Press release from Tsuki
The Tasmanian ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ Film Festival, the very essence of fine film and of Tasmania, will run over Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th November, 2011 in Launceston within the fertile Tamar Valley, a region renowned for its beauty and for its fine food and wine.
Building upon its launch in June 2010, Tasmania's premier film festival (known simply as BOFA) is set to become an annual fixture on the cultural calendar of Tasmania, attracting film industry professionals, movie lovers, in-bound tourists and locals alike.
Australia’s newest and freshest film festival showcases features, shorts and documentaries, which provide a fresh perspective on and/or an innovative approach to screen-based story telling that inspires positive change.
As well as a vibrant celebration of film, master-classes and industry debate, BOFA is the perfect excuse to indulge in food and wine from the region, with gala parties in ‘fresh’ places like a planetarium and local breweries.
Festival Director, Owen Tilbury, said that Tasmania was, until now, the only state in Australia without its own major film festival.
"We decided to locate the state based film festival in Launceston because it has Australia's largest film society and our Inveresk Arts precinct has 5 screens, a major museum space, a function centre, restaurant and plenty of parking – all two blocks from the CBD.
The fact that we are just 50 minutes flight from Melbourne and an hour and half from Sydney, makes it the natural place this Spring to have a short break filled with fine films, fresh ideas and fun," said Owen Tilbury, Festival Director.
In 2011, BOFA is pleased to welcome renowned celebrity photographer and filmmaker, Bradley Patrick, to the role of Artistic Director.
"Our vision is clear; we want anyone who enjoys films to be enthralled by the fresh perspective that BOFA brings to the Australian film industry. The festival will be a melting pot of cutting edge technology, art, world-class cinema, scenic experience and screen-based storytelling,” said Bradley Patrick, Artistic Director.
Highlights planned for the 2011 program include:
- Feature length screenings on the themes of ‘food for thought’ and ‘new horizons’
- Digital SLR Short Film competition with significant prizes
- The Fusion Film competition, merging still and moving images to tell a story, in liaison with the Australian Institute for Professional Photography
- The Big Ideas Debates – on contemporary and film industry issues –in liaison with the St James Ethics Centre
- Master-classes on writing, acting, producing , acting and the business of film making
- Fun events such as opening/closing night parties and after-parties in ‘fresh’ places like a planetarium (party with the stars) and a local brewery
- A major one day ‘Festivale of Film’ with the best Tasmanian wines and gourmet cheeses, seafood and fruits being sampled whilst food-oriented features play on an outdoor 10mx10m screen
- The world famous Corrick collection of silent movies, curated by the National Film and Sound Archive
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A photographic exhibition of celebrity directors and stars
Venue: Inveresk Precinct, Launceston, Tasmania
Dates: Wed 23 to Sun 27 November 2011
Program: Five days of feature film, digital SLR shorts, debates, competitions, master-classes and gala events which use the power of storytelling to inspire positive change. One day “Festivale of Film”, a food and wine festival with outdoor screenings of films.
Website here.