Christmas Island. In the middle of the Indian Ocean, 50 million red crabs make their ancient annual voyage from the jungle to the oceans edge. While thousands of asylum seekers are detained indefinitely in a high security facility. Poh Lin, a trauma counsellor living on the Island of Hungry Ghosts, bears witness to the decline of those being detained. A strong statement against inhuman asylum politcy. As Poh Lin and her family explore the island’s powerful and threatening landscape, a disquieting sensation grows. Local islanders carry out their “hungry ghost” rituals for the spirits of those who died on the island without a proper burial. They make offerings to appease the lost souls, who are said to be wandering the jungles at night without a home.

Gabrielle Brady (1984) is an Australian filmmaker who makes documentary and hybrid films. She studied documentary direction at the Cuban International Film School (EICTV). For the past ten eyars, she has lived nomadically, traveling between Cuba, Mongolia, Indonesia, the Australian central desert and Europe. In 2017, her short film ISLAND was commissioned as part of the Guardian documentary series and premiered at Sheffield International Documentary Festival. ISLAND OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS is her first feature film:

Awards (selection): Award for Best Documentary (Tribeca Film Festival, New York/USA 2018), Award for Best Documentary (Valletta Film Festival, Malta 2018); Special Jury Mention (Edinburgh Film Festival, Scotland 2018)