Press release from BBFF
The Byron Bay International Film Festival is presenting the first of its Lismore sessions at 2.45pm on Saturday March 5th. This special screening of PG films includes a visual feast of 3 of BBFF’s Best Animation Nominees, all cutting-edge in both style and content – Rubika, Pixels & Evasion.
The feature film of the session is the Australian Premiere of Wild Horse, Wild Ride. Each year thousands of wild horses are rounded up and removed from public lands by the U.S. Government. All will need permanent homes. None has ever been touched by a human hand.
This acclaimed documentary tells the story of the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge, an annual contest that dares 100 people to each tame a totally wild mustang in just 100 days in order to get it adopted into a better. Stunning and poignant, Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus’ debut feature documentary chronicles a handful of unforgettable characters from their first uneasy meeting with their horses and over three months as they attempt to transform from scared strangers to the closest of companions.
Eventually all will converge in Fort Worth, Texas, to compete against each other and offer the horses up for adoption at an auction in which the trainers, if they wish to keep their horses, must bid against the public.
Hailed by the Hollywood Reporter as a “crowd-pleaser with a big heart,” the film traverses across the United States to tell stories of the profound the bonds that can develop between people and animals. From the rolling hills of New Hampshire to the Navajo Nation to the heart of Cowboy Country, the film captures a journey that is at times harrowing, humorous, heartwarming and heartbreaking as these wild spirits- both human and horse- embark on the ride of their lives.
The films will screen at Birch, Carroll & Coyle and tickets are $9 & $11 (cash only). BBFF2011 will run from the 4th to 13th of March in Byron Bay at the Byron Community Centre and features over 35 screenings, 6 free industry workshops & panels, 2 free live audio-visual experimental film performances plus the 2 Lismore sessions. With far too many films to mention here, be sure to check out trailers, film schedules and all the details at www.bbff.com.au