Twelve Australian films will screen at this year’s Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF), the largest
number for several years.
number for several years.
Amongst the 12 are five films by Queensland filmmakers.
BIFF Executive Director, Anne Demy-Geroe, said she had been overwhelmed by the number of Australian titles available for selection for 2007.
‘Although we are an international film festival, it is important we showcase and give prominence to home-grown films and filmmakers,’ she said.
‘It was very encouraging this year to have so many Australian films to select from. In fact, I had many more films to choose from than I could ever hope to include in the programme.
‘I have been particularly delighted too to be able to include such a significant number of films from
Queensland filmmakers.’
Queensland filmmakers.’
Amongst the highlights of the Australian programme is the latest offering from Ten Canoes director, Rolf de Heer. His title, Dr Plonk, will screen in both Cine Sparks (the Australian Film Festival for Young
People) and for family audiences in the main ticketed programme.
People) and for family audiences in the main ticketed programme.
From Queensland comes All My Friends are Leaving Brisbane, Corroboree, Donkey in Lahore, Unlikely Travellers and Search for Weng Weng.
In addition to the feature films, 20 Australian short films will be screened at BIFF, including six indigenous shorts.
Five films by George Miller will also be screened at BIFF in the Burbs, a programme of 15 free outdoor community screenings throughout South East Queensland.
This year’s BIFF runs from 2 to 12 August. The full BIFF programme will be released on 11 July.
Information and tickets to selected events are already available at www.biff.com.au
* All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane
It’s the late 1990s. Anthea is 25, single, hates her job ? and all her friends are leaving Brisbane. Should she follow the herd out of town? Is there anything worth staying for now that her best friend, Michael, finally has a girlfriend? A romantic comedy based on Brisbane playwright Stephen Vagg’s successful play of the same name.
It’s the late 1990s. Anthea is 25, single, hates her job ? and all her friends are leaving Brisbane. Should she follow the herd out of town? Is there anything worth staying for now that her best friend, Michael, finally has a girlfriend? A romantic comedy based on Brisbane playwright Stephen Vagg’s successful play of the same name.
* Boxing Day
Hardman Chris is awkwardly preparing a Boxing Day lunch, for his teenage daughter, ex-wife and her new boyfriend, Dave, when Owen, a criminal acquaintance, arrives wanting to stash some drugs. Owen reveals he knows Dave from inside and that he’s a child molester. Although Owen’s unreliable, the weight of the information makes Chris boil with impending violence.
Hardman Chris is awkwardly preparing a Boxing Day lunch, for his teenage daughter, ex-wife and her new boyfriend, Dave, when Owen, a criminal acquaintance, arrives wanting to stash some drugs. Owen reveals he knows Dave from inside and that he’s a child molester. Although Owen’s unreliable, the weight of the information makes Chris boil with impending violence.
* Corroboree
Brisbane born director Ben Hackworth makes a singular feature debut with a daring homage to the late theatre director Richard Wherett. A director has organised for a young actor to perform scenes from his life. Following a set of taped instructions, the young man encounters five actresses and through the content of the scenes, learns about the director’s life.
Brisbane born director Ben Hackworth makes a singular feature debut with a daring homage to the late theatre director Richard Wherett. A director has organised for a young actor to perform scenes from his life. Following a set of taped instructions, the young man encounters five actresses and through the content of the scenes, learns about the director’s life.
* Donkey In Lahore
Brian, 25, an Australian goth, visits Pakistan to perform at a puppet festival in Lahore. He meets Amber, 15, a Pakistani student and devout Muslim. They fall in love. Brian converts to Islam so he can marry Amber, but first he must convince her parents of his intentions. Brisbane filmmaker Faramarz K. Rahber (Fahimeh’s Story BIFF 2004) tells this unique tale of cross-cultural love.
Brian, 25, an Australian goth, visits Pakistan to perform at a puppet festival in Lahore. He meets Amber, 15, a Pakistani student and devout Muslim. They fall in love. Brian converts to Islam so he can marry Amber, but first he must convince her parents of his intentions. Brisbane filmmaker Faramarz K. Rahber (Fahimeh’s Story BIFF 2004) tells this unique tale of cross-cultural love.
* Dr Plonk
Rolf de Heer cements his reputation as Australia’s most inventive and unpredictable filmmaker with this joyful black and white, silent comedy. It’s 1907 and Dr Plonk has calculated the world will end in 101 years. Dr Plonk travels to 2007 to gather evidence, but the mission is endangered when he’s mistaken for a terrorist. Brimming with romance, action and slapstick, this is pure eccentric fun.
Rolf de Heer cements his reputation as Australia’s most inventive and unpredictable filmmaker with this joyful black and white, silent comedy. It’s 1907 and Dr Plonk has calculated the world will end in 101 years. Dr Plonk travels to 2007 to gather evidence, but the mission is endangered when he’s mistaken for a terrorist. Brimming with romance, action and slapstick, this is pure eccentric fun.
* The Home Song Stories
Acclaimed writer and director, Tony Ayres (Walking on Water) presents a highly personal tale of mothers and children, unrequited love, betrayal and hidden secrets. Rose was a glamorous Shanghai nightclub singer, who married an Australian sailor. She struggles to survive in suburban Melbourne with her two children, until an affair with a charismatic younger man threatens to bring everything undone.
Acclaimed writer and director, Tony Ayres (Walking on Water) presents a highly personal tale of mothers and children, unrequited love, betrayal and hidden secrets. Rose was a glamorous Shanghai nightclub singer, who married an Australian sailor. She struggles to survive in suburban Melbourne with her two children, until an affair with a charismatic younger man threatens to bring everything undone.
* The Jammed
When Ashley Hudson, a middle-class young woman from Melbourne, reluctantly agrees to help a Chinese woman find her daughter, she has no inkling of the world that exists just beyond her own. Through the stories of three women sold into prostitution, the sinister workings of human trafficking, illegal prostitution and heartless government responses are exposed.
When Ashley Hudson, a middle-class young woman from Melbourne, reluctantly agrees to help a Chinese woman find her daughter, she has no inkling of the world that exists just beyond her own. Through the stories of three women sold into prostitution, the sinister workings of human trafficking, illegal prostitution and heartless government responses are exposed.
* Unfinished Sky
William McInnes stars as John, a reclusive farmer in rural Queensland, who reluctantly offers refuge to an illegal immigrant, an Afghan woman who’s been beaten. John and Tahmeena slowly develop an understanding and begin to recover their trust in humanity. A powerful, poetic and sensual love story that peels away layers of hurt and mistrust to reveal the beauty of freedom, hope and choice.
William McInnes stars as John, a reclusive farmer in rural Queensland, who reluctantly offers refuge to an illegal immigrant, an Afghan woman who’s been beaten. John and Tahmeena slowly develop an understanding and begin to recover their trust in humanity. A powerful, poetic and sensual love story that peels away layers of hurt and mistrust to reveal the beauty of freedom, hope and choice.
* Unlikely Travellers
Six intellectually disabled people take a life-changing trip to Egypt. From the selection process, their mental and physical preparation to the trip itself, they each learn to face their fears and insecurities, chase their dreams and explore their possibilities.
Six intellectually disabled people take a life-changing trip to Egypt. From the selection process, their mental and physical preparation to the trip itself, they each learn to face their fears and insecurities, chase their dreams and explore their possibilities.
* Night
Since Eternity, Brisbane-born Lawrence Johnston’s unique vision has drawn attention to aspects of life that are often overlooked. His latest film is a cinematic documentary, with a dramatic symphonic score, that explores the nature of night. Voices from all walks of life tell stories of their ‘affair’ with the night -at work and at leisure – and show how the darkness of the night affects us all.
Since Eternity, Brisbane-born Lawrence Johnston’s unique vision has drawn attention to aspects of life that are often overlooked. His latest film is a cinematic documentary, with a dramatic symphonic score, that explores the nature of night. Voices from all walks of life tell stories of their ‘affair’ with the night -at work and at leisure – and show how the darkness of the night affects us all.
* Words from the City
This documentary explores contemporary Australian hip hop through intimate and candid observations of some of the nation’s most potent and compelling artists.
This documentary explores contemporary Australian hip hop through intimate and candid observations of some of the nation’s most potent and compelling artists.
[release from BIFF]