by FilmInk Staff
A landmark documentary chronicling the worst terror attack in modern Australian history
On 14 December 2025, two gunmen opened fire on Bondi Beach, killing 15 people and injuring more than 40. BONDI: 7 Minutes That Changed Australia chronicles the worst terrorist attack in modern Australian history, an unprecedented tragedy that shattered countless lives, sent shockwaves across the nation and had a profound impact on Australia’s Jewish community.
Told through never-before-seen archive footage, exclusive audio recordings and raw eyewitness testimony from survivors, families of victims, first responders and everyday heroes, the gripping feature-length documentary premieres Sunday 13 December at 7.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand, marking one year since the attack.
BONDI: 7 Minutes That Changed Australia is more than a retelling of events. It delivers a powerful and deeply human examination of the attack, the circumstances that preceded it, the rising tide of antisemitism, and its lasting aftermath.
Through stories of loss, grief, courage and resilience, BONDI bears witness to this unspeakable tragedy, honours the victims, recognises the multiple acts of heroism and humanity amidst the horror on a day that left an indelible mark on Australia.
The documentary features a diverse range of first-person accounts, including Ahmed al-Ahmed, who disarmed one of the gunman before being shot multiple times, alongside two heroic surf lifesavers, a Bondi paramedic, an Australian Jewish survivor who was shot in the head, a 14-year-old hero from Chabad of Bondi, a news cameraman who filmed the entire event from an extraordinary vantage point, a young Brazilian couple who were celebrating their Australian visas before being caught up in the crossfire, and a veteran psychologist who has supported the survivor community since the tragedy.
SBS Head of Unscripted, Joseph Maxwell said: “This event shattered so many lives and reverberated across the country, particularly within Australia’s Jewish community. It was a confronting reminder of the importance of social cohesion and the need to foster understanding and social connection between communities. This is central to SBS’s purpose. This documentary is a powerful record of this terrible moment in our nation’s history, while also encouraging reflection, understanding and meaningful conversation.”
Mint Pictures Creative Director Dan Goldberg said: “BONDI is a film we never imagined we’d have to make. But then it happened. Despite the alarm bells, on 14 December 2025, the first night of Hannukah, 15 people – mostly members of Sydney’s Jewish community – lost their lives in the worst terror attack in modern Australian history.”
“We are honoured to partner with SBS to share a film that explores this tragic story with nuance, authenticity and sensitivity. This is a deeply human first-person account told by those who were there. It examines not only the events of that horrific day, but also the rise in antisemitism that preceded it and the profound impact it had on social cohesion across Australia.”
Screen Australia Head of Documentary Richard Huddleston said: “Documentaries can help to bear witness, preserve memory and deepen understanding. BONDI: 7 Minutes That Changed Australia is a powerful piece of public-interest storytelling. Through footage captured on the day and the voices of survivors, families and first responders, it creates an important record of a tragic event. The filmmakers have approached this difficult subject with sensitivity, compassion and integrity, earning the trust of those most affected and creating space for them to share their experiences in their own words while acknowledging the significance of this moment in Australia’s history.”
Kylie Munnich, Executive Director Screen NSW said: “This film is an emotionally powerful and distinctive account of one of the most tragic days in NSW’s history. Mint Pictures has brought this story to life with sensitivity, examining the event in Bondi and also the profound impact felt in Sydney and around the world.”
BONDI: 7 Minutes That Changed Australia is a Mint Pictures production for SBS. Principal production funding from Screen Australia. Developed and produced in association with SBS. Financed with support from Screen NSW. International sales by TVF Media. Developed with the assistance of Screen Australia and Screen NSW.
BONDI: 7 Minutes That Changed Australia premieres Sunday 13 December at 7.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand with an encore screening on SBS2 on Monday 14 December at 9.30pm.
