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Credits
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Synopsis
Conquering Skin Cancer is not your average documentary; it’s a compelling social impact film with a mission to prevent skin cancer.
In a country where the “bronzed Aussie” image has led to more skin cancer deaths than road accident fatalities, the World Health Organisation predicts a staggering 68% increase in melanoma deaths by 2040. But this is not set in stone. And although Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world (Cancer Council); most skin cancers can be prevented.
Weaving together compelling and emotional stories from survivors, advocates, and world-leading experts, the second instalment in the international Conquering Cancer Campaign delves into how every body can live safely under the sun.
Conquering Skin Cancer features prominent and beloved voices in this important space. Faces you might recognise include 2024 Australians of the Year Professors Richard Scolyer and Georgina Long, Australian media icon Deborah Hutton, Olympian Cate Campbell, World Champion Surfer Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew, and beloved Australian actor Hugh Jackman.
Inspirational activists such as Jay Allen (Australia Skin Cancer Foundation), Tamara Dawson (Melanoma and Skin Cancer Advocacy Network), Scott Maggs (Skin Check Champions) and Anne Gately (Author, “Sunburnt”) also feature, sharing their personal stories in the pursuit of positive change.
Director's Statement
In 1981, I was for the briefest time, the poster boy for the brand-spanking-new ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ campaign. My dad, David Hill, worked for the Cancer Council Victoria for his entire career, eventually running the place as the CEO and representing Australia on the world stage as President of the Union for International Cancer Control. Despite being surrounded by sun-safe practices and messaging, skin cancer still found a way to invade my family. As a fair-skinned person who loves the great Australian outdoors, I’ve learned that I’m a ‘sitting duck’. And I’m not alone. Skin cancer takes more Aussies than the road toll each year. Two in every three of us will get a skin cancer in our lifetimes, costing us almost $2 billion annually. We have amongst the highest rates of skin cancer in the world; over 10% of the world’s melanomas can be found here. I’m an impact filmmaker, who creates entertaining and memorable films that (hopefully) help make the world a better place. Seeing stats like this, and discovering the profound human impact of the lived experience behind them, has compelled my amazing team and I to make Conquering Skin Cancer. The film features a brilliant cast, from everyday Aussies to high-profile celebs, which really speaks to the central argument: we all have a role to play in conquering the world’s most common and most preventable cancer. I’m so proud of what we’ve created. The film is fast-paced, surprising, cinematic, laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving. Please get along to see it and bring your friends. Who knows, you might learn a thing or two - and even help to save a life!
What makes this one special
Director's Biography
Mike Hill Director
Mike is a multi-award winning filmmaker and content creator. He is passionate about crafting memorable screen stories that inspire change and create positive impact.
A graduate of the prestigious Australian Film, Television and Radio School and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Mike founded impact film production house Moonshine Agency in 2010.
Mike’s past film work has released theatrically, in major film festivals and been broadcast on dozens of networks around the world, including ABC, SBS, Fox, Al Jazeera and Amazon Prime. His commercial projects have appeared on all free-to-air commercial broadcasters.
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CONQUERING SKIN CANCER was an official Nominee for Best Documentary Feature at the AFIN International Film Festival 2025, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.
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