SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL FINAL WEEKEND.
June 12th 2009 05:06
The Sydney Film Festival closes this Sunday after 12 remarkable days filled with World and Australian premieres, industry forums and Q&A sessions with filmmakers and historians as well as eye-catching red carpet Gala evenings at the elegant State Theatre in the heart of Sydney’s CBD
But before the organises shut up shop and begin the arduous task of beginning the preparations for next years festival, come three more days and nights of festival fun.
This evening’s competition film is THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE which according to the program is a relaxed free wheeling style movie about a high end escort whose aim is to give her clients the ultimate girlfriend experience. Adult Film star Sasha Grey stars as the escort offering more than just a sexual experience. Set in New York around the period of the Federal elections in 2008, this film offers not only an exciting romp, but Steven Soderbergh’s brilliant camerawork perfectly captures the parallels between High Finance and the high class sex trade.
Tonight’s screening is at 7.15 at the State Theatre or you can make the morning session Saturday at 10 am.
If high class hookers aren’t your thing, try catching John Woo’s latest film RED CLIFF, a two and a half hour epic tale of Warlords and Emperors during the Han Dynasty. Created from a 5 hour two part epic by Woo, this cut holds true to the story creating a beautiful and visceral battle by the underhanded Minister against the intellect of the Southern Warlords and the perfect strategies. John Woo appeared at as a guest at the festival to attend a question and Answer forum which ended up over capacity becoming a standing room event.
Other films screening this evening include CHERI at 9.15 starring Michelle Pfeiffer, BASTARDY, the real life story of one of our oldest living aboriginal actors Jack Charles, who has been on stage and in films such as THE CHANT OF JIMMY BLACKSMITH since the early 60’s but whose life has become one of Heroin addiction and cat burgling intermixed with his all to infrequent acting gigs. A real story of survival but by now means should this story be looked at as inspirational, the film is a tragic yet moving story of loss and redemption..
WAKE IN FRIGHT was made in 1970, the debut feature for Jack Thompson who everyone now knows as an icon of Australian Cinema and the final film of another icon Chips Rafferty. Following a special screening at 11.45 am, comes a Q&A session with director Ted Kotcheff, editor Anthony Buckley, actor Jack Thompson and archivist Graham Shirley. This is probably your first and last opportunity to have this group together in the same room discussing what has become a classic of OZ cinema.
Saturday lunch is the final screening of competition animation film Coraline which for some strange reason is the only film in competition not to be screening at the majestic State Theatre. From the director of ‘The nightmare before Christmas’ and “James and the Giant Peach comes the tale of a young girl who finds a secret portal into her alternative life where everything is warm and rosy. Terri Hatcher visited Sydney for the films Australian Premier last Wednesday evening. This is one way to get the kids weekend off to a great start!
Amiel Courtin-Wilsons second film in this years festival CICADA (the other being BASTARDY) is screened along with three other shorts all of between 10 and 25 minutes in length. The film tells the story of a grown man reliving the time as a five year old he witnessed a murder. Both films feature in the documentary competition section.
The Saturday evening gala is the debut feature by Australia’s Rachel Ward. BEAUTIFUL KATE. Starring husband Bryan Brown and the brilliant talents of Ben Mendelsohn and Rachel Griffiths, this is the final film in competition. While most people know Rachel Ward from her extraordinary array of film and television work, Rachel has expanded on her ideas expressed in her 2003 directorial debut short Martha’s New Coat to create a disquieting gothic work of isolation. Again if you miss the evening session, the second screening is on Sunday morning at 10am.
Can’t get tickets to the main event? Try NOLLYWOOD BABYLON! The third fastest growing film industry after Hollywood and Bollywood is in Nigeria of all places. Or maybe you want something a little lighter. Well you wont find it in WINGED CREATURES or 44 INCH CHEST, nor should you look for it in THE COVE or FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN, but with the talents of actors such as Forest Whittaker, Dakota Fanning, Kate Beckinsale, John Hurt, Tom Wilkinson and Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt, the talent pool is overflowing again.
Is Sunday too far away for you? The final day of this year’s festival features the two part 5 hour epic Che 1: The Argentine and Che 2: The Guerilla. One ticket will get you in for both screenings, so sit back and get comfy. Brilliant performances by Benicio Del Toro and Franka Potente underlie Steven Soderberghs arresting direction.
For those into their shorts, the DENDY finalists are screening at Greater Union George Street at 4pm. For the kids we have THE FOX AND THE CHILD and BRENDAN AND THE SECRET OF THE KELLS playing back to back at Greater Union from midday.
The awards ceremony and final screening begins at 7.30 pm, but if you don’t have a ticket why not stay at George Street for the stunning music documentary Youssou Ndour, of TIME magazines most influential 100. Or maybe you want to finish the festival off with a bang!. Walk through the doors of Cinema 9 in George Street straight into a world of Zombie Nazis with the German Zombie thriller DEAD SNOW.
For more information on these films and a full programme guide head over to www.sydneyfilmfestival.org.
Don’t miss out on an incredible weekend of cinema. You won’t get this chance again for another 12 months.
But before the organises shut up shop and begin the arduous task of beginning the preparations for next years festival, come three more days and nights of festival fun.
This evening’s competition film is THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE which according to the program is a relaxed free wheeling style movie about a high end escort whose aim is to give her clients the ultimate girlfriend experience. Adult Film star Sasha Grey stars as the escort offering more than just a sexual experience. Set in New York around the period of the Federal elections in 2008, this film offers not only an exciting romp, but Steven Soderbergh’s brilliant camerawork perfectly captures the parallels between High Finance and the high class sex trade.
Tonight’s screening is at 7.15 at the State Theatre or you can make the morning session Saturday at 10 am.
If high class hookers aren’t your thing, try catching John Woo’s latest film RED CLIFF, a two and a half hour epic tale of Warlords and Emperors during the Han Dynasty. Created from a 5 hour two part epic by Woo, this cut holds true to the story creating a beautiful and visceral battle by the underhanded Minister against the intellect of the Southern Warlords and the perfect strategies. John Woo appeared at as a guest at the festival to attend a question and Answer forum which ended up over capacity becoming a standing room event.
Michelle Pfieffer - Cheri
WAKE IN FRIGHT was made in 1970, the debut feature for Jack Thompson who everyone now knows as an icon of Australian Cinema and the final film of another icon Chips Rafferty. Following a special screening at 11.45 am, comes a Q&A session with director Ted Kotcheff, editor Anthony Buckley, actor Jack Thompson and archivist Graham Shirley. This is probably your first and last opportunity to have this group together in the same room discussing what has become a classic of OZ cinema.
Saturday lunch is the final screening of competition animation film Coraline which for some strange reason is the only film in competition not to be screening at the majestic State Theatre. From the director of ‘The nightmare before Christmas’ and “James and the Giant Peach comes the tale of a young girl who finds a secret portal into her alternative life where everything is warm and rosy. Terri Hatcher visited Sydney for the films Australian Premier last Wednesday evening. This is one way to get the kids weekend off to a great start!
Amiel Courtin-Wilsons second film in this years festival CICADA (the other being BASTARDY) is screened along with three other shorts all of between 10 and 25 minutes in length. The film tells the story of a grown man reliving the time as a five year old he witnessed a murder. Both films feature in the documentary competition section.
The Saturday evening gala is the debut feature by Australia’s Rachel Ward. BEAUTIFUL KATE. Starring husband Bryan Brown and the brilliant talents of Ben Mendelsohn and Rachel Griffiths, this is the final film in competition. While most people know Rachel Ward from her extraordinary array of film and television work, Rachel has expanded on her ideas expressed in her 2003 directorial debut short Martha’s New Coat to create a disquieting gothic work of isolation. Again if you miss the evening session, the second screening is on Sunday morning at 10am.
Can’t get tickets to the main event? Try NOLLYWOOD BABYLON! The third fastest growing film industry after Hollywood and Bollywood is in Nigeria of all places. Or maybe you want something a little lighter. Well you wont find it in WINGED CREATURES or 44 INCH CHEST, nor should you look for it in THE COVE or FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN, but with the talents of actors such as Forest Whittaker, Dakota Fanning, Kate Beckinsale, John Hurt, Tom Wilkinson and Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt, the talent pool is overflowing again.
Is Sunday too far away for you? The final day of this year’s festival features the two part 5 hour epic Che 1: The Argentine and Che 2: The Guerilla. One ticket will get you in for both screenings, so sit back and get comfy. Brilliant performances by Benicio Del Toro and Franka Potente underlie Steven Soderberghs arresting direction.
For more information on these films and a full programme guide head over to www.sydneyfilmfestival.org.
Don’t miss out on an incredible weekend of cinema. You won’t get this chance again for another 12 months.
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