Can you disconnect from your smartphone? A new Australian documentary called ‘Disconnect Me’ is examining society’s ever-increasing addiction to our devices and its creators say it will have audiences seriously questioning their relationship with their smartphone.
Fresh from official selection at the prestigious Cinefest Oz Film Festival, Disconnect Me
releases in cinemas nationally from Thursday, October 19th.
The film centres around independent filmmaker, Alex Lykos (Alex & Eve, Me & My Left
Brain), who chooses to disconnect from his devices for 30 days. What starts as a simple
digital detox soon spirals into Lykos facing unforeseen personal, professional and mental
health challenges.
During his experiment, Lykos conducts interviews on digital addiction with everyone from
schoolchildren and parents to professionals and academics such as Dr Catriona Wallace,
Founder of Metaverse Alliance, Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at UNSW AI Institute and
Amanda Third, Digital Social and Cultural Research, Western Sydney University.
As Lykos delves into the social impacts of smartphones and social media, he also explores the role of artificial intelligence, with chilling results.
“There is one particular revelation about the threat of AI on humanity which absolutely shocked us, and it deserves some mainstream attention,” said Lykos.
In a unique twist, Lykos says audiences are encouraged to engage with the film in real
time using their smartphones.
“This is a fresh, interactive cinema experience. We wanted to have a little fun with it so
unlike every other film, we encourage audiences to use their smartphone to interact with
various scenes throughout the film.”
In the spirit of documentary films, Super Size Me and That Sugar Film, Lykos aims to
entertain while also shine a light on the ever-pervasive role of technology in our lives in a
film that everyone can relate to.
“We can’t wait for audiences to see our film and re-examine the role of technology in their
lives. We know that smart devices are here to stay and they offer many great tools to
enhance our lives but have you ever wondered – who controls who?” said Lykos.
Watch the Disconnect Me official trailer here.
Disconnect Me releases in select cinemas from Thursday 19 October.
Cinema locations include:
NSW
- Randwick Ritz (preview screening with Q&A on Sun 24 Sept)
- Palace Cinema, Norton St
- Palace Cinema, Central
- Palace Verona, Paddington
- Dendy Cinemas, Newtown
- United Cinemas, Avalon
- Avoca Beach Theatre, Gosford
- Palace Cinema, Byron Bay
- Majestic Cinemas, Port Macquarie
- Majestic Cinemas, Nelson Bay
- Majestic Cinemas, Nambucca Heads
- Majestic Cinemas, Sawtell
- Majestic Cinemas, Armidale
VIC - Cinema Nova, Melbourne
- Palace Cinema, Pentridge
- Palace Cinema, Balwyn
- Palace, Cinema, Como
- Palace Cinema, The Kino
- Palace Cinema, Dendy Brighton
- Palace Cinema, Westgarth
QLD - Majestic Cinemas, Wynnum
- Majestic Cinemas, Nambour
- Palace Cinema, James St
- Palace Cinema, Barracks
- Palace Cinema, Rain Square
SA - Palace Nova, Eastend
- Palace Nova, Prospect
ACT
- Palace Electric Cinema, Canberra.
