Anna Rose Holmer.
First-time feature director and Sundance breakout Anna Rose Holmer will appear in conversation in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, screening her film The Fits as part of the Essential Independents: American Cinema Now Film Festival.
Holmer's film premiered at last year's Venice Film Festival.
The filmmaker was previously one of three recipients of the 2014 Venice Biennale College, winning a $187,000 grant to make The Fits, a coming of age story that follows 11 year-old tomboy Toni (the magnificently named Royalty Hightower) and is set mostly in a housing estate community centre.
The film was recently selected to play this year’s New Directors/New Films festival, which introduces emerging filmmakers from around the world and has previously put the spotlight on the likes of Pedro Almódovar, Christopher Nolan and Spike Lee.
Holmer will be in Melbourne for the festival's opening night at Palace Cinema Como on May 18, and will take part in Q&A sessions following screenings at:
Palace Cinema Como, Melbourne on Thursday May 19 at 6.30pm
Palace Norton Street, Sydney on Friday May 20 at 9.00pm
Palace Electric, Canberra on Saturday May 21 at 8.45pm