PRESS RELEASE
Mauritian/Australian filmmaker Annick Sadhoo brings her breathtaking debut film Code Noir to the Gold Coast for a premiere screening at HOTA, Home of the Arts, on December 13, 2025.
Code Noir tells the story of a mother torn apart from her fair-skinned child under the brutal French colonial slave laws known as the Code Noir. Set in 18th-century Mauritius, the film confronts one of history’s darkest chapters through a deeply human lens of motherhood, loss, and resilience. Taking its name from the royal decree that legalised slavery across all French colonies, Code Noir is a powerful story of identity, resilience, and liberation. The film exposes the brutality of colonial history while exploring the emotional inheritance of that past through generations.
“I chose to write the Code Noir after recognizing an indefinable malaise within myself,” says Sadhoo Courington. “This prompted a journey of self-inquiry to uncover the suffering I inherited from my ancestors. The physical and emotional pains I experienced were not exclusively my own.”
Through her personal lens, Annick Sadhoo Courington brings humanity and depth to a dark chapter of history. “To transcend this pain and achieve a sense of freedom and liberation, it became crucial for me to delve deeper, confront these issues, and initiate the healing process. It is vital for future generations that we do not perpetuate this suffering or pass it on.”Shot entirely in Queensland, the film authentically recreates 18th century Mauritius using heritage sites including the Mudgeeraba Hinterland Museum, Woodlands of Marburg, and Jimbour House. “This project is a celebration of cultural and historical storytelling,” said Annick Sadhoo. “We were amazed by how seamlessly South East Queensland could stand in for Mauritius.”
The screening invites audiences to engage with a narrative that is rarely told yet globally resonant, shedding light on the legacies of colonialism and slavery that continue to shape societies today.
Code Noir signals Annick’s fearless debut in filmmaking. Conventional wisdom warned her against tackling a period piece, or including children and animals in a first film. However, she defied convention and embraced every challenge being driven by a purpose that was larger than herself.
The premiere event will include a special discussion/Q&A with Annick Sadhoo Courington and producer, director of photography and music composer Lee Courington, offering audiences a rare opportunity to connect with the filmmaker and explore the themes behind the film.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, 13 December 2025 Venue: HOTA, Gold Coast, Australia
Time: 5.45 PM (red carpet arrival, screening + Q&A)