ACTF News

Windcatcher follows the unlikely friendship between Percy Boy, new student Keithy Cobb and the spirited Daisy Hawkins, as they band together to take the local school sports day title from a group of grade five bullies in their small country town.

But as Percy Boy trains with the help of his mates, he discovers his supernatural ability to see Lost Souls – a gift passed down from his grandfather. Percy Boy must overcome his fears, prove his resilience and become a force to be reckoned with.

An underdog story with themes of loss and grief, achievement, friendship and family connections, Windcatcher is suitable for students in upper primary and above.

During a recent advance screening at the Australian Parliament House cinema, adults and children alike were delighted by the film, laughing and crying as Percy Boy experienced some of the incredible highs and lows of life.  

This special event was hosted by The Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Tony Burke and ACTF Chair Helen Silver. In his speech, Minister Burke highlighted the vital role that locally made children’s screen stories play in young people’s lives.

“Sometimes when we talk about Australian stories we talk about the big, grand stories, the big, dramatic stories that deal with huge cultural moments in Australian history… the stories that you’ll see today are the stories that we need to hear. Because from a child’s perspective, the big event in your life is dealing with the bully at school. The big event in your year is the school athletics carnival.”

Windcatcher is now streaming exclusively on Stan. The ACTF will release an educational resource for the film in the coming months.