Category: Film Festivals

25Aug

[FILM NEWS] DEATH DROP GORGEOUS Trailer Released

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A dejected bartender and an aging drag queen fight to survive the eccentric and hostile nightlife of a corrupt city, as a masked maniac slaughters young gay men and drains them of blood.

An ode to the wicked work of John Waters, festival fave Death Drop Gorgeous – Seattle Queer, Chicago Horror, Wicked Queer, VideoScream and over 20 more festivals worldwide – features divine work by directors Michael J. Ahern, Christopher Dalpe, Brandon Perras-Sanchez, and a superlative cast headed by Wayne Gonsalves, Payton St. James, Brandon Perras-Sanchez, and Christopher Dalpe.

DEATH DROP GORGEOUS is released on Digital by Dark Star Pictures September 10.

10Aug

[FILM NEWS] 2021 ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL Announced

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Now in its 22nd year, the ST. ALi Italian Film Festival presented by Palace returns to cinema screens this September with the best new Italian films as well as classic gems of Italian cinema screening nationally in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Byron Bay from 21 September.  

We are delighted to announce two new venues: the iconic Pentridge Cinema and Cinema Nova Carlton in the heart of Melbourne’s ‘little Italy’, both presenting the Festival for the first time.  

With a focus on contemporary cinema that tells the stories from today’s Italy, plus a selection of classics honouring the country’s filmmaking tradition, this edition features a sensational line-up of much-loved stars and exciting emerging talent. 

The first highlights of the ST ALi Italian Film Festival offer a glimpse into the programme which celebrates Italian cinema and filmmakers at their very best: 

The Festival will open with the Australian premiere of THE TIES (Lacci) which opened last year’s Venice Film Festival. Daniele Luchetti’s sumptuous marriage-in-crisis drama spans a 40-year period in Naples and Rome, and boasts an all-star cast including Alba Rohrwacher, Luigi Lo Cascio, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Laura Morante and Silvio Orlando. 

The Australian premiere of 2021 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight winner TO CHIARA (A Chiara) is the latest film by Jonas Carpignano (Mediterranea, A Ciambra). A CHIARA tells the gripping story of a 15-year-old girl from Calabria whose family life starts to unravel when she discovers her beloved father may have criminal ties. 

In HIDDEN AWAY (Volevo nascondermi), Berlin International Film Festival Silver Bear winner Elio Germano delivers a powerhouse performance in this multi award-winning biopic about the troubled life of celebrated artist Antonio Ligabue. 

Marco Giallini (Perfect Strangers, God Willing) is back – alongside Vincenzo Salemme and Giuseppe Battiston – with THREE PERFECT DAUGHTERS (È per il tuo bene), a comedy hit that sees three friends hinder the love affairs of their daughters. 

The Closing Night film of the 2020 Venice International Film Festival, dramatic thriller YOU CAME BACK (Lasciami andare), stars Stefano Accorsi as a man who finds himself torn between the past and the future. 

The ST. ALi Italian Film Festival is the biggest Italian film festival in the world, so don’t miss your chance to see the best films the country has produced in the last year, accompanied by a ST. ALi coffee, vino, or aperitivo, as we celebrate la dolce vita and the magic of cinema. 

Festival Director Elysia Zeccola said, “We have been bringing Italian stories to Australian cinemas for over 20 years. Never has it been more important to provide a much-needed escape and the chance to become immersed in another world. We are thrilled to have ST. ALi’s continued involvement and the introduction of two fabulous new venues – we can’t wait for Spring to arrive!” 

Salvatore Malatesta CEO and Creative Director of ST. ALi said, “We’re proud to return as naming rights partner of the ST. ALi Italian Film Festival which is the next best thing to being in Italy and for now, our only option!” 

The full programme will be announced in September. 

The 2021 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival is planned to take place nationally from 21 September – 17 October, in the following cities: 

Melbourne 21 September – 17 October, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema, The Astor and Cinema Nova 

Canberra 22 September – 17 October, Palace Electric 

Sydney 23 September – 17 October, Palace Norton, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema and Palace Central 

Byron Bay 24 September – 13 October, Palace Byron Bay 

Brisbane 28 September – 17 October, Palace James Street, Palace Barracks 

Adelaide 29 September – 17 October, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas 

Perth 30 September – 17 October, Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville and Luna on SX  

For information and updates, please visit italianfilmfestival.com.au and sign up or follow us on Facebook @ItalianFF and Instagram @ItalianFilmFest for all the latest news.  

29Jun

[FILM NEWS] COVID Forces Change To REVELATION PERTH FILM FESITVAL

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In light of the Western Australian Government’s recent 4-day lockdown order, the Opening Night and following day of programming for the 24th annual Revelation Perth International Film Festival has officially been cancelled. 
 
Patrons who held tickets for this Thursday 1 July’s Opening Night and any of the film screenings held on Friday 2 July will be fully refunded. 
 
Revelation looks forward with optimism to lockdown lifting on Saturday 3 July, and the festival continuing until 11 July as planned.  
 
“The program picks up as soon as lockdown lifts – we come out of lockdown ready to rock on Saturday 3 July (for the moment),” says Festival Director, Richard Sowada.
 
Holding true to this year’s theme of Distant but Connected, Revelation will be moving along in the virtual world, broadcasting talks and panels from this Thursday 1 July. Details will be posted on the festival website and social media channels. 
 
“Our first talk will be with Cooper Raiff – director, producer, writer, editor and star of the sensational SXSW award winning film Freshman Year,” Sowada says.
 
To all our comrades in the arts in WA right now, all for one. 

22Jun

[FILM NEWS] 2021 SCANDINAVIAN FILM FESTIVAL Line-Up Announced

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Palace invites you to go north this midwinter with the Scandinavian Film Festival. The full 2021 programme has been unveiled, a superb showcase of the best new Nordic cinema, and will be screening nationally at Palace Cinemas from 6 July to 4 August 2021.  

This year’s specially curated selection encompasses films from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, including ten directed by women, with many screening for the first time outside of Europe.  

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, THE EMIGRANTS (Utvandrarna) will close the Festival. The Emigrants follows a struggling farming family in mid-19th Century Sweden who decide to embark on the arduous journey to new hope in America. Starring the late Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann, The Emigrants was nominated for five Oscars® and won Golden Globe awards for Best Actress (Liv Ullmann) and Best Foreign Film. The Closing Night screenings will feature a celebratory Scandi cocktail in tribute to acting great Max Von Sydow who passed away in March 2020. 

The Festival will open with WILDLAND (Kød & Blod). Set in Denmark’s underbelly, Jeanette Nordahl’s striking Scandi-noir follows an impressionable teenage girl who is placed in the care of her estranged aunt (an incredible Sidse Babette Knudsen), the head of a family crime syndicate. 

Sidse Babette Knudsen also stars in THE EXCEPTION (Undtagelsen), alongside Danica Curcic, Amanda Collin and Lena Marie Christensen. The Exception is an electrifying Copenhagen-set psychological thriller about four colleagues at a NGO, who suspect each other after a series of mysterious death threats. 

Stellan Skarsgård and Andrea Bræin Hovig star in HOPE (Håp), a stunningly acted relationship drama about a creative couple by director Maria Sødahl, that was Norway’s official submission to the 2021 Academy Awards.  

A luminescent Laura Birn stars in HELENE, a captivating portrait of Finland’s most acclaimed painter of the early twentieth century, Helene Schjerfbeck.  

While TOVE is a fascinating depiction of the life and personal relationships of Finnish visual artist and author Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins.  

Laura Birn also appears with Swedish star Christian Hillborg (The Last Kingdom, The Bridge, Fleabag) in the GAMES PEOPLE PLAY (Seurapeli). A group of old friends gather at an idyllic Finnish seaside villa to celebrate a surprise birthday, where old feelings and power struggles rise to the surface. 

Musical comedy A PIECE OF MY HEART (En del av mitt hjärta) also stars Christian Hillborg opposite Hollywood star Malin Akerman who plays successful businesswoman Isabella. She returns to her hometown where she learns that her teenage love (Hillborg) is getting married in this Swedish box office sensation. 

Weddings also feature in films from Denmark and Norway. PERSONA NON GRATA (Hvor kragerne vender) is a black comedy about uncomfortable family relations following a cosmopolitan Copenhagen writer who returns to her rural hometown for her brother’s wedding.  

While DIANA’S WEDDING (Dianas bryllup) is a bittersweet tribute to love, telling the story of Norwegians Liv and Terje and the unconventional, stormy marriage they embark on the very same day as Diana Spencer and Prince Charles exchange vows in London. 

This year’s Special Presentation is TIGERS (Tigrar). Crowned Best Nordic Film at the 2021 Göteborg Film Festival, Tigers is the enthralling true story of Swedish football wunderkind Martin Bengtsson, a former Inter Milan player, who lifted the lid on a world where everyone has a price tag. 

Rising Norwegian star Josefine Frida Pettersen (Skam) shines in Jorunn Myklebust Syversen’s provocative new drama DISCO about a young evangelical dance champion whose faith is tested, prompting her to search for radical solutions. 

Also from Norway, BEWARE OF CHILDREN (Barn). This multi award-winning and critically acclaimed drama traces the dramatic aftermath of a tragic event in a middle-class suburb of Oslo, examining society’s reaction when crisis strikes amongst children. 

Danish production ANY DAY NOW (Ensilumi) is a celebration of the quietly humane; an Iranian family in Finland await a decision about whether they will be granted an official asylum status in Hamy Ramezan’s personal first feature. 

While the deeply moving 2020 Göteborg Film Festival opener PSYCHOSIS IN STOCKHOLM (Psykos i Stockholm) is a surreal drama about a mother and daughter who embark on a trip to Stockholm, yet their plan is derailed when the mother begins acting strangely. 

Also from Sweden is a very different mother-daughter relationship at the heart of CALL MUM! (Ring Mamma!). Niki has just turned 35 and is suddenly forced to come to grips with all her relationships and past choices in life in this charming comedy from the director of She Monkeys, Lisa Aschan.  

 

At the Centrepiece of the Festival is THE COUNTY (Héraðið), Grímur Hákonarson’s eagerly anticipated follow-up to the global hit Rams. The County is a rousing, David-and-Goliath comedy about a dairy farmer’s wife (Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir) who takes on the corrupt local co-op in her remote Icelandic valley.  

 

Based on his eponymous play, Ragnar Bragason’s THE GARDEN (Gullregn) stars acclaimed actress Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir (Woman at War), alongside Trapped star Sigrún Edda Björnsdóttir in a dark comedy of self-reflection that delves into xenophobia in Iceland. 

Iceland’s entry into the 2021 Academy Awards, AGNES JOY (Hæ, hó Agnes Joy) is a tale of intergenerational struggle in a picturesque setting that was a winner with audiences.  

In Iceland’s #1 box office hit comedy of 2020, THE LAST FISHING TRIP (Síðasta veiðiferðin), it’s The Hangover meets Sideways as six friends depart on their annual fishing trip leaving their wives, work and worries at home!  

In GRANDMA HOFI (Amma Hófí) a pair of senior citizens, fed up with the conditions in their retirement home, decide to rob banks so they can afford a small apartment. Stars Icelandic comedy royalty Edda Björgvinsdóttir (Under the Tree) and Þórhallur ‘Laddi’ Sigurðsson (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty). 

The specially curated programme of films and events includes a Dansk Cocktail presented by Copenhagen Distillery Gin, Sparkling Screenings presented by Marimekko plus Carlsberg and Nordic flavours at selected events.  

Tickets are now on sale at www.scandinavianfilmfestival.com. 

The 2021 Scandinavian Film Festival will take place nationally from 6 July – 4 August, in the following cities: 

Sydney: 6 – 28 July, Palace Norton, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinemas 

Canberra: 7 – 28 July, Palace Electric 

Melbourne: 8 – 28 July, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino and Pentridge Cinema 

Adelaide: 13 July – 4 August, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas 

Perth: 14 July – 4 August, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX & Palace Raine Square 

Brisbane: 15 July – 4 August, Palace James St, Palace Barracks

Byron Bay: 16 July – 1 August, Palace Byron Bay 

01Jun

[FILM NEWS] REVELATION PERTH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Line-Up Announced

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The 24th annual Revelation Perth International Film Festival returns from 1 – 11 July presenting a curated program celebrating independent filmmakers and boundary pushing storytellers.

The theme of Distant but Connected is reflected not only through the epic program featuring content from 21 countries, but also through the Festival’s specially commissioned artwork from acclaimed Augmented Reality artist Marc-o-Matic.
 
“It may be a long time before we see international screen artists physically again, but at the very least in the interim, Rev can provide a vibrant conduit to global conversations and relationships,” says Festival Director, Richard Sowada.
 
“After commissioning 4 short VR works last year and mounting a VR games conference with XR:WA, the commissioning of this artwork continues to embed this convergence and experimentation into every fibre of our Festival,” Sowada continues.
 
The full line-up of over 35 feature films and documentaries, plus a comprehensive selection of shorts, is online and on sale now at www.revelationfilmfestival.org.
 
The Festival opens with FRESHMAN YEAR (USA), Grand Jury Prize Winner at the 2020 SXSW (virtual) Film Festival. Produced by Jay Duplass, this romantic comedy announces a bright new star of American indie drama in writer, director and lead actor, 24-year-old Cooper Raiff, who plays Alex, a lonely Texas freshman studying in LA having difficulty navigating college life.
 
Other standout offerings from our mates in the States include the compelling and intense relationship drama, THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS, which follows a middle-aged man who is desperately trying to keep his family of six together during a separation from his wife; and SOME KIND OF HEAVEN, where first-time feature director Lance Oppenheim takes us inside the manicured façade of The Villages – America’s largest retirement community, dubbed the Disneyworld for retirees.
 
Closer to home, our friends across the ditch give us THE JUSTICE OF BUNNY KING (NZ), a female-led drama starring Essie Davis (The Babadook, Miss Fisher & The Crypt of Tears) as a mother-of-two with a sketchy past and the world against her; and from our very own back yard we have the theatrical version Warwick Thornton’s NITV series, THE BEACH (AUS); WOMEN OF STEEL (AUS), a documentary about a group of women from Wollongong who took on mining giant BHP; THE LAST HORNS OF AFRICA (S.AF/AU), which takes us inside a hidden rhino orphanage and on a journey alongside those who are putting their lives at risk to protect this endangered species; and WE’RE NOT HERE TO F**K SPIDERS (AUS), a tense, claustrophobic drama created from surveillance footage.
 
There’s even a film chronicling a very special relationship between an amusement park employee and an actual amusement park ride – JUMBO (FRA/BEL/LUX); and a 4-K restored version of Dennis Hopper’s 80’s masterpiece, OUT OF THE BLUE (CAN), which premiered 40 years ago at the Cannes film festival.
 
Design enthusiasts will revel in AALTO (FIN), a documentary on the life and work of one of the greatest modern architects, Alvar Aalto; and KENNY SCHARF: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (USA), which provides an in-depth insight into the visionary and brilliant American painter and iconic street artist.
 
Street art is also a central theme in THE BEST BATTLE (CHIL); a documentary exploring Santiago’s political street art during the 2019/2020 estallido social (social blast) that marked the remembrance of the 1973 coup. And you can go inside the movement that has come to be known as the alt-right with WHITE NOISE (USA) or experience the private rituals and celebrations of Australians recreating Pagan traditions for the southern hemisphere with UNDER A PAGAN SKY (AUS).
 
Dive into the history of the underground lesbian scene that emerged in the 80s in London with the documentary REBEL DYKES (UK), produced by founding member of the British/Irish girl group Bananarama, Siobhan Fahey; enjoy a cinematic portrait into the legendary musical innovator DELIA DERBYSHIRE (UK), the English musician, composer and pioneer of electronic music who created the music to iconic science-fiction TV series Doctor Who; or take in the story of Karl Marx’s youngest daughter, Eleanor, via feature film MISS MARX (ITAL/BEL).
 
The Scandi’s deliver (as always) with MEANWHILE ON EARTH (SWE/DEN/EST), a documentary about the funeral industry; END OF THE LINE: THE WOMEN OF STANDING ROCK (US/FIN), where a group of indigenous women risk their lives to stop the Dakota Access oil pipeline construction that desecrated ancient burial and prayer sites; OH, IT HERTZ (NOR), where musician Laurie Amat takes a journey into the ways in which sound affects us. Spurred on by a conspiracy theory involving Joseph Goebbels and the Nazi’s – where, during an international conference in 1939, the Nazi’s changed the music tuning globally by changing the tone of the tuning fork for all musicians worldwide. They did this because they thought it would make the masses aggressive and more easy to manipulate and this is the pitch we listen to today; and feature film NIMBY (FIN), which stands for Not In My Back Yard and follows a lesbian couple living in Helsinki who are considering coming out of the closet.
 
Perth’s international party icon TOMAS FORD asks you to HAVE A BATH WITH ME? on Saturday 3 July in a night that promises to deliver an immersive cinema experience full of hyper colour musical adventure.
 
GET YOUR SHORTS ON! and the City of Vincent Film Project provides the opportunity to support some of WA’s talented emerging filmmakers on Wednesday 7 July and Revelation’s WESTRALIA DAY on Saturday 10 July at The Backlot continues to shine a spotlight on locally-produced short films and long form content.
 
WIFT AUSTRALIA presents WIFT V-FEST on Sunday 11 July, showcasing the work of women in the film industry both in-front and behind the lens; and Rev’s unique creative experiment BLIND DATE falls on this same day, and is bound to be something special as we bring together musicians and filmmakers.
 
Amongst all of this, Rev continues to present a selection of panels, discussions and industry workshops – more details available at www.revelationfilmfestival.org.
                     
And Rev’s online streaming platform RevStream (formerly REVonDEMAND) showcases first class films in the comfort of your own home year round. 
 
These are just some of the highlights of the 2021 Revelation Perth International Film Festival program which continues to redefine what a film festival can be, even during the most challenging of cultural times.

Revelation is supported by the Australian and West Australian governments through Screenwest, Lotterywest, Screen Australia and the City of Vincent.

13May

[FILM NEWS] DISNEY Comes To ACMI

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Australia’s national museum of screen culture, ACMI, has today unveiled the internationally acclaimed exhibition Disney: The Magic of Animation, celebrating nearly 100 years of the iconic studio’s creations. Shown for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, a Victorian Government initiative delivered through Visit Victoria.

Curated from a staggering 65 million original artworks housed at the Walt Disney Animation Research Library in Los Angeles, 500 carefully selected pieces – including sketches, drawings, paintings and concept art – comprise this once-in-a-lifetime exposition, which pulls back the curtain on the magic that goes into making some of the world’s most iconic films.

These rarely seen works highlight the detailed development of Disney’s most beloved animations – from Mickey Mouse’s first talkie Steamboat Willie (1928), through to the groundbreaking Fantasia (1940) and the universally celebrated Frozen (2013) – while highlighting the extraordinary evolution of animation techniques which the studio pioneered. The Melbourne iteration will also debut never-before-exhibited artwork from the Studio’s newest release Raya and the Last Dragon (2021).

“We’re delighted to open Disney: The Magic of Animation – our first major exhibition since reopening our transformed museum,” said ACMI Director CEO, Katrina Sedgwick OAM. “Disney has enchanted audiences across the world, with the universal fondness for beloved classics just as strong as the enthusiasm for modern masterpieces. It’s so special to be able to bring an exhibition to Australia that will resonate so strongly with audiences of all ages and all cultures and will be a source of joy for so many.”

“Part of The Walt Disney Company’s local and loved strategy is to create new opportunities to share our unique and global stories with local audiences. This is at the heart of everything we do to entertain, connect and inspire. We are incredibly excited to share the Disney: The Magic of Animation exhibition with the people of Melbourne at the iconic ACMI museum, in the centre of the city. Bringing this exhibition to Australian shores invites guests to connect with the depth and breadth of our stories, and beloved characters in a more relevant, and meaningful way. We hope that those who attend will be delighted and inspired by the artistry showcased, bringing to life our Disney stories and its magic, here in Australia,” said Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company Australia & New Zealand.

“We are so excited to be opening our exhibition at ACMI and sharing these treasures from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library collection with Australian audiences. The exhibition features behind the scenes production artworks which were created during the development of our Disney animated films. Guests will have a rare opportunity to see how the film makers and artists develop our stories and work through different ideas and concepts along the way to creating the films we know so well. The artworks are inspiring and touching and show the diversity of artistic talents that go into the making of our films. We hand selected these artworks from our collection of over 65 million works, to give guests the special experience of going behind the scenes at the Walt Disney Animation Studios,” added Kristen McCormick, Art Exhibitions & Conservation Manager of Walt Disney Animation Research Library.

“From Mickey Mouse to The Lion King, no matter your age – the wonderful world of Disney has reached us all, I encourage Victorians to visit this Australian-first exhibition at ACMI this winter. Disney: The Magic of Animation is set to be a blockbuster – not only will we see Victorians filing in to see it, it will also attract visitors from around the country which is exactly what we need as Victoria continues its recovery,” said Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson.

Lauded across the globe, from Paris to Tokyo, Seoul to Singapore, Disney: The Magic of Animation is a remarkable compilation of artworks by the creative team of artists and film makers at the Walt Disney Animation Studios. It will spark joy, curiosity and nostalgia in visitors young and old.

The opening of Disney: The Magic of Animation is the first time a major exhibition has taken place since the museum’s $40 million redevelopment, backed by the Victorian Government.

Disney: The Magic of Animation opens at ACMI today. Tickets can be purchased online at acmi.net.au

07May

[FILM NEWS] GERMAN FILM FESTIVAL Line-Up Announced

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Presented by Palace, the German Film Festival’s full 2021 programme has been revealed, which boasts a spectacular selection of 30 films, the best and latest in German cinema, a number of which are screening for the first time outside Germany.

The Festival, in collaboration with German Films, opens with the eagerly anticipated feature debut of actor Daniel Brühl (Good Bye Lenin!), who directs and stars in NEXT DOOR (Nebenan) fresh from its world premiere at the Berlinale. In this darkly comic skewering of celebrity and privilege, Brühl plays a famous actor whose day gets completely railroaded by a stranger with ulterior motives.

The multi award-winning Closing Night film, BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ is a slick new adaptation of Alfred Döblin’s influential 1929 novel of the same name and follows an undocumented immigrant from West Africa on a dark odyssey through Berlin.

Berlin Alexanderplatz was previously adapted by filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and Fassbinder is the focus of this year’s Festival spotlight with a glorious 4K restoration of LOLA for its 40th anniversary. Lola follows a seductive cabaret singer in her outrageous quest to elevate herself in a world where everything-and everyone-is for sale. The film will feature special introductions at selected sessions throughout the Festival.

Plus the Cannes Film Festival selected ENFANT TERRIBLE, aprovocative and uncompromising biopic that looks at the intense short life and excesses of the iconic New German Cinema auteur, featuring a brilliant performance from Oliver Masucci as Fassbinder. 

The city of Berlin features prominently in this year’s festival. Documentary BERLIN BOUNCER tells the story of Berlin – from a divided city to the party metropolis of today – through the eyes of its most legendary doormen. Stars Berghain bouncer Sven Marquardt.

THE KANGAROO CHRONICLES (Die Känguru-Chroniken) is ahilarious adaptation of the bestselling book series by Marc-Uwe Kling and revolves around a mediocre musician and a communist Kangaroo who must team up to fight a right-wing politician. Directed by Dani Levy.

Sandra Hüller (Toni Erdmann) stars in EXILE (Exil) where cultural and psychological tensions, claustrophobically observed in the workplace and at home, come to a head in Visar Morina’s enthralling thriller about one man’s identity crisis as a foreigner in Germany.

FREE COUNTRY (Freies Land)is set in a recently reunified Germany as two detectives investigate the disappearance of teen sisters in a remote town, where it seems like everyone has something to hide.

Family relationships are at the fore in GOD, YOU’RE SUCH A PRICK (Gott, du kannst ein Arsch sein). 

16-year-old Steffi who has been diagnosed with cancer decides to enjoy the time she has left by embarking on a road-trip while her parents (played by Heike Makatsch and Til Schweiger) chase her. Charming comedy GRANDPARENTING 101 (Enkel für Anfänger) stars Heiner Lauterbach, Barbara Sukowa and Maren Kroymann as grandparents for hire who plunge their lives into chaos to escape their monotonous retirement. Lauterbach also stars in IT’S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD (Es ist zu deinem Besten) alongside Jürgen Vogel and Hilmi Sözer in this feel-good comedy as three fathers who make a pact to save their daughters from their boyfriends.

A beguiling fusion of modern romance and futurism, Maria Schrader’s romantic comedy I’M YOUR MAN (Ich bin dein Mensch) questions what it means to be human, as a scientist agrees to live with a humanoid robot in an extraordinary experiment. Maren Eggert’s performance as scientist Alma earned her the Silver Bear Award at the Berlinale this year. Also stars Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey).  

Told without dialogue but full of poetry, THE BRA (Vom Lokführer, der die Liebe suchte) is an unconventional Cinderella story set in scenic Azerbaijan where a lovable train driver stumbles upon not a crystal slipper but a blue bra.

In THE PERFECT SECRET (Das perfekte Geheimnis), an evening amongst friends escalates when all phones are put on the table at dinner and secrets cannot be hidden in this biting German box office hit featuring a unique all-star ensemble.

Based on a bestselling novel, epistolary cyber romance THE SPACE BETWEEN THE LINES (Gut gegen Nordwind) is a thoughtful look at the nature of human relationships, starring Nora Tschirner and Alexander Fehling.

Thrilling drama THE COLLINI CASE (Der Fall Collini) starsElyas M’Barek as a young defence lawyer who unearths a vast conspiracy while investigating a brutal murder case. M’Barek also stars opposite Palina Rojinski in NIGHTLIFE, which follows one man’s romantic encounter with the woman of his dreams that turns into a crazy chase through the Berlin night in this wild comedy. 

Austrian cinema also features with OSKAR & LILLI. WHERE NO ONE KNOWS US (Ein bisschen bleiben wir noch), a timely bittersweet odyssey about the many ways of perceiving the world in order to survive. Two Chechen refugee children – separated from their mother – try to avert their looming fate of deportation from Austria with poetic and unusual means.

BACKSTAGE VIENNA STATE OPERA (Backstage Wiener Staatsoper), a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at cultural institution the Vienna State Opera, portrays the variety of often invisible work that enables the world-renowned singers, conductors and musicians to delight their audience.

Music is also at the heart of THE AUDITION (Das Vorspiel).A meticulously arranged visual concerto from acclaimed German actor-director Ina Weisse, this gripping drama stars Nina Hoss as a woman trapped in the pursuit of success. Each session will be followed by a pre-recorded Q&A with star Nina Hoss.

Previously announced, the Festival Centrepiece feature is FABIAN: GOING TO THE DOGS (Fabian oder Der Gang vor die Hunde).  Direct from its world premiere at the 2021 Berlinale, Dominik Graf’sadaptation of Erich Kästner’s iconic 1930s Berlin set novel, sees a dashing idealist played by Tom Schilling find love amidst the twilight hedonism of pre-Nazi Germany. Special event screenings will feature an introduction and intermission with specialty cocktails served.

Also screening: ELECTRIC GIRL, a high energy blend of animation and psychological study in which a slam poet begins to embody the Japanese anime superheroine that she voices.While in HOW I TAUGHT MYSELF TO BE A CHILD (Wie ich lernte, bei mir selbst Kind zu sein)the youngest son of an old Austrian dynasty of confectionery millionaires discovers the power of love, humour and his own extraordinary ability to shape his realities in conservative 1950s Vienna.

The Goethe-Institut presents the popular sidebar “Kino for Kids”, films especially curated for children and teens. This year’s programme includes: 

A VOLUNTARY YEAR (Das freiwillige Jahr) – Adomestic coming-of-age story, a father and daughter fight over travel plans as recent high-school graduate Jette is about to head to Central America for a year of volunteering.

DEAR MR. FÜHRER (Das Glaszimmer) – After fleeing Munich with his mother shortly before the end of the war, Felix befriends the son of a loyal National Socialist in this war drama about growing up and fitting in.

MADISON: A FAST FRIENDSHIP (Madison) – When the cycling-obsessed 13-year-old Madison has to unwillingly swap her racing bike for a mountain bike in the Alps, things go haywire in this sporting adventure.

MAX AND THE WILD BUNCH (Max und die wilde 7) – When nine-year-old Max moves to a senior residence with his mother, he is caught up in an exciting investigation, together with the three nursing home residents of Table No. 7.

THE PEPPERCORNS AND THE SECRET OF THE DEEP SEA (Die Pfefferkörner und der Schatz der Tiefsee) – An exciting adventure with a strong environmental message, five young sleuths become embroiled in an eco-conspiracy in their search for a missing oceanographer.

TOO FAR AWAY (Zu weit weg) – Athis new school, an 11-year-old boy bonds over soccer with another newcomer, a 12-year-old Syrian refugee in this sensitive drama of competition and friendship.

Tickets are now on sale at www.germanfilmfestival.com.au

The German Film Festival will take place nationally from 25 May to 20 June in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane and Byron Bay. 

LISTING DETAILS:

Sydney: 25 May – 13 June, Palace Norton, Chauvel Cinemas, Palace Central

Canberra: 26 May – 13 June, Palace Electric

Melbourne: 27 May – 13 June,Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema and The Astor Theatre (selected sessions)

Brisbane: 1 – 20 June,Palace James St, Palace Barracks

Adelaide: 2 – 20 June,Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas

Perth: 3 – 20 June, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX & Palace Raine Square

Byron Bay: 4 – 20 June, Palace Byron Bay

26Apr

[FILM NEWS] MONSTER FEST 2021 Dates Announced

Posted in Film, Film Festivals, Film News, Home Page, News | Leave a comment

MONSTER FEST celebrates its 10th Anniversary from November 25th-28th in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth & Adelaide with four days of the latest and greatest genre and cult cinema programming from around the world.

Once again in partnership with Event Cinemas, MONSTER FEST will return to Event Cinemas George St (Sydney), Event Cinema Myer Centre (Brisbane), Event Cinemas Innaloo (Perth) & Event Cinemas Marion (Adelaide).

MONSTER FEST Festival Director Grant Hardie remarked “as this year marks the 10th anniversary since we launched Monster Fest to genre fans around Australia, it’s particularly satisfying to be announcing the 2021 events after successfully meeting the challenges we all faced in 2020. We are really excited to see what’s on offer this year and showcase these films to audiences around the country.“

Tickets & Passes will go on sale in July when the first wave of programming is revealed.

WHEN:
Thursday 25th of November – Sunday 28th of November 2021

WHERE:

NSW
Event Cinemas George St
505/525 George St
Sydney NSW

QLD
Event Cinema Myer Centre
Level 3, The Myer Centre, 91 Queen St
Brisbane City QLD

WA
Event Cinemas Innaloo
57 Liege St
Innaloo WA

SA
Event Cinemas Marion
Level 3, Westfield, 297 Diagonal Rd
Oaklands Park SA

Website: http://www.monsterfest.com.au/

08Apr

[FILM NEWS] MONSTER FEST To Celebrate 10th Anniversary In Melbourne

Posted in Film, Film Festivals, Film Genre, Film News, Home Page, Horror, News | Leave a comment

MONSTER FEST will celebrate its 10th Anniversary from November 4th-11th at Cinema Nova with seven days of the latest and greatest genre and cult cinema programming from around the world.

Along with World & Australian Premiere screenings, Monster Fest are pleased to reveal the return of Filmmaker Q&As, Panel Discussions and the infamous All-Night Marathon to the Melbourne festival also.

Festival Director Grant Hardie remarked “after a challenging 12 months for us all, we are honoured to be celebrating our tenth anniversary this year, and we are especially looking forward to doing so with all of the Monster Fest fans who’ve made the last 10 years possible.“

A limited release of VIP Passes & 5 Film Passes are now available and the first twenty VIP Passes sold will include a complimentary Monster Fest 2021 festival t-shirt.

Entries are now open for Short and Feature Film submissions via FilmFreeway with the first deadline, being the Early Bird Deadline, closing on May 29th.

WHEN:
Thursday 4th of November – Thursday 11th of November 2021

WHERE:CINEMA NOVA
380 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053

PASSES:

VIP Passes $220
Mini-Pass (5 Films*) $75

VIP PASS – all access to every screening and event from Thursday 4 November to Thursday 11 November and complimentary Monster Fest 2021 t-shirt for first 20 VIP Passes sold.

*5 FILM PASS – access to 5 films in the program from Thursday 4 November to Thursday 11 November with the exclusion of any programming marked ‘Special Event’.

Website: http://www.monsterfest.com.au/