DocWeek in association with Ralf Films and Wildflower Films is excited to announce the Australian premiere of documentary film The Last Impresario at next year's Documentary Week Australia on Tuesday March 4. In her full-length directorial debut, Australian filmmaker Gracie Otto profiles perhaps the most famous person you’ve never heard of: Michael White. Michael White broke all the rules, a playboy, bon vivant and the man who transformed Britain’s cultural scene in the 1970s. ‘The Last Impresario’ premiered at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2013.
Michael White produced over 300 shows and movies over the last 50 years. Bringing to the stage the risqué productions of Oh! Calcutta!, The Rocky Horror Show and to the screen Monty Python’s The Holy Grail, as well as introducing Merce Cunningham, Pina Bausch and Yoko Ono to London audiences, he irrevocably shaped the cultural scene of 1970s London. Fondly known as ‘Chalky’ by his friends, he is now in his late seventies and still enjoys partying like there’s no tomorrow. In this intimate documentary, filmmaker Gracie Otto introduces us to this larger-than-life phenomenon. Following a chance encounter with White in Cannes 2010, Gracie Otto has created an intriguing tribute to a truly fascinating entertainment figure with a remarkable cultural legacy.
Gracie Otto, Director said “I am absolutely thrilled The Last Impresario will screen as the opening night film for DocWeek 2014. Last year we came to Adelaide to pitch our film. One year later, after an incredible team effort, a world premiere at the London Film Festival with positive reviews, it feels like we have come full circle and its an honor to be included in the DocWeek 2014 Programme."
The Last Impresario is a fast and entertaining documentary with a stellar cast of interviewees including; Yoko Ono, Anna Wintour, Kate Moss, Naomi Watts, Barry Humphries, John Cleese, Bill Oddie, Greta Scacchi, Nigel Planer, Robert Fox, Alan Yentob, Rachel Ward, Jim Sharman, Brian Thomson, Richard O’Brien, Nell Campbell, Patricia Quinn, Lyndall Hobbs, Sarah Hillsdon, Joshua White, Peter Richardson, John Waters, Alan Finkelstein, Lorne Michaels, Lou Adler, Sabrina Guinness, Wallace Shawn, Tracy Tynan, Andre Gregory, Jean Pigozzi and of course the man himself Michael White.
Joost den Hartog, Director of DocWeek said “When an opportunity arises to open a festival with either a highly anticipated film by the best documentary filmmaker of the moment or a highly anticipated film by an extremely talented emerging Australian director, it is time to put convention by the way side, and go with both. I feel honoured that Gracie has given us The Last Impresario to open the festival program along side Alex Gibney’s The Armstrong Lie”.
‘The Last Impresario’ will premiere in Australia on Tuesday 4th March, 2014 at 7.00pm. Tickets are on sale now and are available at BASS www.bass.net.au