Race Around The World: The ABC's Ambitious Travel Film Challenge
Six Australian filmmakers are racing across the globe, creating ten films from ten countries in just 100 days—without knowing their next destination until the last moment.
The series streams on ABC iview and airs Sundays at 7:30pm on ABC TV.
Contestant Preparations
Before departure, the contestants attended a one-week bootcamp in Sydney, covering camera equipment, safety, and TV production procedures.
Packing Essentials
Contestant Essential Item Mikaela Zuiderduyn Wired headphones Elliot Constable Glasses Jayden O'Neill Long lens Lucinda Price Makeup, clothes, convertible pants Kate McGuinness Her nan's ring William He Nintendo SwitchWhat Fears They Carried
"Art is subjective." — Mikaela
"Live as if you will die tomorrow." — Elliot
"If people don't care, they won't protect." — Jayden
Mikaela fears water damage to her luggage and gear. Elliot worries about something happening to loved ones while he's away. Jayden dreads a story falling through or a subject withdrawing permission. Lucinda is concerned about logistics and lack of sleep. Kate fears cultural misunderstandings. William worries about being on TV and tarnishing his professional reputation.
Filmmaker Backgrounds
- Mikaela Zuiderduyn: Artistic, poetic, magazine-style filmmaker.
- Elliot Constable: A chaotic introverted extrovert; previously traveled and produced films for SBS.
- Jayden O'Neill: Conservation and natural history filmmaker with experience in Antarctica.
- Lucinda Price: Content creator who aims to be both in front of and behind the camera.
- Kate McGuinness: Takes a calm, humorous approach.
- William He: Software engineer and machine learning engineer.
Week One Films
Each contestant traveled to a different destination and produced a short film within 10 days. The films were released for public voting, with the poll closing on June 12, 2020, at 4:00pm (AEST).
Contestant Destination Film Title Subject Next Destination Jayden Philippines Pamilya Muna (Family First) Illegal fishing methods Peru Kate India Live the Ultra Life Different lifestyles Greenland William Egypt Al Asmar A jeans seller Wales Elliot Moldova Between Life and War A woman returning to Kyiv for cancer treatment South Africa Lucinda Nevada, USA The Kings of Pop Michael Jackson impersonators in Las Vegas Jamaica Mikaela Alaska, USA Arctic Willows An Iñupiaq girl torn between leaving and staying South KoreaElliot's Film in Moldova
For his film Between Life and War, Elliot Constable interviewed Tatiana, a Ukrainian woman now living in Chisinau, Moldova.
"War took my home, and cancer is trying to take my body. But I will not let that happen." — Tatiana
Tatiana's story:
- She uses a communication app to monitor Russian strikes on Ukraine.
- She fled Ukraine during the 2022 attack on Kyiv with her mother and pet bird; her father and sisters remained due to martial law and language barriers.
- Tatiana witnessed civilian suffering, including a bus fire with trapped passengers.
- She spent years as a refugee in Turkey and Georgia before settling in Moldova.
- She is preparing to return to Ukraine for cancer treatment via a driver named Yaroslav, an injured veteran who transports civilians between Moldova and Ukraine.
Statements from Tatiana:
- "Russian strikes are coming... they are going to hit Brovari."
- "There was nothing I could do to help."
Yaroslav was injured in battle and now drives civilians between Moldova and Ukraine despite ongoing strikes.
Week Two Films
The second set of short films was released, with each participant having 10 days to produce a film after receiving their destination with one day's notice. The films were judged by a panel, with audience voting also open. The audience poll closed on Friday, June 19, at 4pm (AEST). The poll does not determine the show's results.
Contestant Destination Film Title Subject Next Destination Lucinda Jamaica The Pum Pum Modern dating in Jamaica Sweden Jayden Peru River of Gold Illegal gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon China Mikaela South Korea Sori (Sound) A South Korean Foley artist Morocco Kate Greenland A Universal King Aqqisiaq's plan for world domination England Elliot South Africa Guardians of the Wild Anti-poaching efforts for rhinos California, USA William Wales The Rock of the Night Paranormal activity at Craig Y Nos Castle Costa RicaWeek Three Films
The six filmmakers are three weeks into their journey. They had 10 days to produce a short film. The audience poll closed on June 26 at 4pm AEST.
Contestant Destination Film Title Subject Next Destination William Costa Rica La Pura Vida de la Abuela Rica (The Pure Life of the Costa Rican Grandmother) Living a stress-free life Italy Lucinda Sweden Allemansrätten Sweden's right to roam Taiwan Elliot California, USA Edge of the Sea Bombay Beach, a town between collapse and rebirth Norway Kate England Black Bananas A man wrestling with his inner child Vanuatu Mikaela Morocco The Source A rug maker in Taznakht Brazil Jayden China Huáijiù (Nostalgia) A man in a former oil town Arkansas, USA