Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

All titles in the ‘Teen’ genre

28 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year

1960s

Skippy – Be Our Guest television program – 1968

Clancy wants to make a good impression on her visiting mother. Instead, she gets lost in the bush where she is rescued by a group of Aboriginal men (played by visiting members of the Aboriginal Theatre from Yirrkala, Arnhem Land).

Skippy – Long Way Home television program – 1968

Dastardly Dr Stark kidnaps ‘no ordinary kangaroo’ Skippy for his own private zoo, but Skippy has other plans.

1980s

BMX Bandits feature film – 1983

A young Nicole Kidman stars in a story of BMX bikes and wannabe bandits.

The Henderson Kids – Series 1 Episode 2 television program – 1985

Teenage actors Nadine Garner, Kylie Minogue and Ben Mendelsohn feature in this classic 1980s children’s drama from Crawford Productions.

Playing Beatie Bow feature film – 1985

Playing Beatie Bow has the sumptuous look and feel of a period film, thanks to its award-winning cinematography and production design.

Winners – Just Friends television program – 1985

Just Friends reveals the hard asks of a young teenager – trying to fit in, standing up for yourself and resisting peer pressure to do things you’re not comfortable with.

Winners – Room to Move television program – 1985

The script of this telemovie (starring a young Nicole Kidman) was criticised at the time for undermining parental authority but that seems hard to understand now.

Touch the Sun – Princess Kate television program – c1988

This is a story of insecurity, snobbery, fear, love and hope as this young girl takes herself and two families on an emotionally painful journey to find out who she really is.

1990s

Flirting feature film – 1990

In 1965 a rebellious private schoolboy finds his romantic soulmate in an African pupil from the neighbouring girls’ school.

Heartbreak High – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 1993

Edgy, fast-paced drama starring a young Alex Dimitriades and set in a multicultural urban high school.

Sky Trackers – Is There Life On Earth? television program – 1994

Shane is not a textbook hero, and while Nikki’s attraction to him because of his scientific brain seems a little improbable, this situation certainly challenges the stereotype.

Blackrock feature film – 1996

Blackrock’s depiction of teenagers letting off steam with sex and drink and rock 'n’ roll is very dynamic because of the fluid camerawork, lively soundtrack and energetic choreography.

Heartbreak High – Series 7 Episode 210 television program – 1998

Stolen goods, lawn bowls and a séance feature in this final episode of the groundbreaking 1990s teen drama.

2000s

Eugénie Sandler PI – Episode Two television program – 2000

A teen spy thriller directed by Ana Kokkinos satirising detective, film noir, and spy film genres in the mysterious story of Private Investigator Eugénie Sandler.

Hey Sista! short film – 2001

A coming of age story about a girl who just wants to play basketball … and have straight hair.

The Saddle Club – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 2001

Carole, Stevie and newcomer Lisa ride their way to true friendship in The Saddle Club.

Short Cuts – Wheels on Fire television program – 2001

Set in a year 9 media studies class, Short Cuts is about teenagers making films and exploring how the camera can be used to communicate, but also to manipulate and lie.

Flat short film – 2002

A short drama about the day in a life of a young teenager. Marnie lives in a housing commission estate and captures Alice Springs through a video camera given to her by her mostly absent father.

Out There – Two Down Under television program – 2002

A comedy-drama for children set in an animal clinic in rural Australia.

The Rage in Placid Lake feature film – 2003

The Rage in Placid Lake is a comic drama, tinged with the absurd, and musician-turned-actor Ben Lee plays the title character with the required amount of chutzpah.

Wicked Science – Episode 1, The Gift television program – 2003

The spectacular dinosaur scenes and the transformation from nerd to villainous ice queen make this a not-to-be-missed episode.

Fergus McPhail – Double Trouble television program – 2004

The hapless Fergus, who is probably the biggest dag around, is trying to be cool as he attempts to settle into his new life. Of course all does not go to plan.

Blue Water High – Winners and Losers television program – 2005

Blue Water High successfully combines the dramatic school-based Heartbreak High with the beach setting of Home and Away.

The Djarn Djarns short film – 2005

The Djarn Djarns is a comedy-drama very much suited for young people. It is a dance film with a sports feel, so culture and sport are not in competition.

December Boys feature film – 2006

Daniel 'Harry Potter’ Radcliffe stars as one of four young orphans whose friendship is tested during an idyllic beach holiday.

Lockie Leonard – The Human Torpedo television program – 2006

Based on Tim Winton’s novels, this series follows ‘surf rat’ Lockie Leonard who is starting high school in a new town on the WA coast.

Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueburger feature film – 2007

Esther hates conformity but also needs to be part of a group, and it is this contradiction that gives the character complexity.

The Combination feature film – 2009

After serving a jail term a young Lebanese Australian man struggles to stop his wild younger brother from making the mistakes that he made.