful night!

10/07/2025

Damon and guests will be at Upper River Hall in Kangaroo Valley for our screening of Future Council on Saturday 9 August at 6pm. Don't miss out on this special film of hope, for young and old!

09/07/2025

At The ARTSLAB on Saturday 9 August 6pm

Damon Gameau (2040, That Sugar Film) takes eight kids on the ultimate school excursion: a road trip across Europe to challenge powerful leaders and find solu...