Davo Hardy
Directing
Biography
Davo Hardy is an independent Australian filmmaker, writer, and actor renowned for his thought-provoking and inclusive storytelling. His works often delve into themes of identity, disability, and LGBTQ+ experiences, aiming to amplify underrepresented voices in cinema. Hardy's directorial debut, The Lives We Lead (2015), explored familial dynamics and societal expectations over five decades. He gained further recognition with A Silent Agreement (2017), notable for being the first Australian feature film to prominently feature Auslan (Australian Sign Language) and authentically portray profoundly deaf characters. In Public Eye (2021), Hardy examined the complexities of social media and personal identity. His filmography also includes Complex (2014), Hunting for Shadows (2016), The Blood of God (2019), and The Switchblade Sisterhood (2023). Beyond filmmaking, Hardy is fluent in Auslan and has been an advocate for inclusive storytelling and studied Film Production at The International Film School of Sydney (IFSS) on a full scholarship. For more information and to access his works, visit davohardyfilms.com.
Known For
When the 19-year-old daughter of a UK politician is found dead in Sydney Harbour, cultures clash as a British and an Australian detective team up to solve a complex murder mystery. But this international investigation will expose more than murder, as the two detectives begin to uncover a conspiracy with political consequences.
North Shore
This ensemble drama explores a number of interweaving relationships, all grappling with polyamory and sexual expression, amid the personal and societal expectations faced by each character.
Mothers, Lovers and Others
When a children's entertainer finds that a video of him masturbating has gone viral online, his life is thrown into chaos. Amid the fierce public backlash and media scrutiny he is forced to confront the wrath of the anonymous online haters to defend and redeem himself.
Public Eye
A young woman discovers second-wave feminism, while meeting with her estranged half-sister, as they encounter the grief, rage, jealousy and injustice that govern their lives. The academic and political discussion of women's liberation and feminism (as part of the sexual revolution of the 1970s) draws inspiration from 'The Scum Manifesto' by Valerie Solanas and juxtaposes these passage with country music from the same era; notably 'The Pill' by Loretta Lynn, 'Just Because I'm A Woman' by Dolly Parton and, most centrally, 'Stand By Your Man' by Tammy Wynette.
The Switchblade Sisterhood
A documentary exploring the life of a man with multiple disabilities, as he discusses his approach to sexuality and romance; focusing on his desire for a genuine partner, as opposed to a carer, a martyr or somebody "doing him a favour".
Desire/Ability
Two sisters and their male counterparts struggle with the negative influences of their youths over a 50-year period.
The Lives We Lead
The distinction between faith and religion is explored amid an assortment of frayed relationships when a devout Christian man contracts a life-altering illness, forms a drug dependency and becomes the key suspect in a murder investigation.
The Blood of God
A little girl encounters Indigenous mythological nightmares while lost in the Australian bush.
Hunting for Shadows
The first Australian film to feature Auslan (Australian Sign Language). "A Silent Agreement" tells the story of Reuben, a sensitive writer, who grapples with a speech impediment. His boyfriend, Derek, a profoundly deaf Human Rights activist, provides strategies to restore his confidence and communication skills. When Reuben approaches an over-the-hill film producer with his autobiographical screenplay, the producer betrays him and Reuben is forced to overcome the long-term effects of bullying in order to succeed.
A Silent Agreement
“Davo Hardy hosts this retrospective documentary about his naturist-themed short film ”Complex” and its impact on his career, those who helped to make it and the nudist community for which it stands.
A Very Complex Decade: Celebrating 10 Years of a Nudist Short Film
The cultural adaptability of two heterosexual men sharing an apartment. However, one of them happens to be a nudist.
Complex
An obsessed, washed-up Sydney filmmaker sets out to uncover what led to the cancellation of his viral high school web series, GunBlade Adventures.
GunBlade & Me
A man afflicted with cerebral palsy and profound deafness yearns for a meaningful relationship. His widowed father is torn between providing a high quality of life for his son and the reality of how unlikely it is that he will succeed.