JIFF: Freedom Rides

This film is also showing at our sister cinema, Ritz Cinemas

Freedom Rides

World Premiere

In 1965, a group of university students embarked on a 15-day bus ride with a mission to challenge racial discrimination facing First Nation peoples in regional New South Wales. Known as the Freedom Ride, this journey became a pivotal moment in Australian activism. With many of the original riders being Jewish, including future NSW Chief Justice Jim Spigelman, the Freedom Ride is an important reminder of the unique allyship that exists between these communities.

60 years on, a new generation of students recreate the steps of the historic trip, bringing together young First Nations and Jewish adults as they walk that path together. This new documentary follows the 2025 commemorative riders as they retrace part of the original route and reflect on the legacy of the Freedom Rides. Director Eliya Cohen’s passion for human stories and amplifying marginalised voices allows for intimate observation of this event and unearths new insights into the unique relationship between First Nations and Jewish communities.

Both screenings of the film will be accompanied by a panel discussion reflecting on the historic and contemporary allyship between these communities in Australia today, presented by Stand Up & The Jewish Independent.

Rating

Unclassified 15+

Duration

40 min

Country

Australia

Director

Eliya Cohen