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Byron Shire
October 20, 2026

Hang up the phone

Latest News

Cinema: NAZA

A must-see, award-winning documentary investigating AI warfare in Gaza. Fresh from winning the Special Jury Prize at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival, NAZA, the latest documentary from Academy Award-winning filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor (No Other Land), examines artificial intelligence and surveillance in Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Other News

Tobias Moran sues police over Simone Strobel murder prosecution

Tobias Moran has launched legal action against NSW Police for malicious prosecution over the withdrawn charge that he murdered his girlfriend, German backpacker Simone Strobel, in Lismore in 2005.

BSC insolvency

After numerous warnings, some more than a decade ago, why haven’t our two longest standing public servants Ndiaye and...

Domestic violence: Lismore

I witnessed the aftermath of a serious assault on a woman in Conway Street, Lismore in broad daylight. This was...

Wanderlust come to Mullum

Wanderlust invites the community to a magical evening celebrating connection and conscious living at the Wanderlust Night Market.

People’s Choice Awards announced for Lismore sculpture show

Over 500 visitors came to see the wonderful recycled and natural sculptural works at the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens, in the ReCreate Sculpture Exhibition.

Countless Strokes: Hend brings his world indoors

If you’ve walked down Mullumbimby’s main street and stopped to admire the murals, chances are you’ve already seen the work of local artist and muralist Daniel Hend.

There are two groups of people who think there is an invisible omniscient mind that acts as the policeman and judge of the entire universe of a trillion, trillion, billion stars. Each group has their own personal spiritual telephone connection to the universal judge which is operated by squatting or lying down.

The omniscient mind provides negative thoughts toward each opposing group. The two groups, who have hung out around the eastern Mediterranean for a few thousand years, think that they each have special rights to the land that no humans had trod on for four billion years, and that some humans first occupied about 80 thousand years ago.

About every thousand years the definitely real and obviously existential spiritual telephone operator tells the two groups that they are each chosen to have the land and that they are SPECIAL. In that case sharing the land is obviously not an option. It is unacceptable to have special humans mixing with sub-standard humans. So a killing game is held for a while. Surely it’s time for both groups to hang up that phone for good.

Sapoty Brook, Main Arm



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Interview with Genevieve Clay-Smith, director of Boss Cat showing at the Byron Bay Film Festival

When Sonja (Olivia Hargroder) loses her mother without warning, the only steady presence left in her life is her grandmother, Doris. But Doris’s idea of stability means dismantling everything Sonja has built. For Sonja, who lives with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and has spent her life fighting to be underestimated by no one, Doris’ plan feels less like protection and more like erasure. Directed by Genevieve Clay-Smith, Boss Cat is a vibrant, big-hearted Australian dramedy about independence, family and self-determination, anchored by a fearless lead performance.

Something for everyone at the Picture House

From Australian superstar musos, to brand new documentaries, to comedians at the top of their game, there really is something for everyone at the Brunswick Picture House.

Thirty-six unmissable films

The 2026 Russell Hobbs British Film Festival features an unmissable line up 36 films, including five retrospectives which will screen from 28 October to 29 November at Palace Byron Bay and Ballina Cinemas.

A timeless story of self-discovery

A husband with a promotion, two adorable children and a lovely new house. Nora thought she had it all. But did she? What was the discontent that was whispering to her in the shadows?