Press release from WOW
Check out and vote in WOW’s online competitions, the Digi-vodule competition on Youtube, www.youtube.com/user/TheWOWfilmfestival now, and WOW’s FestivalOnline https://indieflix.com/festivalsonline/WOWFF2012
Screening 39 films featuring 13 World premieres, 10 Australian premieres and 5 Sydney premieres.
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This prestigious festival is presented by Women in Film and Television (WIFT) NSW and screens from March 6th – 16th in Sydney at Dendy Opera Quays and Parliament House Theatre, City of Sydney Surry Hills Library and University of Technology Sydney. Celebrate International Women’s Day on Awards Night on 8th March at Dendy Opera Quays commencing with drinks at 6.00pm.
Extend the Experience – Opera Bar, the Official Bar of the WOW Film Festival. Join us at Opera Bar for 15% off drinks & food post screening every night of the Festival on presentation of ticket. Enjoy the live music & the view." After Party on Opening Night and Awards Night includes 1 hour of complimentary drinks from 9.00pm.
Media personality (Big Brother host) and author, Gretel Killeen, is WOW patron.
Anna Howard ACS, cinematographer of South Solitary, Rake (episodes 5-8), Errors of the Human Body will be presenting the ACS judged award for cinematography.
NSW Parliament House session introduced by the NSW Minister for Women, Hon Pru Goward MP.
Experience a different storytelling and a unique perspective presented by Women in Film & Television (WIFT) NSW which celebrates its 30 years anniversary in 2012.
Details of full program: http://www.wift.org/wow/WOW_18th_Program.htm
Highlights & Premieres include:
Moth, drama written & directed by acclaimed choreographer MERRYL TANKARD and starring SOPHIE LOWE (Beautiful Kate, The Slap). Winner of ACS award Best Cinematography 2010 Murder Mouth, documentary written, directed, edited by Madeleine Parry. Winner – Best Grassroots Film, Inside Film Awards 2011 (Sydney, Australia), Brisbane International Film Festival 2011, Canberra Short Film Festival 2011, Dungog Film Festival 2011, St Kilda Film Festival 2011, South Australian Screen Awards 2011 Winner – Audience Choice, Bondi Short Film Festival 2011 Winner – Best Short Film, Winner – Best Cinematography, Edindocs Film Festival 2011 (Edinburgh,UK), Amsterdam Film Festival 2012 (Netherlands), An American Swan in Paris, a documentary directed, written & produced by Arantxa Aguierre. Starring ballet dancers, American, Kathleen Thielhelm and Australian, PAUL KNOBLOCH .Driftless Film Festival 2011 (USA), Loikka Film Festival 2012 (Helsinki Finland) Australian Premiere
UMOJA: No Men Allowed, a documentary written, directed, produced, filmed and edited by Elizabeth Tadic. A farcical battle of the sexes erupts when a group of tribal Samburu women create a women’s only village in Kenya, incurring the wrath of the local men. Winner of several local and international awards including 2011 Inside Film (IF) Award for Best Documentary Short; Panavision Grand Jury Prize, 2011 Palm Springs International ShortFest; Human Rights Award, 2011 Artivist Film Festival. 2012 Best Documentary Award – Dam Short Film Festival; Official Selection IDFA 2010.
Bawra Mann: The Heart Needs No Reason, a romantic drama from India. Produced, written, directed by Mitu Kumar. Stars Sakshi Tanwar (Indian television & Bollywood actress), World Premiere
Something Fishy comedy directed by KRISTY BEST, actor/filmmaker ( ABC Host of Sunday Best ) nominated for a Reel Women Film Award at the Cornwall Film Festival 2011, LA Comedy Shorts Festival, Canberra Short Film Festival 2011, Connecticut Film Festival 2012, Best Editing: Australian Screen Editors Awards. Sydney Premiere
Crystal Jam, live action animation written & directed by AFTRS graduate Leonie Savvides. Starring SARAH SNOOK ( Packed to the Rafters, Sisters of War, My Place, Sleeping Beauty), World Premiere
The Burnt Cork, an indigenous drama directed by Alexandra Edmondson, focusing on issues about the ‘stolen generation’ starring Kyas Sherriff ( The Alice) Sydney Premiere
Beneath the Waves, directed by Renee Marie Petropoulos Stars FREYA TINGLEY (Cloudstreet) – ‘Best Screenplay’, ‘Best Cinematography’ & ‘Best Supporting Actor (Ash Vlahos)’ at Los Angeles New Wave International Film Festival 2011, Winner ‘Best in Editing’, ‘Best in Directing’, ‘Best in Cinematography’ & ‘Laurie Fitzgerald Prize in Innocation & Creativity in Sound and/or Film’ at 12th Golden Eye Awards 2011 University of Technology Sydney, Gotham International Screen Film Festival (USA) Australian Premiere
Camera Obscura, animation directed by Marta Maia, music by Christina Christensen, Premio Zon Criatividade em Multimedia, Portugal 2011, Dungog Film Festival 2011, Revelation Perth International Film Festival, Australia 2011, Sardinia Film Festival Italy 2011, Sydney Underground Film Festival, Australia, 2011, Cinanima, 35th International Animation Film Festival, Portugal 2011, ION International Film Festival, Mexico
Heck, comedy directed by Tanya Goldberg, written & produced by Lisa Hoppe & Bobbie Waterman. Stars ROBINA BEARD (Home and Away)
Palm Springs International Shortsfest 2011 Winner AWGIE Award Best Script Short Film Australian Premiere
Revive, written, directed and stars ALYSON STANDEN (Rescue Special Ops, All Saints) World Premiere
The Maiden & the Princess (USA) directed & co-written by Ali Scher. Palm Springs International Short Fest 2011 (USA), Flicker: Rhode Island International Film Festival 2011 (USA), Outfest Film Festival 2011 (Los Angeles, USA), Hollyshorts 2011 (Los Angeles, USA) Australian Premiere
Hairpin, comedy produced, written & directed by Laura Scrivano. Stars KATIE FITCHETT ( All Saints, Hating Alison Ashley). Dungog Film Festival 2011 Sydney Premiere
Crumble written & directed RENATA BIALKOWSKA. Edgy New York story starring Golden Globe nominated star Steven Bauer ( Scarface). Winner: Best Directorial Debut, New York International Film festival 2010, Vienna rooftop Film Festival, 2011, Manhattan Film Festival, 2011 Sydney Premiere
50-50, a drama directed by Megan Riakos. JESSICA McNAMEE (The Vow,The Loved Ones, Packed to the Rafters) World Premiere
Sunny Boy, drama directed by Jane Gull. Stars Jo Wickham (Hitler and Henry VIII, Tearaway). Super Shorts International Film Festival 2011 (London) Best Script, Cambridge Film Festival 2011 (UK), Woodstock Film Festival 2011 (New York, USA), Magma Film Festival 2011 (Italy) & others Australian Premiere
The Natural Order of Things. animation directed by Sarah Beeby.
The San Francisco Independant Film Festival 2012, London Short Film Festival 2012 , Short and Sweet Film Festival 2011 (Toronto, Canada) Australian Premiere
Nice Guys Finish Last, a drama from USA. Stars DANIELLE HARRIS (Halloween II, Cold Case), Kirsten Storius, LEXI AINSWORTH (Gilmore Girls, General Hospital) World Premiere
Naked Lady, written & directed by Cigdem Serce. LA Shorts Festival (Los Angeles, USA) 2011 Baghdad International Film Festival 2011, Canberra Short Film Festival 2011 Sydney Premiere
Other premieres at WOW are:
Ceiling Skies, Harold Holt is Dead, Phobia, Piercing Silence, Playlunch, The Rose Tattoo, Collision, Snygga Brost: Cupcakes, Sex Defense, Distant Thunder, Ray Morley, Drained
Festival program & bookings: www.wift.org/wow, ph 9357 1490
Tickets at Moshtix, www.moshtix.com.au At venues on the day.
Festival Season Pass $60/50, Opening Night $30/20, Single Session $15 /10 group (10+), NSW Parliament House session $10/7.
The WOW Film Festival thanks all our official sponsors, including:
Arts NSW, Office for Women’s Policy, NSW Department of Family and Community Services, City of Sydney, Panavision, Spectrum Films, Lemac, TressCox Lawyers, JAM Directions, Porter's Liquor, SBS Television, Opera Bar, AFTRS, E-Film, SMPTE, Metro Screen, Wacom, ARRI Australia, Videocraft, Art Resistance, Inside Film, Australian Directors Guild, Australian Cinematographers Society, Australian Screen Composers Guild, Australian Editors Guild, Aurora Community Channel, Dendy Opera Quays, IndieFlix, Film Mosaics, Hopscotch, Dendy & Icon Films, The Photo Studio, Printers Korner, Corban & Blair, Millie Loves Min, Cross Projections, Russel Sharp the Flower King, A Sustainable Life
WOW FILM FESTIVAL – EVENT CALENDAR
Tuesday 6 March: Launch at City of Sydney Library, Customs House from 12.30 to 1.30pm. Screening and Filmmaker Q&A
Tuesday 6 March: Opening Night at Dendy Opera Quays: 6.00pm Drinks. 7.00pm Screening of Australian Shorts. The official WOW Festival Opening After Party will be held at Opera Bar, Lower Concourse Opera House at 9.00pm. Live music “Entangled Note”. Lotus Fire Dance performance.
Wednesday 7 March: Australian & International Shorts at NSW Parliament House Theatre 12 noon morning tea, 12.30pm screening opened by Hon Pru Goward MP, Minister for Women. Filmmaker Q&A
Wednesday 7 March: Australian & International Shorts at Dendy Opera Quays: 7.00pm. Featuring award winning documentary and international fiction.
Thursday 8 March: Awards Night at Dendy Opera Quays: 6.00pm Drinks. 7.00pm Awards & Screening of Australian & International Shorts. The official WOW Festival Awards After Party will be held at Opera Bar, Lower Concourse Opera House at 9.00pm. Live music. Lotus Fire Dance performance.
Thursday 15 March: Australian & International Shorts Adult Themes, Late Night Library at Surry Hills Library: 9pm
Friday 16 March: “Tricky Women” exciting program of Australian & International
Animation at Theatre 322, UTS, 7pm.