Exit director Danny Cohen’s first feature doco to have its international premiere at SXSW

When Danny Cohen joined Exit in 2018, he had just achieved Vimeo staff pick for music video for Courtney Barnett’s Need a Little Time. It was his sixth collaboration with the artist. Now he was written and directed the feature documentary, Anonymous Club, about the singer-songwriter, and it will have its first international screening at the prestigious SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas from March 11-19, 2022.

Anonymous Club made its debut at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2021 and went on to screen at the Sydney Film Festival, Cinefest Oz and Brisbane International Film Festival. It will screen across Australia in cinemas from March 17 2022, coinciding Courtney Barnett’s Australian tour dates to support her recently released album, Things Take Time, Take Time. Anonymous Club has achieved worldwide distribution. Film Art Media is covering Australia. Oscilloscope Films, established by the Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch in 2008, is looking after North American distribution and Berlin’s documentary specialist, Monoduo Films, is managing the rest of the world.

The film is the antithesis of a rock biography and a clear demonstration of why Cohen has become one of the Australian music industry’s most awarded directors. It looks different, shot on 16mm film. It feels different with Barnett’s innermost thoughts recorded on a dictaphone and Barnett’s slow acceptance of Cohen’s camera evident. Cohen reveals a woman who finds power in sharing her vulnerability. He captures a paradoxically introverted performer and anti-influencer, who, at the height of success, is ready to walk away. The film was produced by Philippa Campey and Samantha Dinning, and edited by Ben Hall with a score by Courtney Barnett and Stella Mozgawa.

Says Cohen: “After three years on (and off) the road, and a blurry few months in the edit suite with legendary editor Ben Hall, it’s wild to think that piece by piece, I’ve documented a story, one of a searching woman, of tremendous personal growth, and limitless talent. I’ll be forever grateful to Courtney for this experience, and I’m looking forward to sharing the film with audiences here in Australia and internationally.”

Says Leah Churchill-Brown, executive producer, Exit: “Cohen has a remarkable ability to tell distinctive stories. He has a flair for noticing the unique and memorable characteristic in a person or a story and bring it to the fore in an engaging manner. It is quite a skill.”

Among Cohen’s many accolades are the Triple J Award Best Music Video and two nominations for ARIA Best Music Video Award. He is also an accomplished photographer whose diverse portfolio includes the famous Bath Time With Mac with Mac DeMarco for Rolling Stone and The Birth of Venus with Eric Andre.

To work with Danny Cohen, contact Leah Churchill-Brown on 0418 228 585 or by email: leah@exit.com.au.