Umbrella Entertainment is proud to announce the Blu-Ray release of the seminal Australian classic, Head On, featuring new audio commentary by director Ana Kokkinos , available on November 3, 2021 through the distribution company’s Sunburnt Cinema Collection.
Starring Alex Dimitriades, Paul Capsis, Julian Garner and Elena Mandalis, Head On was the groundbreaking debut feature film for Kokkinos, who adapted the screenplay from Christos Tsiolkas’ novel, Loaded and Lauded as ‘the film that helped change Australian culture’ for opening dialogue and breaking down the barriers between younger Greeks and their parents, Head On was first released in August, 1998, earning nine AACTA Award nominations (formerly AFI) and international accolades stemming from its premiere at Cannes Film Festival, where it screened as part of the coveted Directors Fortnight program.
Confronting and compelling, Head On is a bleak look at race, sexuality and class in contemporary Australian society.
Alex Dimitriades is exceptional in his role as Ari, an angry, confused, nihilistic, unemployed 19-year-old Greek Australian. The film follows an intense 24 hours of his life, fuelled by drugs, booze and anonymous sex as he grapples with his sexuality and clashes with his traditional Greek family. Twenty-three years after its cinema release, Head On is still regarded as an iconic Australian film, particularly by the LGBTQ+ community.

In addition to its nine AACTA nominations (with Jill Bilcock winning Best Achievement in Editing), Head On has received:

1999 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards
Best Actor (Alex Dimitriades)
Best Supporting Actor (Paul Capsis)

1998 AWGIE Awards
Best Feature Film Adaptation (Andrew Bovell, Ana Kokkinos, Mira Robertson)

1999 San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
Best Director (Ana Kokkinos)