by FilmInk Staff
Award-winning documentary, Diving Into The Darkness, chronicling the daring expeditions of world-renowned cave diver Jill Heinerth, premieres in Sydney at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace from Tuesday 1 October – Monday 7 October 2024.
In Diving Into The Darkness, audiences will witness some of Jill’s hair-raising expeditions, from the breathtaking beauty of the world’s longest and deepest caves in Mexico to fragile caves within the icebergs of Antarctica. Diving Into The Darkness reveals Jill’s courage and vulnerability as she faces unpredictable challenges and unimaginable dangers to overcome her biggest nemesis: fear.
Produced by Running Cloud Productions and directed by 2020 Sydney Film Festival Best Australian Documentary winner Nays Baghai, Diving Into The Darkness is an ‘edge-of-your-seat’ odyssey that transports audiences to some of the most captivating and remote places on the planet while also capturing an intimate portrait of a woman who has dedicated her life to exploring and understanding the unknown.
“This film is not just about cave diving; it’s a deeply personal, character-driven journey into the human psyche”, said director Nays Baghai. “Through Jill’s story, we explore what drives us to confront our deepest fears and push beyond our perceived limits. It’s an immersive experience that I believe will resonate profoundly with viewers, challenging them to see the world—and themselves—in a new light.”
Composed of first-hand footage captured by Jill herself and a team of world-class underwater cinematographers, Diving Into The Darkness has garnered recognition from around the world, including winning Best Documentary Feature at the Oscar-qualifying Santa Barbara International Film Festival, being featured in MovieMaker Magazine and FilmInk, and screening at a variety of film and ocean festivals in the US, Canada, Mexico, UK, UAE, India and Australia.
A series of engaging talks and interactive masterclasses will take place after each screening. Among the highlights is a pioneering discussion on artificial intelligence’s transformative impact on education, where Jill Heinerth will engage in a groundbreaking dialogue with an AI clone of herself, created to interact in real-time. Additional events include panel discussions on the art of extreme underwater filmmaking and a masterclass with the film’s sound designers and musicians.
Book your tickets now at www.orpheum.com.au
✩✩✩✩✩ “It sets new standards for documentaries.” – Scuba Diver Magazine
✩✩✩✩✩ “A beautiful, inspiring film; a masterpiece!.” – InDepth Magazine
✩✩✩✩✩ “Extraordinary; completely captivating.” – Documentary Drive
EVENT DETAILS
What: Diving Into The Darkness Official Sydney Premiere
Where: Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, 380 Military Rd, Cremorne NSW
Tickets: $25.00
When:
Red carpet Premiere: 6:30 PM, October 1st
Regular screenings and post-screening events: 6:30 PM, October 2nd – 6th
For more information on the film, visit www.divingintothedarkness.com
ABOUT JILL HEINERTH
Jill Heinerth is an underwater explorer, writer, photographer and speaker. She is the first Explorer-In-Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. Jill is a Fellow of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, the Women Diver’s Hall of Fame, the Explorer’s Club and the Underwater Academy Of Arts and Sciences. Her images have been showcased by the BBC, National Geographic, Red Bull, Canadian Geographic, Discovery, New York Times and many more.
ABOUT NAYS BAGHAI
Nays Baghai is an independent filmmaker and underwater cameraman from Sydney, Australia. A graduate of Australia’s national film school, AFTRS Nays has won 30 awards for his short films, and both of his feature films as a director, Descent and Diving Into The Darkness, have won Oscar-qualifying film festivals. His portfolio as a videographer and underwater photographer includes Rolex, Sony, SBS, Scuba Diver Magazine, CBA and Tourism Australia.
POST-SCREENING EVENTS
Artificial Intelligence & Education
Join in a thought-provoking discussion on AI’s seismic impact on education, featuring Jill Heinerth, Nays Baghai, and experts Prof. Sarah Maddison, Deputy Vice Chancellor at UNSW, and Zane Kung-Faust, CEO of ULTIMO/Studios, as they unveil an A.I. clone of Jill that interacts with her in real-time – 6:30pm Wed Oct 2.
Underwater Cinematography Secrets
An interactive masterclass with top underwater cinematographers Jill Heinerth, Jon Shaw, and Nays Baghai, as they reveal the behind the scenes of Diving Into The Darkness and share pro tips on underwater filming – 6:30pm Thu Oct 3.
Underwater Adventure
An insightful panel talk on storytelling in extreme underwater environments, featuring top explorers and filmmakers including include Nays Baghai (director, Diving Into
The Darkness), Spencer Frost (director, The Corners Of The Earth), Yana Stashkevich (explorer, Vaggfjellan XI Expedition) and Samir Alhafith (explorer, Sydney Project) – 6:30pm Fri Oct 4.
Sound & Music Secrets
An original masterclass with the film’s sound designers and musicians Nays Baghai, Dylan Mitchell Frost, Kailesh Reitmans and Demi Louise, as they reveal the creative processes behind the powerful soundscape of Diving Into The Darkness – 6:30pm Sat Oct 5.
Science & Storytelling
A lively discussion between director Nays Baghai and comedian-podcaster-scientist Anastasia Shavrova, covering all sorts of topics, including science, diving, filmmaking, music, storytelling and many more – 6:30pm Sun Oct 6.
