21 July - 13 August 2006 |
| PFTC | 14th BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | CINE SPARKS |
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| 1st June 2006 |
WORLD PREMIERE AT BIFF |
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This year’s Festival will feature the world premiere of 48 Shades, a film adapted from a book by Brisbane author Nick Earls.
Pacific Film and Television Commission Chief Executive Officer Robin James joined Earls and BIFF Artistic Director, Anne Demy-Geroe in announcing the coup this morning.
Based on the award winning novel 48 Shades of Brown, the film 48 Shades tells the story of 16-year-old Daniel Bancroft who moves in with his 22-year-old aunt, Jacq, and her flatmate, Naomi, after his parents transfer to Geneva for a year.
The film, set entirely in Brisbane and shot over four weeks in August/September 2005, charts his transition into the adult world with all its complications and confusions. It is the first of Earls’ nine novels to hit the big screen.
The film will premiere on Thursday 10 August at the Regent Showcase Cinemas in the Queen Street Mall. A number of cast members and VIPs are expected to attend the premiere.
Earls, who has already seen 48 Shades several times, said it had been just two years since the idea of making the film was first discussed.
“I’m continually surprised at how quickly it’s happened and how greatly appealing the end result is. I feel very positive about the film and Brisbane obviously feels to me the place it should premiere. I’m very glad it’s part of BIFF,” Earls said.
The film is directed by Daniel Lapaine and features a young, all-Australian cast including Emma Lung, Robin McLeavy and Richard Wilson.
Keep an eye open for Earls who makes a cameo appearance.
The city of Brisbane also stars, with the Story Bridge, Brisbane River, Brisbane Boys College and the city’s unique architecture woven throughout the film.
Tickets will be available from 11 July from BIFF ticket outlets, including www.biff.com.au, at a cost of $15 including a post-screening party. Following its BIFF premiere, the film will have its general cinema release on 31 August.
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| 22nd May 2006 |
QUEENSLAND STUDENTS CONNECT WITH FILM THROUGH CINE SPARKS |
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AUSTRALIA’S only premier film festival for young people returns this year, giving Queensland school students access to an unprecedented array of quality Australian and overseas films.
The second annual Cine Sparks, the Australian film festival for young people, will run from 24 July to 13 August as part of the Brisbane International Film Festival.
The three week programme will feature 30 film titles suitable for those aged 3 to 18 years.
Screenings will be held at South Bank Cinemas from Monday to Friday during school hours, with no charge for school groups.
Cine Sparks’ Education Officer, Derek Weeks, said the programme offered more than the usual cinema experience.
“Through Cine Sparks we aim to transform the cinema experience into something interactive and engaging,” he said.
“The programme presents great opportunities to develop literacy skills and challenge the thinking of young people. To this end, we provide educational materials to assist teachers maximise the learning opportunities.
“Last year’s event was an outstanding success with more than 7,000 young people participating and lots of positive feedback from educators.”
This year’s programme will includes Opal Dream, a new Australian film from the director of The Full Monty starring Vince Colosimo and Jacqueline McKenzie. The film, which had its international premiere when it opened the children’s programme of this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, tells how a young girl’s relationship with her imaginary friends resonates throughout her town in the Australian Outback.
As with last year, Cine Sparks in 2006 will have a strong indigenous component. Titles will include Ivan Sen’s Beneath Clouds and Jedda (1955), the first movie to feature Aboriginal actors in the leading roles and the last film by renowned director/writer Charles Chauvel. Jedda will be supported by Tracey Moffat’s Night Cries - A Rural Tragedy.
International films will come from countries including Finland, Denmark, Israel, Brazil, Austria, Japan and the Netherlands.
In addition to the film programme, Cine Sparks will offer film-related interactive workshops for students.
The wider community will also be able to get involved through Family Fun Days at South Bank on Sunday 6 and 13 August. These events will include free screenings of family-friendly films and a range of film-related presentations and activities.
Cine Sparks is supported by the Department of Education and the Arts.
A full programme, including session times and booking information, will be distributed to schools in mid June. Information is also available at www.biff.com.au or by calling 07 3007 3014.
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| 11th May 2006 |
HATS OFF TO FAST FILMMAKERS |
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Aspiring filmmakers will once again be given the chance to strut their stuff at this year’s Festival with the return of The Courier-Mail BIFF Fast Film.
Fast Film is an annual, national competition which gives filmmakers 50 days to shoot a short film of five minutes or less. Last year the event attracted more than 100 entries and this year, two talented young filmmakers will win substantial cash prizes for their efforts.
There is no restriction on the subject matter or genre of the film, however, the film must feature a ‘special ingredient’. In keeping with the BIFF focus on Film Noir, this year’s ingredient is a HAT.
All entries for Fast Film, which is presented by The Courier-Mail, must be received by 5pm on Friday 30 June. Judging will be undertaken over the following two weeks, with winners announced on Sunday 23 July at a special event at Suncorp Piazza, South Bank.
This year’s winner will receive a cash prize of $3,000. The best young filmmaker (25 years and under) will receive $1,500. There will also be a range of industry-related prizes for each winner.
Entrants are required to submit their film on VHS or DVD. The film must be less than five minutes long (including the opening and closing credits) and filmmakers must be the copyright holder and/or have all the necessary copyright permissions. Download your entry form here…
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| 4th May 2006 |
BIFF RETURNS BIGGER AND BETTER IN ITS 15TH YEAR |
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This year’s Festival will run over an unprecedented four weeks, with free public film screenings occurring in the lead-up to the main event. Arts Minister Rod Welford said the 15th year of the festival would see the festival expanded to include the free screenings every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night from 21 July to 13 August.
“While the ticketed program will run from 2 to 13 August, film lovers will have the chance to whet their appetites before the festival kicks off properly,” Mr Welford said.
“BIFF offers even more to Queensland’s film-lovers this year, giving them the chance to see amazing films from all around the world. The festival has become an integral part of the Brisbane and national arts scene. Audiences continue to grow with more than 35,000 people attending last year’s event and I predict venues all over the city will be packed for the duration of the festival.”
The festival will feature nearly 300 films from across the world at screenings at Regent Showcase, South Bank Cinemas and Palace Centro at New Farm. While the full program of films will be released in July, Mr Welford announced Film Noir as this year’s retrospective genre.
“The popular Film Noir genre will be a highlight of this year’s festival and is sure to please many film fans, both young and old,” he said.
Film Noir (French for ‘Black Film’) is a style and mood primarily associated with crime films and was derived from the crime fiction of the Depression era and the gritty style of 1930s horror fiction.
Full details of the 2006 BIFF program including ticketing information, will be released over the coming weeks, with the final program announced in early July.
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| 22nd February 2006 |
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS |
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Have you ever considered volunteering?
Here is your opportunity to contribute to premier film events in Queensland whilst gaining valuable experiences. Volunteer roles range from research, programming work, office administration, Front of House to marketing.
We are looking for people who can volunteer full time, part time and casually.
If you would like to be part of a fun, hard-working team and learn what it takes to put on a festival, fill in the online volunteer form or download the application form below, complete and return to:
Volunteer Coordinator
Brisbane International Film Festival
GPO Box 909
Brisbane QLD 4001
or email: biff@biff.com.au
We will add you to our register and contact you as required. More information will be provided closer to the festival.
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| 1st January 2006 |
BIFF BENEFITS ALL YEAR ROUND |
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The BIFF World Cinema Club is where you can experience the magic of the Festival throughout the year. As with the Festival, the club is where you can see exciting world cinema with like-minded people, engage with the stories, be entertained and perhaps leave a little enriched by the experience.
BIFF World Cinema Club is for filmmakers, film-lovers and novices alike!
Club members have so far enjoyed free screenings of Good Night, And Good Luck, Hustle & Flowand Live and Become- and the good news is that there are more exciting advance screenings, special retrospective screenings and glimpses of BIFF 2006 to come!
Members have also enjoyed access to complimentary and discounted tickets to a variety of films. These have included a recent evening with director Deepa Mehta and her film Water, the Academy award winning Tsotsi, Mrs. Henderson PresentsandRussian Dolls. In addition to these screenings members have received discounted entry to the French Film Festival, Queensland New Filmmaker Awards, Brisbane Queer Film Festival, Festival of German Films and passes to the international short film festival, Flicker fest.
Some of the additional benefits include:
- Free entry to BIFF World Cinema Club screenings all year round
- Have priority ticketing For BIFF (early release and express box office)
- Receive a souvenir BIFF 2006 catalogue (hot off the press!)
- Gain free access to an exclusive festival function
- Receive regular communications keeping you up-to-date with the latest information about screen culture in Queensland
- Discounted entry to special events such as popcorntaxibrisbane - watch the films, meet their makers (proudly hosted by the BIFF World Cinema Club)
Hesitate no longer! Download a BIFF World Cinema Club membership form here
To read the latest BIFF World Cinema Club e-newsletter, click here.
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CONTACT US |
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Phone: 07 3007 3003
Fax: 07 3007 3030 |
