Documented Screening Program: The Wolves Always Come at Night followed by a Q&A with Gabrielle Brady

Seamlessly blending documentary and fiction, The Wolves Always Come at Night is a timely reminder of the sometimes-tenuous foundations of the places we call home. Born to generations of herders in Mongolia’s immense Bayankhongor region, young couple Daava (Davaasuren Dagvasuren) and Zaya (Otgonzaya Dashzeveg) are raising their four children as they were brought up: with an intimate connection to the land and the animals they share their lives with.

After an unexpectedly severe sandstorm leaves a devastating impact in its wake, Daava and Zaya must make a once-unthinkable decision that will irrevocably change their family’s lives.

The documentary lays bare the emotional ruptures of climate change and urban migration on Mongolian herders, told through the experiences of Daava and Zaya who are also the film’s co-writers. The film explores the quiet heartbreak as they drift ever further from the herding life and culture they deeply love, yearning for a day they can return to their home. Premiering at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, before playing in competition at IDFA and the BFI London Film Festival, director Gabrielle Brady’s (Island of the Hungry Ghosts) co-created second feature is a revelation.

This Victorian premiere screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Gabrielle Brady.

Ticketing information: Tickets are $14 for AIDC delegates and are available to purchase via the ACMI website or in-person at the ACMI ticket desk.

Image credit: The Wolves Always Come at Night (Madman Entertainment, 2024)

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