Press release from Screen Australia
Six Australian documentaries have been selected to screen at the 24th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) this November.
Combining a co-financing market and industry forum, IDFA has emerged as the largest and most significant documentary film festival in the world. The Australian films in this year’s line-up were selected from more than 3,600 international submissions.
Then the Wind Changed (w/d/co-p: Celeste Geer, p: Jeni McMahon) and My Thai Bride (d/p: David Tucker, w: Ashleigh Hooker) will both screen in Competition for Mid-length Documentary. Then the Wind Changed is a highly personal film that explores the ongoing aftermath of the fires of Black Saturday that swept through Victoria in February 2009. My Thai Bride follows the ensuing demise of a 46-year-old Welshman after his marriage to a poor Thai bar girl.
The Hungry Tide (w/d/p: Tom Zubrycki) will screen in Competition for Green Screen Documentary for films that deal with sustainability. The film tells the story of a Kiribati woman living in Sydney who has the task of alerting the world to her sinking homeland.
Goa Hippy Tribe (w/d: Darius Devas) will screen in DocLab – IDFA’s new media program which showcases new forms of documentary filmmaking and storytelling. A group of hippies who travelled through India in the 1970s reunite through Facebook and return for a reunion.
The Tall Man (w/d: Tony Krawitz, p: Darren Dale) will screen in the Reflecting Images: Best of Fests section following its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last month. Based on the award-winning book by Chloe Hooper, The Tall Man tells the story of Cameron Doomadgee’s death in custody on Palm Island.
IDFA had earlier announced the selection of Mrs Carey’s Concert (w/d/p: Bob Connolly, d: Sophie Raymond, p: Helen Panckhurst) which will screen in Competition for Music Documentary.
“The inclusion of Australian documentaries at IDFA, one of the world’s top-tier documentary events, is a strong vote of confidence in Australian documentary and a significant achievement for the filmmakers,” said Liz Stevens, Screen Australia’s Documentary Manager. “The quality and range of work chosen for IDFA reflects the strength of craft and creativity found in Australian documentaries which are engaging audiences both at home and abroad.”
Screen Australia’s Investment/Development Manager Documentary Claire Jager will attend IDFA and will later travel to the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers in Paris, France.
IDFA runs 16–27 November 2011 – www.idfa.nl/industry