New Stan Original Documentaries Revealed: The Cape and Revealed: Reefshot tell truly unmissable stories.

A good documentary is a film that leaves you pondering, long after sitting down to watch it. It's something that captivates. And it has to provide value.

Stan has released two new Original Documentaries that check all of these boxes, each telling truly unmissable stories.

One examines how our Great Barrier Reef is really doing, and what's being done to conserve it. And another uncovers a cold case that has haunted Far North Queensland for decades. 

Revealed Reefshot. 

There's nothing more mesmerising than getting to see what our planet has to offer and the new Stan Original Documentary Revealed: Reefshot has this in spades.

Within the first few seconds of the documentary, it becomes clear you're about to bear witness to some incredible landscapes — with the cerulean waters of the Great Barrier Reef immediately drawing you in. 

Revealed: Reefshot documents the incredible true story of a group of conservationists, scientists, Traditional Owners and everyday citizens working together to protect the Great Barrier Reef from the effects of climate change.

To really seal the deal, the film was released on World Environment Day — a big tick.

Some of the rangers and marine ecologists working to conserve the reef. Image: Stan.

The documentary follows the work of the Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef. They're a groundbreaking citizen science effort and charity aiming to survey the reef, helmed by conservationist Andy Ridley. 

We at home get to see the group embark on the Great Reef Census where they survey hundreds of reefs. 

And I mean hundreds. 

They're aiming to investigate how the coral and sea life are coping amid the warming sea temperatures.

Amazingly, this team has managed to revolutionise conservation efforts. 

During the film, we watch the team fast-track coral growth and gradually eradicate the crown-of-thorns starfish (turns out it's a pretty detrimental pest for coral).

What draws you in is the spectacular footage captured for the documentary,which was directed by Matt Tomaszewski. The immensely talented Joey McQuade, Director of Photography, and Richard Fitzpatrick, Underwater Director of Photography, also deserve high praise for the sights they showcased.

There are long stretches of bright blue sea, vibrant reefs, a very stunning green sea turtle and schools of speckled fish. And of course a Nemo or two.

One of the most touching parts is seeing how the local Indigenous people and rangers speak about the land — sharing stories that have been passed down for 50,000 years.

The Great Barrier Reef. Image: Stan.

For marine ecologist Dr Kate Chartrand, she says in Revealed: Reefshot there's still a lot of hope and optimism about the future of conserving this gem of a place. 

"They're hearing 'It's either all dead', or 'It's perfectly fine, what is everyone panicking about?' and it's neither of those things. To still go out there and find such scale, form and beauty, it's a pretty amazing thing," she notes. 

"We absolutely can give it [the reef] a good future. We must not lose sight of that — the biggest responsibility lies with all of us."

What it takes to conserve the reef comes down to utilising technology, science, people-power and the knowledge of the Traditional Owners. 

This film reminds you that the Great Barrier Reef truly is the jewel of Australia. And it's a jewel we can preserve for future generations.

Revealed: The Cape.

The new Stan Original Documentary Revealed: The Cape is one of the most gripping and emotionally charged documentaries of the year. 

It's an intimate portrayal of an isolated community forever changed by tragedy.

Directed by Michael Ware, viewers are taken into the Top End's Cape York region where a suspicious disappearance has left the community shaken for 20 years.

In 2003, fisherman Bevin Simmonds, 36, and his son Brad, 10, vanished while checking their shark nets. No trace of them was ever found — no bodies, no boat, no murder weapons, and no witnesses. 

But police believe there's a murky truth beneath it all.

Revealed: The Cape. Image: Stan.

In 2005, a rival fishing clan member — who was having an affair with Simmonds' wife — was charged and then acquitted, along with his mother, of the alleged double murders.

No other leads or suspects have ever been found.

What this documentary does so well is raise questions of guilt and complicity that ripple out far beyond the alleged killers in this story.

Also, the setting for this story is just as much of a main character as the family, locals and officials interviewed within the documentary.

Australia's Cape York Peninsula is the epitome of the deep north with expanses of rivers, creeks and oceans and it's this remoteness that adds to the film. It shows just how isolated this community is, and how this story of mystery continues to haunt Far North Queensland.

Importantly, Revealed: The Cape is based on nearly two decades of research, access, footage, interviews, and a podcast investigating the unsolved cold case.

The quest for justice continues for the families of the victims, who hope this film ultimately sheds new light on the lawless frontier of Cape York.

If you're looking for films that captivate and bring important stories to the surface, then the new Stan Original Documentaries Revealed: The Cape and Revealed: Reefshot are perfect for you.

Revealed: Reefshot and Revealed: The Cape are the newest titles in Stan’s landmark documentary slate, following Amongst Us - Neo Nazi Australia, No Mercy, No Remorse and Trafficked. The Stan Original Documentaries have been created in collaboration with award-winning journalists, filmmakers and philanthropists from Australia and around the world.

The brand-new Revealed: The Cape and Revealed: Reefshot are now streaming, only on Stan.

Feature Image: Stan.