Brisbane International Film Festival 14th – 25th November
The Brisbane International Film Festival opens on the 14th of November. With a program packed with comedies, dramas, slashers and gunfights from across the globe, this year’s line-up should be enjoyed in large quantities without restraint.
Opening with British police thriller The Sweeney (starring Ray Winstone) and closing with the period lovelorn drama Anna Karenina (starring Keira Knightly), the categories running in the weeks between have something to satisfy everyone’s filmic tastebuds.
There’s a collection of the finest SPAGHETTI WESTERNS, BLACKFELLA films showcasing the new generation of indigenous filmmakers, 50 SHADES OF BIFF for the more erotically inclined, drug inspired films of THE PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCE program and the ART MATTERS category. BIFF DOCS takes us into the lives of some of the world’s most interesting people and situations (Peter Jacksons West of Memphis one to look out for), BEATBOX delving into films about tunes, tones and musical styling’s, and FIRST FILMS brings forth the initial works of legendary filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Andersen. I would be worried if there wasn’t something in that line-up for everyone.
There’s also the opportunity to participate in the Industry Program – with filmmakers from across the globe travelling to share their advice and techniques with the public. With conversations on editing by award winners and making the most from YouTube, these sessions are a must for any budding filmmaker – but seats are limited.
In addition, this year sees the Planetarium located at Mt Cootha is offering some all-encompassing audio and visual experiences. Showcasing films on the sprawling canvas of the planetarium screen will certainly provide an interesting change from your average cinema.
So this year’s BIFF is showcasing a diverse and entertaining range of films on equally interesting platforms. My picks would be RZA’s kung fu riddled caper Man With The Iron Fists, the creepy control hungry film Compliance and Sinister (starring Ethan Hawke, and pegged as the scariest movie of the year). But I also look forward to stumbling on some hidden gems that I otherwise wouldn’t have considered had BIFF brought them forth.
Danielle Muir
