Rod O'Hara bought Bellingen Video Connection in 2018 when video stores were already considered on the way out - if not already dead. Now, years later, against all the odds and after facing many personal setbacks, Rod and the small town's local community have kept this iconic local business and bastion for lovers of television, film and screen culture alive - but for how long? 

Return Chute: The Survival of a Small Town Video Store was selected for the Adelaide Film Festival 2023 and premiered at the Screenwave International Film Festival 2023. The film won the Special Jury Award at Sydfest Independent Film Festival 2024, Best Documentary at the Far South Film Festival 2023, Best Short Documentary at the Sydney Short Film Festival 2023, and Best Open Short at the What The Film (WTF) Festival 2023. The film was also selected for the SWAN - Perth International Women in Film Festival and the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival in 2023. Director and Producer: Simone Atallah - Aviatrix Films Cinematographer and Editor: Mick Jones Sound Mix: Ryan Burrows Key Art Design: Brigitta Ryan - Take Care Creative

Update Statement: Filmed in late 2022 and premiering in April 2023, the short documentary Return Chute: The Survival of a Small Town Video Store tells the story of Rod O'Hara and his unique store through interviews with Rod, past owners and employees, and passionate and loyal customers. It captures the history, nostalgia, love, and hopes for the video store before Rod made the tough and heartbreaking decision to sell Bellingen Video Connection in late 2023.The iconic video store was reborn as The Dark Room in 2024, a venue for lovers of film, music, art and comedy, for creative inspiration, and for community gatherings. Plus, there's a great collection of art house, cult, classic and foreign films to hire and throwbacks that celebrate the lega-cy of its video store past.

https://www.aviatrixfilms.com/