Australian Film Festival 2006
Screening Schedule & Film Synopses
Tickets available at the Serge Constantin Theatre one hour prior to the screening of the first film
Saturday 18 March
Afternoon Session
- 2:00pm - 2:15pm Crackerbag (15 Mins)
- 2:20pm - 4:02pm Gettin’ Square (102 Mins)
Evening Session
- 8:00pm - 8:13pm Mimi (13 Mins)
- 8:15pm - 9:53pm The Tracker (98 Mins)
Sunday 19 March
Afternoon Session
- 2:00pm - 2:08pm Mozzie (8 Mins)
- 2:10pm - 3:49pm Looking For Alibrandi (99 Mins)
Evening Session
- 8:00pm - 8:09pm Above the Dust Level (9 Mins)
- 8:15pm - 9:58pm The Hard Word (103 Mins)
Monday 20 March
Evening Session
- 8:00pm - 8:22pm Harvey Crumpet (22 Mins)
- 8:25pm - 10:01pm Love Serenade (97 Mins)
Tuesday 21 March
Evening Session
- 8:00pm - 8:33pm Confessions of a Head Hunter (33 Mins)
- 8:35pm - 10:03pm The Rage in Placid Lake (90 Mins)
Wednesday 22 March
Evening Session
- 8:00pm - 8:04pm Local Dive (4 Mins)
- 8:00pm - 8:13pm Garage Days (105 Mins)
Thursday 23 March
Evening Session
Evening Session
- 8:00pm - 8:08pm Pilbarra Pearl (8 Mins)
- 8:10pm - 10:00pm Ned Kelly (110 Mins)
Synopses
Above The Dust Level
Director: Carla Drago
Producer: Kath Shelper
Writer: Carla Drago
Synopsis:
An inner city apartment block, a seasoned hypochondriac, belligerent neighbours and vanishing underpants.... The secret lies above the dust level.
Duration: 9 mins Original Australian
Theatrical Censorship Rating: M.A.
Genre: Drama/comedy/gay/lesbian Screen Ratio: 1.85:1
Confessions Of A Headhunter
Director: Sally Riley
Producer: Kath Shelper
Writer: Sally Riley, Archie Weller
Synopsis:
Frank and Vinnie are modern day headhunters. They don't just want any heads, they want famous people, heads with a price on them and heads that will stop the nation dead.
Duration: 33 min Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: M.
Genre: Drama/Comedy/Crime Screen Ratio: 1.85:1
Cracker Bag
Director: Glendyn Ivins
Producer: Jane Liscombe
Writer: Glendyn Ivins
Synopsis:
Eddie spends her pocket money hoarding fireworks and planning for cracker night. In the frosty air Eddie lights the fuse of her first cracker and experiences a pivotal moment, one of the small childhood times that affects us for the rest of our lives
Duration: 14:30 min Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: G.
Genre: Drama/coming of age Screen ratio: 1.85:1
Awards: CANNES Film Festival PALME d'OR (Short Film) 2003
Garage Days
Director: Alex Proyas
Producers: Topher Dow & Alex Proyas
Writer: Alex Proyas
Cast: Kick Gurry, Pia Miranda, Maya Stange, Russell Dykstra, Brett Stiller, Marton Csokas.
Synopsis:
GARAGE DAYS is a film about one kids dream to be a rock star. Freddy learns there is more to being a rock star than just drugs and tunes. He learns about friendship, babies and love.
Duration: 105 min Genre: Youth Comedy/Drama.
Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: M.A. Screen Ratio: 1.85:1
Selected Awards
2003: Sundance Film Festival (USA)
Gettin' Square (2003)
Producer: Martin Fabinyi, Tim White, Trish Lake.
Exec prod: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Michael Gudinski, Kris Noble.
Director: Jonathon Telitzky
Writer: Chris Nyst
Cast: Sam Worthington, David Wenham, Freya Stafford, Gary Sweet, Tim Spall.
Synopsis:
"Wattsy" Worth is fresh out of prison and determined to go straight. But like his ex cellmate, Johnny Spit, and reformed gangster Dabba Barrington, he discovers that getting on the straight and narrow is a lot harder than he thought. On the outside there are old scores and old enemies, as well as a few new ones, like the newly formed Crimes Investigation Commission. With the CIC breathing down their necks and pressure from underworld boss Chicka martin and corrupt cop Arnie Deviers, it will take Wattsy, Spit and Dabba all their street smarts and rat cunning to stay one step ahead and become square heads.
Duration: 102 min. Genre: Crime/Comedy.
Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating M Screen Ratio: 1.85:1
Selected Awards/Festivals:
5 x Independent Filmmakers awards, 1 x Australian Film Institute, 1 Film Critics award; Shanghai International film Festival.)
Hard Word, The
Director: Scott Roberts
Producer: Al Clark
Writer: Scott Roberts
Cast: Guy Pearce, Rachel Griffiths, Robert Taylor, Joel Edgerton, Damien Richardson.
Synopsis:
Three brothers have found a uniquely profitable way to spend their jail time. Crime does pay, and no one gets hurt - until they discover the catch. When sex and greed come between bad cops and good criminals, the consequences are fatal -for some.
Duration: 103 min Genre: Crime/Comedy
Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: MA Screen Ratio: Cinemascope
Selected Awards/Festivals
2002: Filmfest Hamburg, London Australia film Festival 4 x Australian Screen sound Awards.
Harvie Krumpet
Director/Writer: Adam Elliot
Producer: Melanie Coombs
Starring: Geoffrey Rush
Synopsis:
HARVIE KRUMPET is the biography of an ordinary man seemingly cursed with perpetual bad luck.
Duration: 22 min. Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: PG.
Genre: Comedy/Biography Screen ratio: 1.85:1
Awards: `OSCAR' Academy award for best short film - animation 2004
Local Dive
Director: Sarah Watt
Producer: Sarah Watt
Writer: Sarah Watt
Synopsis:
A hot day in the country. An inviting swimming pool and, the unfortunate requirement to appear in swimming costumes, before the blessed coolness.
Duration: 4.5 mins Not classified - Not theatrically released.
Genre: Animation/comedy Screen Ratio: NA
Looking For Alibrandi
Director: Kate Woods
Exec Prod: Tristram Miall
Producer: Robyn Kershaw
Writer: Melina Marchetta
Cast: Greta Scacchi, Anthony La Paglia, Pia Miranda
Synopsis:
Nonna, Katia, Christina and Josie are three generations of Italian-Australian women living together in a hothouse atmosphere of love, support...and drama on an operatic scale.
Duration: 99 min Genre: Comedy/family
Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: M Screen Ratio: 1.1:85
Selected Awards
2000 Australian Film Institute Awards - Best Film - Robyn Kershaw & Best Actress - Pia Miranda
2000 Australian Film Institute Awards - Best Supporting Actress - Greta Scacchi
2000 Australian Film Institute Awards - Best Achievement in Editing - Martin Connor
2000 Australian Film Institute Awards - Best Screenplay Adapted from another Source - Melina Marchetta
2000 if - Independent Filmmakers Awards - Best Script - Melina Marchetta
Love Serenade
Director: Shirley Barrett
Producer: Jan Chapman
Writer: Shirley Barrett
Cast: Miranda Otto, Rebecca Frith, George Shevtsov
Synopsis:
Two sisters in an Australian country town develop a fierce and competitive crush on their new neighbour, a brooding and self-centred radio personality. A black comedy with a smouldering soundtrack and lots of fishing, LOVE SERENADE is the story of the one that didn't get away.
Duration: 97 min Genre: Comedy/Romance
Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: M Screen Ratio: Cinemascope
Selected Awards
1996: Cannes Film Festival - Camera d'Or, Un Certain Regard, Valladolid International Film Festival, Spain - Best First Feature Film. Edinburgh Int. FF, London FF, Munich Int. FF, Toronto Int. FF..
1997: Rotterdam Int. FF, Seattle and Portland Int. FF, Sao Paolo Int FF (Brazil), Goteborg Film Festival.
CINEMAGIC - International Film Festival for Young people
Mimi
Director/Writer: Warwick Thornton
Producer: Darren Dale
Starring: David Gulpilil, Sophie Lee, Aaron Pedersen.
Synopsis:
When you buy black there's no turning back.
Duration: 12.5 min Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: M.
Genre: Comedy/Culture/Aust. Screen ratio: 1.85:1
Mozzie
Director: Dylan Yeo
Producer: Jane Keneally
Writer: Dylan Yeo
Synopsis:
A tale for all ages about global warming, chlorofluorocarbons and radical brain surgery.
Duration: 8 mins Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: G
Genre: Animation/children/comedy/fantasy Screen Ratio: 1.85:1
Ned Kelly (2003)
Director: Gregor Jordan
Producers: Lynda House, Nelson Woss.
Exec. Prod: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Timothy White.
Writer: John Michael Mc Donough
Cast: Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Naomi Watts, Laurence Kinlan, Kris McQuade, Joel Edgerton, Rachel Griffiths, Russell Dykstra, Kerry Condon.
Synopsis:
The true story of Ned Kelly, a Jesse James like gangster from Australia, who carried out a series of robberies with his gang of outlaws from 1878 -80. Adapted from Robert Drewe's novel, "Our Sunshine".
Duration: 110 min Genre: Crime /Historical bio pic
Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: M.A. Screen Ratio: 1.1:85
Selected Screenings and Awards
2003: 3 x Independent Filmmaker awards (Aust) & Edinburgh. International Film Festival.
Pilbara Pearl
Director: Christopher Watson
Producer: Karen Williams
Writer: Sarah Rossetti
Synopsis:
Pearl is a sensuous Aboriginal woman with an extraordinary capacity for dreaming. She dives into magnificent reefs without leaving her dusty Pilbara roadhouse. Eddie is a big-hearted surveyor's assistant who is always going somewhere. He is in love with Pearl but has no understanding of her aquatic fantasies. Eddie is leaving.....will Pearl follow?
Duration: 8 mins Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: G.
Genre: Drama/Indigenous People/romance Screen Ratio: NA
Rage In Placid Lake, The (2003)
Director: Tony McNamara
Exec Prod: Bryce Menzies, Gary Phillips, Mark Vennis.
Producer: Marian Macgowan
Writer: Tony McNamara
Cast: Ben Lee, Rose Byrne, Miranda Richardson, Garry MacDonald, Christ Stollery.
Synopsis:
Placid Lake is a kid who follows his instincts; follows them so far they lead him to convalescing in a full body cast and pondering whether following your heart is good for your health. Deciding it isn't, he takes the road travelled more. Be normal, fit in. Even if it kills you.
Duration: 90 min Genre: Comedy/Coming of age
Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: M Screen Ratio: 1.1:85
Selected Awards
2004 AFI Best screenplay, 2 x Australian writers guild awards, 2nd place Brisbane International Film festival 2003. Edinburgh 2003 and Goteborg 2004.
The Tracker
Director: Rolf de Heer
Producer: Julie Ryan, Rolf de Heer.
Writer: Rolf de Heer
Cast: David Gulpilil, Gary Sweet, Damon Gameau, Grant Page.
Synopsis:
A set of mountain ranges in the outback, 1922 ... horseback country, and the Fanatic, leads two other white men, The Follower and the Philosopher, and the Tracker, in the pursuit of the Fugitive. Through massacre and murder the hunt continues, until the clear cut notions of truth and justice are subverted and the questions become not will the Fugitive be caught, but what is black and what is white and who is leading whom?
Duration: 98 min Genre: Drama
Original Australian Theatrical Censorship Rating: M Screen Ratio: Cinemascope
Selected Awards/Festivals
2002: Venice International, Tudwali film and video festival, Rotterdam international FF.