Birthright + Filmmaker Q&A

Name: Birthright + Filmmaker Q&A
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2026-05-11
Duration: 1 h 33 min
Cast: Travis Jeffery, Maria Angelico, Michael Hurst

Join us for a special preview screening of the hilarious dark comedy Birthright followed by a Q&A with writer/director Zoe Pepper, actors Travis Jeffery and Maria Angelico, and moderator Jonathan O’Brien (YIMBY Melbourne). Jonathan will host a lively discussion about a generation's struggles and frustration with being locked out of the cities where we grew up. Evicted and jobless, Cory and his pregnant wife are forced to stay with his parents. As the younger couple’s stay extends the parents’ become worried that their disappointing son will never leave the house. Desperate to prove himself, the edges of Cory’s reality slip away and he finds an unexpected path to success that detonates the family. YIMBY Melbourne is our city's voice for building more homes where people want to live. The organisation produces policy, advocacy, and evidence for building more sustainable, affordable, and liveable cities. Zoe Pepper (Writer/Director): Is an Australian filmmaker. BIRTHRIGHT is her debut feature film. She comes to filmmaking after a long career in theatre. She tells big-hearted, dark and irreverent stories and really honed her authorial voice in her theatre work, she brings that distinct style to BIRTHRIGHT. Zoe wrote on the comedic thriller series, Population 11 for Jungle Entertainment. She has won an Australian Writer’s Guild award and a Director’s Guild Award. Her theatre work is Helpmann nominated and has toured extensively, notably The Irresistible played at Dark Mofo festival and the Sydney Opera House. Zoe co-wrote and directed the web series The Big Spaghetti which played at Slamdance Film festival. And she is the co-founder of Audioplay, an award-winning interactive audio app for kids. Travis Jeffery (Cory): Is an award-winning actor best known for his roles in the blockbuster Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Gallipoli, Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Other credits include Top End Wedding, Danger Close, Preacher, Love Child, Last King of the Cross, Bloody Hell, Before Dawn, and Heartbreak High. In 2024, Travis made his writing debut with Dusty, a multi-award-winning short film that earned Best Director and Best Actor honours at Australian and international film festivals. Maria Angelico (Jasmine): Is an award-winning actress, writer, and artist based between Australia and the US. With an extensive screen career, Maria is known for starring as Julia Bechly in Netflix’s Sisters, bringing Cheryl to life in ABC’s The Newsreader, and portraying Christine in Binge’s Strife, produced by Made Up Stories. She also appears as Angie Sanford in Netflix’s Stateless, as Miss Tan in Netflix’s The Inbestigators, and has voiced characters for Blizzard’s World of Warcraft. Recently, Maria captivated audiences with her debut one-woman show, The Disappearing Act, at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival at the Malthouse Theatre. Currently, she’s in production for an eagerly anticipated series adaptation of The Family Next Door, based on Sally Hepworth’s bestselling novel. Jonathan O'Brien: Is the Lead Organiser of YIMBY Melbourne, and the Editor-in-Chief of long-form policy journal Inflection Points. Jonathan’s first non-fiction book, Boundless, will be out with Pantera in 2027. He is a 10% pledger with Giving What We Can.ComedyPT1H33MMA15+2026-05-11

Travis Jeffery

Maria Angelico

Michael Hurst

Zoe Pepper

Birthright + Filmmaker Q&A"Birthright + Filmmaker Q&A"

Showtimes

May 11, 8:15 pm