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MAGIC HAPPENS IN THE DARK • MARCH 6 – 15, 2015 • BBFF.COM.AU

Magic Happens In The Dark This year we’re calling out for those who love screen culture to ‘Ditch the Downloads’, get off the couch, support and share a special cinema experience with the dedicated and talented independent filmmakers who have come to Byron to show their work and tell their stories.

Director’s picks

The films that make up BBFF2015’s Official Selection will delight your senses, re-affirm your passions, challenge your prejudices and broaden your vision of the world we live in.

The festival just keeps growing – this year we’re extending our Magic is an intangible experience, reach beyond Byron Bay and subjective, elusive, and to many are excited to add a new venue just a myth but magical feelings partner to our team – Ballina Fair are unforgettable. BBFF2015 Cinemas. In Byron we’re also promises to provide many such growing our presence through unforgettable moments and unique extended sessions at Palace opportunities. Cinemas. The majority of our films are The 10-day film fiesta that is BBFF World or Australian Premieres is a community event, but that and so those attending are the community stretches way beyond first in Australia to experience the our lovely little town, and takes in magic these films have to offer. the whole of the nation and indeed Only 11 films in this year’s Official the rest of the world. Selection of more than 200 have ever been shown in the area BBFF2015 is our most starbefore and for almost all of the studded festival to date, with the films screened across the festival most filmmakers attending. Come BBFF is your only opportunity to join us! see them in the immersive format Festival Director, they were created for – the Big Screen. J’aimee Skippon-Volke

Each year a zeitgeist surfaces through the consciousness of our filmmakers and in 2015 references to death and dying seem to abound, from Will & Testament to our Closing Gala Feature Zen & The Art Of Dying. In between comes Dying to Know, the consciousness-expanding story of acid pioneer Timothy Leary and guru Ram Dass. Narrated by Robert Redford, it’s a moving account of two brilliant outsiders’ love and respect for each other. Death has no sting here, nor in Zen or any of the other titles. These films, like BBFF, celebrate life, allowing us to reflect and lead our own lives with a heightened vitality and passion. Into the Void, follows an intrepid reporter into the smoky back streets of Macau, looking for healing spirits and poor Loveless Zorista has a hilarious kiss of death. Politics and leadership are a focus in our region right now, and our films with a political bent aim to inform but also inspire you and give hope. Will and Testament provides engaging and uplifting insight into the passion behind the UK’s ‘Gough Whitlam’ Tony Benn whose idealism, integrity and

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downright decency shone brightly. Closer to home, Frackman, a ‘real Aussie bloke’ stands up against the CSG miners invading his patch of dirt and rallies others. In Divide In Concord an 84-year-oldwoman declares war on bottled water and takes on the world’s third-largest industry. Music connects and inspires in Take Me to the River bringing undiluted Southern sunshine into play. Three charismatic buskers share their lives and music from the streets of Jakarta in Jalanan (Streetside). Creative magic is in abundance in the beautifully realised Sardinian Cabras Where Fables Are Born, and you’ll get to join Jack Thompson and Archibald prize-winner Garry Shead in an art focused session on the morning of Sunday the 8th. Roraima Climbers of the Lost World, Out of Nothing and Not Without My Dogs reveal those challenging the laws of physics or the limitations of human endurance as spectacular scenery dwarfs but cannot crush the human spirit. Outstanding short films include the tense thriller Der Ausflug, the heart-warming Outlier, the perplexing Washingtonia, and the engaging stories of Agua Blanca, Cigano and One Armed Man and

a slew of great Australian shorts. There’s plenty to feel good about, from the heart-warming Aspie Seeks Love to the glorious camp 70s glamour of the Flying Gaonas in The Flight Fantastic and the spirit that shines brightly in Showfolk. You’ll roll in the aisles with Thunderlust (and the Middle Beast) a hapless cock-rock band, A Mile in These Hooves, the tale of two brothers and a donkey suit and Mousse, which has received a special mention. With a drama you want power, passion – drama! in short, and they don’t come much more powerful than these. Tony Ayres’s Cut Snake is a tour-de-force 70s crime thriller with a beating heart, An Bronntanas (The Gift) and Schimbare (The Change) pose moral questions while having you on the edge of your seat and A Fighting Season challenges all prejudices about the American military. Besides films there are plenty of other events to enjoy: workshops, parties, presentations – and of note the evening with David Wenham and BBFF Patron Paul Cox. Festival Director’s Picks can be found with this symbol in the pages ahead.

9TH BYRON BAY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2015

Government Partner

Major Media Partner

THE BYRON SHIRE

netdaily Venue Partners

Major Sponsors

Environmental Partner

Media Partners

Sponsors

Surf Sponsor

Industry Partners

Supporters Margaret Robertson

Nominees Best Film A Fighting Season Cabras Where Fables Are Born Cut Snake Frackman The Flight Fantastic Best Dramatic Feature A Fighting Season An Bronntanas (The Gift) Cut Snake Schimbare (The Change) Sunday Best Documentary Banking Nature Cabras Where Fables Are Born Jalanan (Streetside) Le Sel De La Terre (Salt of the Earth) Will & Testament Best Short Film – Sponsored by Fox Creek Wines Berlin Troika Cigano Der Ausflug (The Run) Hero.Traitor.Patriot. Matka Ziemia (Mother Earth) Washingtonia Best Byron Film – Sponsored by The Echo All BBFF2015 Northern Rivers filmmakers are nominees

CHE ESE PLE ASE

Young Australian Filmmaker Did I Tell You ’Bout Jasper? Detention Brodie Stanton – A Film Portrait Off Track A New You Freight Train The Flight of the Buffalo The Summer of ABC Burns I Remember the Future Best Environmental Film – Sponsored by the Greens Banking Nature Black Ice Divide In Concord Frackman Ultima Chiamata (Last Call) Best Cinematography – Sponsored by Coopers Cigano Newborns III Jäger des Augenblicks – Ein Abenteuer am Mount Roraima (Roraima – Climbers of the Lost World) Gaia Best Surf Film 1970 Something Learning to Float Oney Anwar – Chasing the Dream Tierra de Patagones (Land of Patagones) What the Sea Gives Me

Best Music Video Kat Vintner – Sooner or Later The Ramona Flowers Tokyo Metube: August Sings Carmen Habanera Safia – You are the One Carpe Jugular Claire – The Next Ones To Come Best Experimental Film Bread or Blood Soroa Gaia Draussen Ist Wo Du Nicht Bist (We Are Outside Playing in the Garden) Intrusion Best Animation Déjà-Moo Don Miguel Flow Little Darling – The Secret City Onemoretime Special Mention Into the Void Mousse Bereave

Special Thanks We greatly appreciate the hard work, time and support that has helped create this event from: Amy Gray, David Sweet, Michael Weatherhead, Ash Shennett, Obi McDonald-Saint, Luke Saint, Stuart Amos, Annie & Franco Ivancich, Cameron Arnold, Terry Hore, Richard Heale, Rose Fox, Paul MacDonald, Paul & Ella McGrath, Mia Barbieri & Ken Rippin, Candida Baker, Luke Payne, Rick & Mia Slater, Angela Cornell, Kel Galbraith, Tobin Saunders, William Gammon Zvika Aloni, Victoria McEwan, Lyn & John Parche, Lisa O’Meara & Ken Crouch, Simon Foster and all the BBFF crew, venue staff at all venues; Community Centre Ushers and Volunteers.

Credits Patron: Paul Cox Festival Director: J’aimee Skippon-Volke Technology & Art Director: Osvaldo C. Alfaro Media Manager: Digby Hildreth Marketing Manager:

Amanda Blennerhassett Sponsorship Manager: Kelly Morton Workshops Producer: Louise Hodgson Submissions Manager: Sue Wiseman Volunteers Coordination: Jenny Grinlington, Jenny Cornell & Shelagh Pepper Program Design: Ziggi Browning & The Echo Classifications Team: Fiona Brown & Peter Child Schools Team: Kate Marris, Tabitha Bianka, Peter Gough, Kristie Headley, Poppy Walker, Susie Hope Tech Team: Mahdi Manar, Rusty

Blewitt, Grant Jeffrey, Susie Foster, Caroline Fisher & Hunter Brooks-Bennie Media & Marketing Team: Theo Lionel, Clementine Gorlier, Aaron Gonzalves,Chad Campbell, Sarah Ndiaye & Belinda Aucott Media Contributors: Tim WintonBrown, Hannah Fewson, Lonnie Gilroy, Kristie Hedley, Rachel Jenner BBFF Team: Brigitte Zeisig, Shelley Oldman, Sue Warner, Simone Roseler, Alex Mankiewicz, Manon Beerends, Georgina McGillivray, Erin McGufficke, Ellie Alford, Byron Peszko, Howard Sedgemen, Louise Dwyer and many more dedicated and valued team members.

$2,000 MEET THE FILMMAKERS INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY PRIZE The award is a cash prize of $2,000 for a selected documentary shown at the 2015 Byron Bay Film Festival. A subsidiary of ScreenZone Media, meetthefilmmakers. com is a dynamic video-on-

demand website that profiles filmmakers and their films. Its generous prize promotes films that question and enlarge our perception of the world around us. For more information, go to www.meetthefilmmakers.com.

About the Program Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the program. We apologise for any changes, errors or oversights

since going to print. For the most up-to-date information visit the festival website at www.bbff.com.au.

MAGIC HAPPENS IN THE DARK • MARCH 6 – 15, 2015 • BBFF.COM.AU

VENUES & BOOKINGS

Gala Opening Night

BBFF is proud to partner with the region’s cinemas – and thanks them for their help to extend the festival beyond Byron Bay and throughout the Northern Rivers. Their support and commitment to independent film is highly valued.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is our pleasure to invite you to the Northern Rivers’ most glamorous party of the year – the star-studded Gala Opening Night – to launch the 10 days of cinematic celebration that is BBFF 2015.

It’s easy to book for the festival as most of our venues offer online booking. You can buy your tickets direct from the venues’ websites or through links from our own: www.bbff.com.au. To buy tickets go to:

Byron Community Centre Box Office

weekday films at the Community Centre. These are available online or at the box office. Please see our website for more details on any of these special offers available.

phone (02) 6686 9600 or check the website www.ballinainfo/cinema. Tickets also available on the day.

Regent Cinema Palace Cinemas 108 Jonson St, Byron Bay Tickets available online at www.palacecinemas.com.au/ festivals/byronbayinternationalfilmfestival/ or at the cinema box office daily from 11am-8.30pm. Phone bookings by credit card only (except Amex & Diners) on (02) 6680 8555.

5 Brisbane St, Murwillumbah The Regent’s box office is open from 11.30am-9.30pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Check website www.cinemaregent.com or phone (02) 6672 8265. Tickets also available on the day. There is no disabled access or disabled toilet facilities – this venue has stairs.

69 Jonson St, Byron Bay Pre-festival opening hours are between 10am and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. During the festival, the box office is open every day from 10am until 7.30pm. Tickets for all our sessions at the Community Centre can be bought on-line at www.byroncentre.com.au. Multipack discounts are available for the films at the Byron Community Centre when you buy tickets to five, eight or 12 different sessions (one ticket per session). If you are interested in buying any of the multipacks on offer, please see our website for more information. Once again we are offering ‘four for three at four-thirty’ – four tickets for the price of three for any of our 4.30pm

Pighouse Flicks 1 Skinners Shoot Rd, next to the Byron Bay Brewery Tickets are available online at www.pighouseflicks.com.au. Before and during the festival the box office is open every day from Monday to Friday from 6pm and on weekends from 4pm.

Ballina Fair Cinemas Ballina Fair Shopping Centre, corner of Fox and Kerr streets, Ballina Before the festival, box office open from 9.30am– 9pm. To reserve a ticket

Star Court Theatre Star Court Arcade, 126 Molesworth St, Lismore Tickets for the Star Court Theatre should be bought at the door, except for our ACON Fundraiser, which can be booked online on the What’s On page for movies at www. starcourttheatre.com.au. Ticket prices range from $8 for screenings to $65 for Red Carpet Gala celebrations. Our website www.bbff.com. au is a great place to go for latest information about the films, filmmakers and the festival.

It’s your chance to frock up and rub shoulders with the stars on the BBFF Red Carpet before settling in for the onscreen magic that happens in the dark of the cinema. This year’s glittering array of cuttingedge film promises some of the festival’s strongest programs to date. Ever topical, BBFF 2015 has chosen the fascinating

UK for the festival to present their film, which is certain to stimulate lively discussion. This evening provides the opportunity to have your political beliefs piqued, punctured or propped up. political documentary Will and Testament as its Opening Night film – a profile of controversial MP Tony Benn, once described as “the most dangerous man in Britain”. A moving and inspiring portrait of a politician possessing those rare qualities: integrity, vision, courage. The producers, Jane Wilkinson and Jacqueline Jean-Louis, are travelling from the

Ten days of delirious cinema stimulation will conclude with a Gala Closing Party, so don your Sunday best and raise a glass with actors, filmmakers and industry professionals to celebrate another successful festival and its extravaganza of illumination, courage and creativity. Here’s the space to recall and discuss your festival experience over a restorative glass of something superb and sample a delectable selection from culinary master Andy Wheeler. Share the magic with your friends and the film community and meet the people behind your favourite offerings of BBFF2015.

three years ago and a collaboration between the pair became inevitable – a common occurrence in the creative stew that is the BBFF.

The Closing Gala highlight, Zen and the Art of Dying, is a brave and beautiful documentary with a local and a universal – even cosmic – focus as it explores the work of “Deathwalker” (and marriage celebrant) Zenith Virago. Zenith met US-based filmmaker Brody Fox at the Byron Bay Film Festival

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Along with the glitz and the intellectual stimulation, the ticket price treats you to three complimentary drinks, live music from Rebecca Ireland and an “after party” snack of delicious canapés courtesy of Andy Wheeler, BBFF’s fabulous local hatted chef, who has designed a bespoke contemporary menu sourced from the freshest of local ingredients.

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Zen is the result of that pairing and, like other films shown at BBFF2015, it brings death into the open, shattering taboos, triggering emotional responses and, crucially, stirring discussion. Join us to eat, drink, be moved and be merry, and celebrate life and art, and the community spirit that is created when people gather to sit in the dark and share a cinematic experience. Don’t miss out: Tickets to the public for these gala events are extremely limited.

9TH BYRON BAY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2015

WORKSHOPS & PANELS BBFF has established itself as a forum for filmmakers to share their unique insights into familiar and unfamiliar worlds, tell local and global stories and expand and challenge our perceptions. BBFF2015 has brought together some notable and innovative figures in the film industry for a unique and affordable array of workshops, panels and networking events focusing on the art and business of film with thought-provoking candour. Full details available online at www.bbff.com.au/ bbff-2015/workshops.

WEEKEND 1 7–8 March The Outsider on the Inside: Adventures in Cross-Cultural Filmmaking Filming foreign cultures and their stories is a rewarding experience for viewer and filmmaker alike. This panel guides us through filmmakers’ experiences of gaining access to subjects, overcoming language problems and circumnavigating unfamiliar moral codes. Shooting locations include Afghanistan, India, Malawi, Samoa and Haiti as well as those closer to home amongst indigenous communities. The Filmmakers Lounge, Saturday 7th March, 11am, Free

coveted premieres. How does it feel when the lights go down and they share their film with an audience? Not every filmmaker gets to experience this type of magic happening in the dark. The Filmmakers Lounge, Saturday 7th March, 2pm, Free

At Your Own Risk: How Far Will a Director Go to Make a Film? Filmmaking is a delicate business and directors will always risk a great deal to stay true to their vision. This eclectic panel will discuss the hurdles they have faced: shooting hazardous events, broaching sensitive content and finding themselves in illegal situations. A delicate balance of judgment and diplomacy is required. Filmmakers need to use and not abuse their power, so where do you draw the line? When should you turn the camera off? And how vital is ‘that shot’? The Filmmakers Lounge, Sunday 8th March, 11am, Free

The Best of Both Magic Happens in the Worlds? Developing a Dark: A Filmmaker’s Creative Relationship With Your Partner View of Festivals Under the evocative slogan of this year’s theme, we personalise the festival experience from the filmmaker’s perspective. Our panel of international filmmakers will share their emotional and professional journey onto and around the festival circuit. They cover submission tactics, reactions to dismissals or acceptances and the much-

Creative couples appear to have it all, an understanding partner AND an admiring coworker. However, keeping those creative juices flowing may take a lot more effort than it seems. Do the everyday stresses of work bleed into family time? What are the most significant positives and challenges for the couple that chooses to live and to

create together? The Filmmakers Lounge, Sunday 8th March, 2pm, Free

talk about the process of screen adaptation. Join screenwriters Deb Cox (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, The Gods of Wheat St) and Belinda Chayko (Lou, Old School), Script Development Consultant and Script Editor Charlie de Salis (Deception, Cliffy) and author Marele Day (Lambs of God, The Sea Bed) as they share valuable advice and discuss the challenges and successes they have experienced in creating adaptations for the screen. The Filmmakers Lounge, Saturday 14th March, 2pm, Free

The Meeting Place: An ABC Open: Makers & Hour of Pure Potential Creators Project Byron Bay’s original name is Cavvanbah meaning ‘Meeting Place’. If you’re a creative type looking to connect with others, make sure this is in your diary. In this speed-dating format we give you the opportunity to meet with others in the film industry and you do the rest. This one hour may change your destiny! Spaces limited. The Filmmakers Lounge, Sunday 8th March, 5.30pm, $15

WEEKEND 2 14–15 March

Learn how to storyboard, shoot and edit a short video then publish it on the ABC with the new ABC Open Makers & Creators Project. Join ABC Open Producer Jeff Licence to learn how you can develop your storytelling skills and make films. You can choose to profile any artist or craftsperson in your community and showcase their talents, inspiration and methods. And once you’ve made your video, publish it on the ABC at abc.net.au/openprojects.

The Filmmakers Lounge, Saturday 14th March, 11am, $15

Screenworks Presents: Adaptations Some of this region’s most prominent storytellers

Connecting the world to the Northern Rivers screen industry

www.screenworks.com.au

The popularity of our experimental film selection is growing and this year we bring you the opportunity to take a trip to the cutting-edge of film as art at a free session presented in a “gallery” format. You are welcome to quietly tune in, turn on and drop out again (if you can’t stay for all three hours). This year’s offering is particularly strong – some perplexing, always engaging films, many with exquisite visual style. Approximately 20 films from all around the world will be screened upstairs in our Filmmaker’s Lounge at BBFF HQ - the Byron Community Centre, from 1-4pm on Thursday 12th. Full details available online at www.bbff.com.au/bbff-2015/experimental-showcase.

Films screening include: Teilchenbeschleunigung Soroa (Particle Acceleration)

Germany

More success. More money. More power. More partying. More and more and more. An experimental visualization of our daily life acceleration.

Spain | Best Experimental Film Nominee

Arid soil, sun, wind. A procession crosses the landscape. The echoes of their prayers bring the rain.

Quälen (Torturing)

Bestemors Hus (Grandmother’s House)

USA/Germany

Norway

Based on the poem of the same name by Etta Streicher. It is concerned about resolving inner emotional chaos: is it better to remain silent, or to bite the bullet and achieve freedom from the torturing feelings.

Flare

The Filmmakers Lounge, Sunday 15th March, 11am, Free

Australian Directors’ Getting It On (Screen): Sexuality In Cinema Guild Masterclass: Tony Ayres Cut Snake With the male gaze well BBFF is proud to play host to an ADG Masterclass with Tony Ayres as he discusses his ‘kinetic crime thriller’ Cut Snake. Tony is an award-winning writer and director in both drama and documentary. He was the show runner and one of the directors of The Slap. This compelling and complex new crime drama is his third feature.

EXPERIMENTAL SHOWCASE

documented in cinema, what of women? From bimbos to sluts to manic pixie dream girls, blank slates for vampires and BDSMers – where is women’s sexuality on screen? What do we want to see and what are the best examples? Join feminist commentator Amy Gray, television personality and author Jan Murray, comedian Mandy Nolan and femme-fatale cabaret artist Ilona Harker for a riotous conversation that promises to go where no panel has gone before. The Filmmakers Lounge, Sunday 15th March, 2pm, $15

A film about family relationships and the strong emotional ties family members make to a home. A young woman visits her grandmother’s house for the last time and reminisces about the old lady who lives there.

The Sun Worshipper

New Zealand Australia

A tragic, anaesthetic-induced selfie propels artist Anna Glynn into an examination of her carefree childhood frolicking under the Australian sun. The Sun Worshipper is a simple and moving true story of Australian beach culture from the 1960s.

An experimental dance film.

For more information about the films and this showcase visit the Special Events section of our website.

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MAGIC HAPPENS IN THE DARK • MARCH 6 – 15, 2015 • BBFF.COM.AU

SCHOOL SESSIONS: FEEDING YOUNG MINDS Every year, specially selected films are screened for hundreds of students across the Northern Rivers, delivering education and inspiration along with the entertainment. The degree of variety and creativity of the international and Australian films chosen is particularly exciting: there are documentaries on the environment, surfing heroes and hot topical issues, as well as drama, romance, mystery, local stories and plenty of comedy. At the heart of the schools’ program is the intention to encourage an informed and discriminating community, a culture which appreciates

Schools Sessions films include: Looking Out

Bill: The Bus Driver

diversity, equality and imagination, made up of youngsters who think for themselves. Filmmakers of the future will be inspired. Our thanks to the Star Court Theatre in Lismore, the Regent in Murwillumbah, Ballina Fair Cinemas and

Byron Community Centre for hosting these important sessions, which contain some of the very best short films of the festival. For more information about the films screening, or for making a booking for your students visit our website, www.bbff.com.au.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FILMS BBFF does not only cater to grown-up film buffs! Nurture your young ones’ appreciation of independent filmmaking and entertain them for a fun-filled screening of familyfriendly films. Our program contains many films which suitable for older children, the ever-popular Family-

Grace when an unexpected challenge arises from the depths of a warm, dreamy afternoon at the local pool.

Friendly Shorts Session has been designed for children of all ages. This is an opportunity to expand their experiences of film and visual story-telling outside of blockbusters, TV and online content – and for them to join in on Q&A’s with filmmakers and delve deeper into screen culture

with substance. Family packs are available for our Family-Friendly Shorts Session but only from the box office at the Byron Community Centre. Please note, it is a requirement that children under 15 are accompanied by their parents or an adult guardian.

Every year countless youth enter the juvenile justice system. What happens behind closed doors is by law a mystery.

Grace Under Water

Andrew Bill wasn’t always a bus driver and his life experiences are well received by his busload of teenagers.

The Fabric Lou is losing the cold war with her stubborn and enigmatic stepdaughter

Legend With 55 sessions and over 200 films to choose from if you’re planning to come to more than just one or two sessions it can take a little time to design your perfect personalised

Katrina, a teenager whose family have taken refuge in the country town of Shepparton from war torn Sudan, is seeking a way out and a desire for the big city.

Andrew broke his neck at age 14. He faced the future filled with uncertainty but through Wheel Chair Rugby he has found the drive he needs to get the most from life.

Directors Pick Surf Enviromental Local Feelgood

Social Justice Culture Action Drama Visual Feast

BBFF experience. We’ve developed easy-to-use icons which will help you

identify the films which appeal to your unique tastes.

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9TH BYRON BAY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2015 dreamlike story of two characters inside an elaborate cuckoo clock.

Super Sounds

Session 3

Fresh Cut Grass

Session 4

Saturday 7th 2pm – $12

Saturday 7th, 12pm – $8

Adult Only Shorts Twas The Night

One Armed Man

Mark Ferris adds music to the words of a poem by Ian ‘Crow’ Lowe, about his appalling experience in the Kinchela Boys Home. Sean McFerran will be in attendance

Looking After Our Past, Present and Future

Session 1

Friday 6th, 6.45pm – $65 6.45pm Red Carpet Arrival for 7.30pm sharp start

Will & Testament

Summer love: a simple childhood tale about discovering friendship and the gift of acceptance. Stephen de Villiers will be in attendance

Average 8

Tony Benn was the scourge of the British Right for all of his 47 years as an MP and the most controversial Labour politician of his era. An unrepentant socialist, he fought for the working people and the poor throughout his long life. Almost comically enthusiastic and intense at times, Benn refused to accept the hereditary peerage that would have forced him out of the Commons, and his repeated landslide victories as a maverick at the polls led to a change in the law. An outstanding, and moving, record of his beliefs and principled career – and his personal life, which was blissful. Through intimate, close-up interviews and utilising his personal photographic and film archive, it reveals the man of feeling behind the firebrand political persona. A reminder of what integrity politics looks like, the film traces his arc from passionate orator and rebel to elderly and loveable national treasure – an attempt to render him “harmless” that he rejected. Even as an old man, he still got death threats, which tickled him no end. Jane Wilkinson and Jacqueline Jean-Louis will be in attendance

Session 2

Saturday 7th, 10.30am – $8

Family-Friendly Shorts Family packs available

Little Darling – The Secret City

Eat

A wealthy cotton gin exec is confronted by a disgruntled former employee. Executive produced by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Santa comes across an unexpected visitor as he makes his deliveries in Bangalow. Michael Spiteri will be in attendance

Metube: August Sings Carmen Habanera

| USA | 00:27:04 | Dir: Tim Guinee | Prod: Bruno Michels & Tim Guinee | Dramatic Short | 2014 | Australian Premiere

Take Me to the River

Two wise women combine to protect cultural and biological diversity against the expansion of CSG mining in the Pilliga forest.

Babe in the Reeds: a story of massacres and resilience

A fashion photo shoot. Skinny model Helen is unnerved.

Four Brothers. Or Three. Wait… Three.

Five vision-impaired children talk about their lives and challenges with inspiring honesty and insight.

Flow

A white wolf takes a grieving girl through a mysterious portal.

Alien Repair Guy

Earth’s control box gets broken. Send in the Alien Repair Guy!

Lothar

George Bizet’s Habanera from Carmen, reinterpreted.

See Session PF3 on page 16

Lonely Hearts

The Foot Job

| UK | 00:11:00 | Dir/Prod: Leon Chambers | Dramatic Short | 2013 | Australian Premiere | USA | 00:06:58 | Dir/Prod: Brian Pracht, Matt Huffman | Dramatic Short | 2013 | Australian Premiere

A masseuse gives her appreciative client the massage of his life. Matt Huffman will be in attendance

Lonely serial killer Henrik may have found a kindred spirit. But the course of true crime never did run smooth...

Splendr

| USA | 01:35:00 | Dir/Prod: Martin Shore | Documentary Feature | 2013 | Australian Premiere

Revisit the heart and soul of American music, as generations of award-winning Memphis and Mississippi Delta musicians come together to record a new album. Legends from Stax Records and Memphis mentor and pass on their musical magic to stars and artists of today. We follow them through the creative process of recording, refreshing the utopian racial, gender and generational collaborations of Memphis in its heyday. Featuring Terrence Howard, William Bell, Snoop Dog, Mavis Staples, Otis Clay, Lil P-Nut, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, Yo Gotti, Bobby Rush, Frayser Boy, The North Mississippi All-Stars and many more. Executive produced by Talking Heads keyboardist Jerry Harrison.

Manny Gets Censored

Message From Mungo

Saturday 7th 4.30pm – $12

Looks can be deceiving. Siobhan Costigan will be in attendance

A documentary driven by Nyangbul woman Lois Cook about the brutal, largely untold history of what happened to her people on the NSW North Coast. She discovers written testimony from settlers and historians who recorded the mass killings of the local Indigenous people. Lois Cook & Catherine Marciniak will be in attendance

Session 5

Freak

20-something Sebastian finds himself foregoing his usual clubbing routine to pursue a new kind of sexual encounter. Lena Moon, Alexander Moore and Alexandra Byrne will be in attendance

First Date

A heartrending story exploring the fractured lives of a group of Aboriginal men who were wrenched from their families and placed in a reformatory school near Kempsey. Ben Beed will be in attendance

Our Pain

Lake Mungo is an ancient lake bed and one of the world’s richest archaeological sites. The film focuses on the troubled interface between the scientists and the Indigenous communities who identify with the land and the human remains at the site. But within the conflict and its gradual resolution lies a moving story of empowerment of the traditional custodians of the area. Ann McGrath & Andrew Pike will be in attendance

Session 6

Saturday 7th 7.30pm – $15

Witty, warm and wonderfully

Whenever Lothar sneezes, nearby objects explode.

A heartbroken young man discovers his life has been rated G by the film classification board. Graeme Robertson will be in attendance

Mark wants to change his life, so he starts with an internet dating site.

Byron Bay Woolies Plaza 02 6685 7103

Coolangatta

The Strand, Marine Parade 07 5536 5455

Broadbeach Oracle North 07 5570 2166

www.osushi.com.au

Multi award winning restaurants

The stories of Edward Snowden, Michael Hastings and Chelsea (formerly Bradley) Manning are powerfully interwoven to explore the question: who are we, and what truths do we hold to be self-evident? Matt Huffman will be in attendance

Frackman

Artist John Olsen is profiled as he works on an expansive mural, The Sun King – his largest mural since his famous Sydney Opera House piece. An uplifting experience of a life in art, a reflection on mortality, optimism and the wisdom that can arrive at a later time of life. Tony Williams & Anne Hewgill will be in attendance

Emmanuel, after fleeing war-torn Sudan with his family, finds that the new life in Australia offers many opportunities, and just as many challenges. Genevieve Clay-Smith in attendance

Gaia

Session 8

Sunday 8th 1:30pm – $12

Knockabout Aussie bloke Dayne Pratzky moved from Sydney to Tara to build a home on a patch of land in the scrub, only to find himself under siege from the CSG miners. Outraged by their arrogance, he embarks on a journey that transforms him from conservative pig-shooter to sophisticated global activist, becoming Frackman and bringing together an unlikely alliance of farmers, activists and political conservatives to fight for his home and health – and that of his community. Along the way Dayne encounters love, tragedy and triumph. Dayne Pratzky, Richard Todd and the producers will be in attendance

Session 7

Sunday 8th 11am – $12

The Art of Working with Bees

Newborns | USA | 00:03:00 | Dir: Shawn Heinrichs | Prod: Andy Fraser | Short Doc | 2014

Newborns doesn’t flinch from taking a close-up look at some of the victims of acid attacks in India while applauding their resilience and courage as they go about their daily lives. These young women provide examples for us all.

Henny’s Opus in B Minor

The humorous and heartfelt story of Henny’s love of life and classical music. Andrew Conte will be in attendance

In the Steps of Lawrence

Tigress Shark

An inner struggle and the Japanese dance form Butoh.

Jalanan (Streetside)

Scott Trevelyan is a Northern Rivers artist and print-maker who collaborates with bees. Jeff Licence will be in attendance

Dreadlocked Ho, tunnel-dwelling Boni and entrepreneurial Titi are three buskers working the buses and clogged streets of Jakarta, living on their wits and meagre donations, staying one step ahead of the authorities and starvation. The charismatic trio win our hearts with their daring and never-saydie optimism against the odds. A striking, moody and intimate portrait of Indonesia’s frenzied capital. The musicians provide a powerful soundtrack that drives this humane and heart-warming film, which traces their quest for identity, dignity and love in a city polluted by globalisation and corruption.

Hannah Fraser delivers an aweinspiring environmental message that packs a powerful punch on the big screen.

What the Sea Gives Me

| USA | 01:14:00 | Dir/Prod: Pierce Kavanagh | Documentary Feature | 2014 | Byron Premiere | Best Surf Film Nominee

A visual epic song of praise to the world’s ocean, and the people whose lives are spent playing in them, living from them and studying their inhabitants. The destinies of these sea-struck devotees are irreversibly defined by their connection to the ocean, whether researching Great White sharks, diving to depths never before reached, capturing waves on the frigid fringes of the planet or surfing mountains of water, this stunning film will open the eyes and awaken the senses.

Session 10

Sunday 8th 7pm – $15

Spotlight on Byron Talent: Dustin Clare The Fragments

Session 9

Sunday 8th, 4pm – $12

Save That Song

A comment on the pitfalls of mobile technology, this short film examines what happens when we hear something we’re not supposed to. Executive produced by Dustin Clare. Jim Lounsbury will be in attendance.

In 1968, while on a filmmaking expedition to the Sepik Highlands in Papua New Guinea, Garry Shead came across an edition of the letters of DH Lawrence. The artist found in Lawrence a spiritual affinity whose fate was somehow mysteriously bound up with his own. Narrated by Jack Thompson. Jack Thompson & Garry Shead will be in attendance

Early Checkout

John is an unrecognised national treasure who has lived a most extraordinary life, most of it spent in the remotest corners of Australia. The Malcolms will be in attendance

The King Sun: John Olsen, a Portrait at 85 I Am Emmanuel

One drongo tries to help another. The comedy just gets blacker, the further they dig themselves into a hole. Starring Jacki Weaver in a superb cameo.

Session 10 continued on page 12

9TH BYRON BAY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2015

11am $12

1:30pm $12

30 7pm $15

9, 12

12:30pm $10

Into the Void

Bis Gleich (Till Then) Anómalo (Anomalous)

Drevo (The Tree)

33 12:30pm $10

4:30pm $12

Learning to Float

7:30pm $15

1970 Something

Don Miguel

One Night Only

Der Ausflug (The Run)

The Gift/An Bronntanas

Almost Married

Touch

PF1

SAT 7 15

4:30pm $12

7:30pm $15

Rhododendron The Center

16, 17

6pm $15

PF2 PF3 PF4

Làssami (Leave Me) El Mal Amor (Evil Love) Agua Blanca (White Water)

PF5

Steffi Gefallt Das (Steffi Like This) Will Jackways Interpretation

8.30pm $15

Jäger des Augenblicks – Ein Abenteuer am Mount Roraima (Roraima – Climbers of the Lost World)

PF6

Hope Credit Union, a bank with a twist. Plug & Play One Night in Florida

4pm $15

8:30pm $25

6:15pm $15

8:30pm $15

6:15pm $15

Brodie Stanton – A Film Portrait Sally: Behind The Smile

Makeover Bereave Early Checkout Kanowna Sunday

6:45pm 18 $15/$13/$12

2pm 18 $15/$13/$12

Metube: August Sings Carmen Habanera Clan Some Rainbows Never Grey Walks Like a …

7:30pm 18 $15/$13/$12

Teagan Kumu Hina: A Place in the Middle I Bow to You The Winsome Choirs The Ab-Sorption Method Dingo Love Not Without My Dogs

5pm $15/$13 Day Pass $25/$22

18, 19

7:30pm $15/$13

A Mile in These Hooves Gli Zii (The Uncles) Berlin Troika Anómalo (Anomalous) Outlier Mousse

MURWILLUMBAH REGENT CINEMA

Open Spaces Cigano

8:30pm $15

LISMORE STAR COURT THEATRE

PC1

12, 13

Special Presentation with Paul Cox and David Wenham

PC2

7:30pm $15

Coral A Mile in These Hooves

To Be a Poet

PC3

Mousse Levél Istenhez (Letter to God)

The Characteristics of C-Minor

PC4

4:30pm $12

Washingtonia Der Ausflug (The Run)

2pm $12

Onemoretime

PC5

FR1 13 WED 11 SAT 7

14 16 15

TUESDAY 10TH

12:30pm $10

Banking Nature

Le Sel de la Terre (Salt of the Earth)

Cabras Where Fables Are Born

SAT 14

Life: Patented

The Lost Mariner

11am $10

Washingtonia

SUN 14

7:30pm $15

Attack of the Killer Trees

Secret Sharer

Smithson

PALACE CINEMAS BYRON BAY

Kat Vintner – Sooner or Later

Burrow

Melt

6:30pm $65

Lapse of Reason

Dying to Know: Ram Dass & Timothy Leary

Where No Vultures Fly ‫( ةدقع‬Family Ties)

The Moped Diaries

Thunderlust (and the Middle Beast)

Chip

Breath

Brodie Stanton – A Film Portrait Out of Nothing

Divide in Concord Draussen Ist Wo Du Nicht Bist (We Are Outside Playing in the Garden)

Showfolk

Stuffed

What the Sea Gives Me

Beginning at 30 Newborns

Love Marriage in Kabul

2pm $12/$10

4pm $12/$10

6pm $12/$10

2pm $12/$10

4pm $12/$10

One Night in Florida

Net Positiva

4:30pm $12

Missy Higgins – Shark Fin Blues

Four Brothers. Or Three. Wait … Three.

Ultima Chiamata (Last Call)

Bread or Blood Berlin Troika Ultima Chiamata (Last Call)

Me+Her

Zen & the Art of Dying

Intrusion

Berlin Troika

Knit One

Gala Closing Party

Bereave

Robyn Francis: Being Part of the Solution

MONDAY 9TH

Catching Fireflies

The Summer of ABC Burns

SUNDAY 15TH

10 11

Matka Ziemia (Mother Earth)

3:30pm $12

The Flight of the Buffalo

4pm $12

Bangalow Bill – Conversations with the Elders

WEDNESDAY 11TH

Brodie Stanton – A Film Portrait A New You

BALLINA FAIR CINEMAS

Detention Off Track

Sweetheart

The Ramona Flowers Tokyo

I Remember the Future

Sunday Little Star

Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (Shame on him who thinks ill of it)

1pm $12

Did I Tell You ’Bout Jasper?

Spotlight on Byron Talent: Dustin Clare Early Checkout

Un Seul Corps (A Single Body)

Freight Train

What the Sea Gives Me The Fragments

Young Australian Filmmakers

Tigress Shark

10:30am $10

A Fighting Season

Gaia

The Video Dating Tape of Desmondo Ray, Aged 33 & 3/4

Carpe Jugular

Suburban King/Top-girl

Lay Down Your Guns A Little Farther Cholchu Boundaries of the Heart Family-Friendly Session

6 7 8

I Am Emmanuel

The Best Driver in the County

4pm $15

Scene 16

Cholchu (Steppe Man)

8, 9

7.30pm $15

SATURDAY 14TH

4.30pm $12

Save That Song

SUNDAY 8TH

Jalanan (Streetside)

Lay Down Your Guns

The King Sun: John Olsen, a Portrait at 85 Newborns

7:30pm $15

Work Mate

The Art of Working with Bees

Oisima – Everything About Her

Night Shift

Aspie Seeks Love

Message From Mungo

In the Steps of Lawrence

Pocket Money

2pm $12

The Kinchela Boys

Henny’s Opus in B Minor

Where God Likes to Be

III

SUN 15

First Date

Frackman

FRI 13

23 26

Splendr

Hero.Traitor.Patriot.

4:30pm $12

Outlier

Lonely Hearts

Babe in the Reeds: a story of massacres and resilience

13, 14

Past Imperfect

Four Brothers. Or Three. Wait … Three.

Looking After Our Past, Present and Future

Crying Earth Rise Up

Cut Snake

Eat

Our Pain

12:30pm $10

Gli Zii (The Uncles)

Curacautin Bajo el Agua (Curacautin Under Water)

8:30pm $15

Claire – The Next Ones to Come

12pm $8

Anómalo (Anomalous)

The Cradle of Storms

Schimbare (The Change)

Freak

The Foot Job

SATURDAY 7TH

Metube: August Sings Carmen Habanera

Take Me to the River

7:30pm $15

Crna Zorica (Loveless Zorista)

Twas the Night

FRIDAY 13TH

Adults Only Shorts

One Armed Man

Suburban King/Top-Girl Linda’s List

Lothar

Fresh Cut Grass

Sue Whiteman – The Gift of Dance…ability The Flight Fantastic

Alien Repair Guy

Manny Gets Censored

SUN 8

Luna Loop – Time to Fly

SATURDAY 14TH

Oney Anwar – Chasing the Dream

FRI 13

Flow

10.30am $8

A Surfer’s Legacy

Déjà-Moo

Tierra de Patagones (Land of Patagones)

SUN 8

Average 8

SATURDAY 14

Super Sounds

4:30pm $12

SUN 15 SAT 14

Little Darling – the Secret City

Journey On

Safia – You are the One

THURS 12

Family-Friendly Shorts

Grass Roots Nothing Too Serious

PIGHOUSE FLICKS BYRON BAY

SATURDAY 14TH

12:30pm $10

SUN 15

Will & Testament

6.45pm Red Carpet Arrival for 7.30pm sharp start – $65

Black Ice Ignition

Opening Night

Gaia Soul in the Sea

FRI 6

BYRON COMMUNITY CENTRE

THURSDAY 12TH

Page #

Film

Time/ price

PROGRAM

Session

Date

Horrie Dingo Love Not Without My Dogs

9TH BYRON BAY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2015

Sunday

Australian Premiere | Best Short Nominee

Maciek seeks to satisfy his father and become a butcher. But is he too sensitive to make an animal suffer? Piotr Zlotorowicz will be in attendance

Catching Fireflies

Session 11

Monday 9th 12:30pm – $10

Bangalow Bill – Conversations with the Elders

A little Latina girl living on skid row escapes its misery through her mystical imagination.

Into the Void

Journo Emily Siu searches for the ghosts thought to dwell hidden in the clouds of incense fume and firecracker smoke of the streets and parks of modern Macao. She encounters people who have learnt the healing arts of the occult but begins to feel haunted herself.

Session 12

Monday 9th 4:30pm – $12

Robyn Francis: Being Part of the Solution A regular at the Billy Cart Derby, Bill tells his stories of Bangalow and the Byron Shire.

Little Star

Burrow

Net Positiva

The discarded fishnets that are responsible for 10% of the oceans’ plastic pollution are reused in a surprising and inventive way.

The story of a man trying to right the wrongs of his past and to be there for his child. Stars Martin Sacks. Ben Dickinson & Martin Sacks will be in attendance

Dying to Know: Ram Dass & Timothy Leary

| USA | 01:35:00 | Dir/Gay Dillingham | Documentary Feature | 2014 | Special Sneak Preview | USA | 01:22:28 | Dir: Kris Kaczor | Prod: Dave Regos, Jaedra Luke | Documentary Feature | 2013 | Byron Bay Premiere | Best Environmental Film Nominee

84-year-old Jean Hill is a concerned citizen on a crusade to take down a multibillion-dollar industry. It begins in Concord, Massachusetts, where patriots once sparked a revolution that defined democracy. In her bid to ban the sale of bottled water in her town, Jean hopes to raise awareness about the plastic pollution in our oceans. Her riveting story is a test of an individual’s ability to effect profound social change, and an insightful portrait of small-town America.

A fascinating and far-reaching documentary on lifelong companions and 60s cultural icons Timothy Leary, the guru of LSD, and Richard Alpert (Ram Dass), culminating in the days leading up to Leary’s death from cancer. Leary was an outrageous chancer and rebel and showed the brilliant, gay Alpert how to be free of society’s bonds. Narrated by Robert Redford with interviews spanning 50 years, the film takes us on an entertaining trip celebrating the two complex characters and their high times. It raises profound questions about life, drugs, consciousness and the great taboo of death.

Session 13

Session 14

Chip

Kat Vintner – Sooner or Later

Tuesday 10th 12:30pm – $10

Knit One

Matka Ziemia (Mother Earth)

Draussen Ist Wo Du Nicht A trip through dark landscapes to find answers. Bist (We Are Outside Playing in the Garden) Attack of the Killer Trees

Recently widowed Sadie’s knitting frenzy can’t fill the space left by Marlon.

A young boy’s fight to rescue his beloved waterhole from destructive farming practices.

Marli Lopez-Hope will be in attendance

‫( ةدقع‬Family Ties)

A dark coming-of-age story set within the world of the post-90s generation of Chinese youth. Natalie James will be in attendance

Secret Sharer

Two sets of Lebanese parents use fear and urban religious myths to discipline their children.

Life: Patented

The wonder of human life, birth and procreation has a very different value in a world ruled by corporations.

Banking Nature

Robyn Francis is a gardener who also helps people cultivate their lives.

Abby has one wish – for her dad to find true love and be happy again. Sean McFerran will be in attendance

Divide in Concord

Monday 9th 7:30pm – $15

Session 15

Tuesday 10th 4:30pm – $12

| USA | 00:19:58 | Dir/Prod: Lee Whittaker | Dramatic Short | 2015 | Australian Premiere

Where No Vultures Fly

Jack goes on a journey to mend his (literally) broken heart.

An enriching story of modern love and the pressures of too many choices. Eve is about to have a baby to former boyfriend Charlie. He travels from Melbourne to visit her in quake-devastated Christchurch, NZ, with plans to discover whether they have a future together. She wants him to stay and be a dad; he wants the relationship, and the baby. He’s also very reluctant to quit his exciting work in some of the world’s danger zones. Their story is reflected in the ruins of the city, wreckage, but also hope and the chance to rebuild. Co-starring and co-written by Kiwi Camille Keenan and Dustin Clare, whose real-life partnership adds tension and authenticity to their performances. Michelle Joy Lloyd, Camille Keenan & Dustin Clare will be in attendance

Breath

The Indoor Garden institution is a place where people seek relief from their everyday lives.

| USA | 00:06:22 | Dir/Prod: Valerie Giuili | Animation | 2014 | Aust Premiere

The adventures of Louie Lumberjack and his chain-smoking existentialist friend Pierre Beaver.

Putting a price on nature seems like a simple idea: If nature had a dollar value, wouldn’t corporations and governments be less likely to destroy it? Would putting a price on it overturn “the economic invisibility of nature”? Reality, of course, turns out to be more complex. What guarantees do we have that our natural inheritance will be protected? And should our ecological heritage be for sale? Banking Nature investigates the commercialisation of the natural world. Is it the best way to protect nature or will “nature credits” and the financial markets that deal in them lead to the extinction of species as big business buys up vast swathes of land?

Young sea captain Konrad decides to hide a beautiful fugitive rescued during a storm on the China seas. A contemporary fable and strange romance told with epic beauty, humour and a twist in its tale, Secret Sharer is an erotic and sensuous moral story about a young man’s journey into maturity through difficult, and possibly deadly, human relationships. Based on the novel by Joseph Conrad, and awash with repressed passion and drama.

Session 16

Tuesday 10th 7:30pm – $15

The Lost Mariner

An animated interpretation of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.

Le Sel de la Terre (Salt of the Earth)

A magnificent, gorgeously filmed documentary that does justice to the monumental photojournalism of Sebastião Salgado, who for 40 years has travelled the world, documenting its ever-changing humanity and creating some of the most famous

° Music & performance ° Business & computers ° Cooking ° Aged care Enrol ° Visual arts Now ° Permaculture ° Training & assessment ° Early childhood education ° Small business management

° RSA and more...

call (02) 6684 3374

www.byroncollege.org.au

Byr

MAGIC HAPPENS IN THE DARK • MARCH 6 – 15, 2015 • BBFF.COM.AU images of our time. He is now setting out to discover and record the planet’s remaining pristine territories, its wild fauna and flora and mind-blowing landscapes as part of a huge photographic project which is a tribute to Earth’s beauty. A profound insight into his life and work, and the story of his subjects. Co-directed and co-narrated by Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas; Wings of Desire, Buena Vista Social Club). The film is a 2015 Best Documentary Oscar nominee – a potential winner at time of printing

Session 17

Wednesday 11th 12:30pm –$10

Washingtonia

a woman through binoculars from the covered swimming pool in a sports centre. But tonight they will witness an event that can’t be undone.

Mousse

Australian Premiere

Fishing in a forbidden coral lagoon, a young Samoan makes a shocking discovery. Giacomo Martelli & Elizabeth Christy will be in attendance

What could be easier than robbing a small tobacco shop on the outskirts of town? A comedy of errors.

Wednesday 11th 4:30pm – $12

Is this too much togetherness? An engaging comedic film about love, friendship and a burlap donkey.

Learning to Float

| USA | 00:19:59 | Dir/Prod: Brendan Calder | Surf Films | 2014 | Australian Premiere | Best Surf Film Nominee

An exquisitely paced and deeply visual experimental drama. No-one likes small and dry hearts.

Aladár lives in deep poverty with his wife and children on a farm far from the village. Every day, he prays to God with his childlike prayers. And every day, their struggle continues. Aladár’s prayers are answered but God works in mysterious ways…

The story of two people who share a daily ritual, but have never actually met. Their unspoken connection deepens when, one day, they are forced to face the inevitable... together.

Anómalo (Anomalous)

One story, three angles. In three chapters and with striking imagery, a unique and original plot is intimately told through the eyes of two brothers and their mother Milena. The boys are unable to leave their house, the only place where they feel safe. However, their refuge becomes a prison for them. Nothing can keep them from dreaming and yearning to be free and so the urge to make a decision becomes inevitable.

Session 19

Wednesday 11th 7:30pm – $15

Coral

The greatest friendships can come out of the blue... Soul in the Sea is the moving true story of one woman’s quest to befriend and protect Moko, a wayward, extroverted wild dolphin. A journey of discovery, loss and resolution. It’s a love story that breaks through the invisible wall between people and animals, celebrating the incredible experience of friendship with a wild creature. Amy Taylor will be in attendance

Thursday 12th 4:30pm – $12

Ignition

A revival of the surfing and beach culture in Brazil during the 1970s, as seen from the perspective of the present generation. The film shows a mixture of unseen footage and photo archives, present-time action video clips and exclusive stories from the main characters of the day, giving a close look at the way of life of the generation that dropped out of the system during the Brazilian military dictatorship and founded the country’s surfing culture. An ode to the surfing, music, fashion and the counterculture scene of a romantic period. Rafael Mellin will be in attendance

Session 20

Thursday 12th 12:30pm – $10

surfs till he is literally knocked out while in WA he hurls into one of the heaviest barrels ever captured on film at The Right. So nothing too serious at all.

Journey On

A beautiful young circus girl experiences the gravity of love. Susie Forster & Shiney Le Fai will be in attendance

Sue Whiteman – The Gift of Dance…ability

In 1992, Shane Herring won the Coke Classic but then his career went horribly off the rails. In this candid and confronting documentary, Herring and his closest associates reflect on his time in the spotlight.

A Surfer’s Legacy

Showcasing the life of Sue Whiteman, an “integrated dance teacher” and the joy her work creates. Sue Whiteman & Catherine Marciniak will be in attendance

Suburban King/Top-Girl

Session 21

1970 Something

At 12, an overweight AfricanAmerican from the mean streets of LA fell in love with the feeling of riding a wave. Ten years later and 100 pounds lighter, he steps up to take his turn to inspire and give the gift of surfing to others.

Drevo (The Tree)

A gripping thriller with superb acting. A teacher succeeds in stopping a school shooting but finds himself side by side with the student killer in the getaway car.

Bis Gleich (Till Then)

The story of the crew of the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise and its chilling encounters with Russian special forces as it protests against oil drilling in the Arctic.

A Mile in These Hooves Soul in the Sea

Session 18

Der Ausflug (The Run)

Lowe | Documentary Feature | 2014 | NSW Premiere | Best Environmental Film Nominee

Jake’s beloved Kombi gets stolen in the middle of a 70s Brisbane night. Jake and his hapless sidekick Ben give chase, leaving comedic madness and mayhem in their wake. Dylan Kai Harris will be in attendance

An Indian girl born into child slavery with one arm, one leg and a dream finds her life is changed forever when surfer and physician Pete Farrand and a team of Australian Friends of India gift her with a prosthetic limb. Andrew Bambach and Rani Willis will be in attendance

Nothing Too Serious

An inspiring story of Oney Anwar and his relentless pursuit to become Indonesia’s most respected surfer. An epic journey from a remote jungle village to his debut on the World Championship Tour. In 2007, Rip Curl offers him the opportunity to move to Australia and train, while attending an elite sports school. Once he’s on the Gold Coast, things really start to roll as he balances education with his desire to make history. Karen Donald will be in attendance

Session 22

Thursday 12th 7:30pm – $15

Black Ice

The Flight Fantastic

| USA | 01:37:00 | Dir/Prod: Tom Moore | Documentary Feature | 2014 | Australian Premiere | Best Film Nominee

| UK | 00:41:00 | Dir/Prod: Karen Donald | Surf Film | 2014 | Australian Premiere | Best Surf Film Nominee

Surf tourism creates a positive ripple on a host community in PNG. Beau Eastman & Shaun Levings will be in attendance

A spellbinding experience depicting preparation for a famous Dahi-handi group as they prepare for the annual curd festival.

Oney Anwar – Chasing the Dream

Grass Roots

Marvel at the aerial acrobatics and heart-stopping vintage footage of the Flying Gaonas, one of the greatest family trapeze acts in the history of the circus. Full of the passion and excitement of the Big Top, The Flight Fantastic explores this warm and charismatic family’s journey from the humble trampoline to great fame as the pinnacle act of the circus – the flying trapeze. The four family members were among the greatest athletes and performers of their time, yet their story is relatively unknown. Tom Moore will be in attendance

Session 23

Friday 13th 12:30pm – $10

Linda’s List

Three elderly men have fun spying on

| Netherlands | 00:52:35 | Maarten van Rouveroy | Prod: Elaine Hill, Tom

giving you the strength to curry on! Everything Made In-House from Curry Pastes to Ice Cream Every Dish Cooked Fresh To Order to suit Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten or Spice Preferences Open 7 Days a Week from 5:30 to 9:30pm Dine-In or Take Away

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Dean ‘Dingo’ Morrison, one of the world’s best tube riders, goes searching for monster pits in Hawaii and closer to home. At Jaws, he

| NZ | 00:09:00 | Dir: Angela Bloomfield, Kate McDermott | Prod: Daniel Higgins |

9TH BYRON BAY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2015

Dramatic Short | 2013 | Australian Premiere

The school bully is all grown up, and now she’s sorry.

Where God Likes to Be

Anómalo (Anomalous)

hearing No for an answer and their story unfolds in a brilliant, torrid rollercoaster of passion, scheming and violence. Tony Ayres and Michael McMahon will be attendance

Session 26

Three elderly men have fun spying on a woman through their binoculars. But tonight they will witness an incident that can’t be undone.

Gli Zii (The Uncles)

A portrait of what it means to be Native American today – taking a personal, cinematic and lyrical journey into the heart of the Blackfeet Indian reservation in Montana, USA. Breaking down stereotypes and transforming conventional views of life on the reservation, this film reveals it as the spectacular home of a great and open-hearted group of people who do their best to survive in and identify with a country that has tried to strip them of their identity.

Session 25

Friday 13th 7:30pm – $15

Pocket Money

Past Imperfect

An estranged brother and sister are forced together, providing the foundation for a restoration of love, forgiveness and hope. Robb Shaw-Velzen & Georgina Jenkins will be in attendance

Julie Sokolow’s empathetic portrait of a fearless outsider who has been searching for love longer than many of us have been alive will make you laugh, and cry. For 20 years David Matthews has stuck personal ads on telephone poles, seeking love. David always knew he was different, but it wasn’t until he was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at 41 that he understood why. His entire life changed, including his strategy for winning the love of women and achieving his artistic dreams. A compelling, heart-warming story that humanises autism and shares an inspiring story of life, joy and hope.

Session 27

Saturday 14th, 1pm – $12

Lay Down Your Guns

Two schoolboys are confronted by a gunman. Matt Durrant & Martin Thorne will be in attendance

Night Shift

Every man who falls in love with Zoritsa dies in strange way. Outraged villagers in her highly superstitious Serbian village have already dubbed her the “kiss of death”—but there might be an exception. When a new police officer, who doesn’t believe such “mumbo jumbo”, takes on the case of the missing men, he becomes sceptical of Zoritsa’s supposed evil powers. In his quest to solve the case, he’s led to question whether Zoritsa is a serial killer, or just a cursed woman in search for love. A dark fairytale comedy.

Session 24

Crying Earth Rise Up

Debra White Plume’s drinking water tests high for radiation and Elisha Yellow Thunder’s first daughter fights kidney failure: the scene is set for their epic fight to halt uranium mining on Native American treaty territory.

Successful novelist and misanthrope Lilith (Jean Marsh) and chatty, religious Odamee (Miriam Margolyes) could not be more different, but they are united by the same lethal diagnosis – and the same hospital room.

Lenny and Chris head to a mysterious manor house for “an easy kidnap in the country”.

Cut Snake

A gripping and at times brutal crime thriller with a surprising and satisfying undercurrent of masculine emotion, Cut Snake is a nail-biting tour de force from inordinately talented director Tony Ayres (The Slap, The Home Song Stories). It’s 1974 when hard man Pommie finally gets out of prison and seeks out his former cellmate Sparra for another round of crime. But Sparra (Alex Russell) has gone straight, got a girlfriend, a home and a veggie patch. Pommie can’t believe his eyes and does his lethal best to pull his young mate off the rails. Baby-faced Sparra is torn between love for his ravishing fiancee Paula (Jessica De Gouw) and loyalty to the man who looked after him in jail. The charismatic but sinister Pommie (Sullivan Stapleton) is not used to

North Coast muso Dan Hannaford plays an ornery gunslinger who meets his match. Julie Carrington will be in attendance

Saturday 14th, 3:30pm – $12

Young Australian Filmmakers Highlighting the outstanding talent of young Australian filmmakers aged 13 to 25. Filmmakers in attendance.

| USA | 00:15:19 | Dir: Marcus McCollum | Prod: John Nelson | Dramatic Short | 2014 | Australian Premiere

While tending his garden one morning, Joe’s tranquillity is shattered by two escaped cons looking to steal his car to make their getaway. Marcus McCollum will be in attendance

The Video Dating Tape of Desmondo Ray, Aged 33 & 3/4

Desmondo Ray enjoys peeing in the rain, altering offensive graffiti, and listening to sad music while having happy thoughts.

A dinner party where etiquette is challenged and competition is the main course.

Does the punishment always fit the crime?

Is it the final days of Abe’s reality or the start to his dreams?

Session 29

Saturday 14th, 6:30pm – $65

Gala Closing Party

Zen & The Art of Dying

Un Seul Corps (A Single Body)

A film festival means stars, talent, glamour and parties, and BBFF is no different. Tonight we celebrate the end of another mind-expanding festival and raise our glasses to the men and women who delight us with their work, and to you, the audiences who gather to ensure that the magic of cinema can come to pass.

Off Track

Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (Shame on Him Who Thinks Ill of It)

| USA | 01:17:00 | Dir: Broderick Fox | Prod: Lee Biolos, Debra Beattie, Michele Bornheim | Documentary Feature | 2015 | World Premiere

All the adults in Grace’s life seem to forget she is still a child.

War is told differently through the eyes of a soldier.

A Fighting Season

0266857663

I Remember the Future

Brodie Stanton – A Film Portrait

Freight Train

16 Lawson St, Byron Bay, 2481

Gem realises there’s a lot she doesn’t know about her cruel ‘best friend’ Drew.

Detention

Wingman Jay falls for the girl he is trying to pick up for his introverted friend.

www.aqcafe.com.au

The Summer of ABC Burns

Aspie Seeks Love

$12 Unique Handcrafted cocktails and a selection of tasty tapas 5pm to 7pm Wed to Sat

A filmmaker confronts unspoken family struggles.

Did I Tell You ’Bout Jasper?

Best friends David and Wani are saving to open their own butchery, but the arrival of a new worker will test the bonds of their shared life.

Work Mate

When an introverted office worker is invited by a new colleague with vision impairment to go cycling, he tries desperately to find a way out of it. Genevieve Clay-Smith will be in attendance

| UK | 00:12:43 | Dir: Richard Higson | Prod: Alex Gavigan | Dramatic Short | 2014 | International Premiere

Friday 13th 4:30pm – $12

The Best Driver in the County

Session 28

The Flight of the Buffalo

Two dysfunctional Italian brothers have their lives transformed when their baby niece is abandoned on their doorstep.

Crna Zorica (Loveless Zorista)

office where he meets Sgt. Harris (Lew Temple), a man who has been stationed there long enough for it to feel like home. A tense, powerful study of machismo, heroism and murderous patriotism, and the motives and mentality of men under fire. Oden Roberts will be in attendance

Outlier

| UK | 00:21:26 | Dir: Gerard Monaco | Prod: Andy Price | Dramatic Short | 2013 | Australian Premiere

| USA | 00:56:40 | Dir: Suree Towfighnia | Prod: Courtney Hermann, Suree Towfighnia | Environmental Film | 2015 | Australian Premiere

| USA | 01:12:06 | Dir: Julie Sokolow | Prod: Julie Sokolow | Documentary Feature | 2015 | Australian Premiere

| USA | 01:17:00 | Dir/Prod: Oden Roberts | Dramatic Feature | 2015 | World Premiere | Best Dramatic Feature

Pressures are faced by a pair of US army recruiters whose own careers are on the line. War isn’t confined to the battlefield, as Sgt Mason (Clayne Crawford) finds out. Recovering from the aftermath of a roadside bomb and itching to get back to the front line, he’s reassigned to the recruiting

A flowing trail of time and memory.

Broderick Fox (The Skin I’m in) met Byron Shire’s Zenith Virago at BBFF in 2012, which led to a natural collaboration between them. The result is this compelling documentary that blows apart many of the fears, myths and taboos about the only certainty in life apart from taxes. Zenith’s devotion to her work as a celebrant of marriage and death, and an activist and educator has encouraged a more communal, celebratory and creative engagement with death and dying. A well-known identity on the North Coast and self-described “deathwalker”, for two decades Zenith has quietly challenged our core assumptions about life and helped dissolve our taboos around death. Whether marrying or burying, Zenith’s mission remains clear: to help people reclaim their most personal, profound, and vulnerable life moments from commercial forces, government bureaucracy and cultural taboos. It is a moving and uplifting story of courage and empowerment: the reclaiming and reimagining of the community and family-oriented death-care traditions that have disappeared over the last century. The film invites each of us to reexamine our attitudes and reclaim a more active role in how we live, love and die. Broderick Fox, Lee Biolos & Zenith Virago will be in attendance

MAGIC HAPPENS IN THE DARK • MARCH 6 – 15, 2015 • BBFF.COM.AU Session 30

Out of Nothing

Sunday 15th, 11am – $10

Sunday 15th, 7:30pm – $15

Lapse of Reason

Missy Higgins’s interpretation of The Drones’ Shark Fin Soup.

Showfolk

| USA | 00:23:40 | Dir/Prod: Ned McNeilage | Short Doc | 2013 | Australian Premiere

A wonderful light-hearted film full of inspirational characters. For seven Hollywood golden-era veterans with a combined age of 662, the show goes on. Residing together at the Motion Picture & Television Fund home, these entertainment lifers are “bonded by the show”. These, ladies and gentlemen, are Showfolk. Ned McNeilage will be in attendance

Bereave

Session 33

From the Pacific Northwest to Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, this is the inspiring true story of four tenacious men who risk everything to conquer the records of motorcycle land speed racing. Four friends team up to overcome nearly impossible odds. They must work together to battle mounting obstacles such as financial hardship, family issues, anxiety disorder, in-team conflict, severe weather and hundreds of other racers, all while attempting to set records at breakneck speeds on homemade machines. With each of the men entering a bike into the competition, they quickly discover that leaning on each other for help and resources may be the most powerful tool of all. Inspiring anyone who’s ever had a dream, this is a reminder how perseverance can send the most unlikely people roaring into glory.

J OI N

THE PALACE MOVIE CLUB AND

A non-narrative time-lapse documentary. Evan Malcolm will be in attendance

Onemoretime

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An autobiographical filmmaker's story.

The Characteristics of C-Minor

Session 32

Sunday 15th, 4:30pm – $12

Melt

| NZ | 00:14:24 | Dir/Prod: J.Ollie Lucks, Max Bellamy | Short Doc | 2014 | NSW Premiere | Best Cinematography Nominee

An intelligent and probing romancedrama featuring a pair of veteran stars of the screen. Malcolm McDowell plays Garvey, a man facing mortality but unable to share it with his wife of 40 years, Evelyn (Jane Seymour). When Evelyn disappears Garvey is galvanised into setting out to find her, and the ensuing drama makes him realise just how much reason he has to put all he has into going on living. A fascinating insight into the resilience of the human spirit when love for another is the driving force. Evangelos Giovanis will be in attendance with a Skype Q&A session scheduled with the film’s stars.

Session 31

Sunday 15th, 2pm – $12

Brodie Stanton – A Film Portrait

To Be a Poet

A disillusioned teenager struggles to find balance in her life and grows weary of her unconventional upbringing.

Minka Bleakley will be in attendance

Smithson

Abraham Nouk, a Sudanese refugee, was unable to read, write or speak a word of English. Now he is an award-winning poet.

A most unusual and comedic case of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Thunderlust (and the Middle Beast)

An exquisite experimental drama.

Australian Muay Thai champion Brodie Stanton has passion for the ring, and determination to fight his way to the top. Jayden Morrison will be in attendance

The Moped Diaries

| USA | 00:09:44 | Dir: Nick Vitale & Tyler Nilson | Prod: Mike Schwartz | Dramatic Short | 2013

When a new bridge is built connecting his island to the mainland, a boy has to come to grips with the change and opportunities that come with it.

Cock-rock never died, it was just sleeping until hip-thrusting glam metal band Thunderlust apply the kiss of life – or try to, with hilarious results. These long-haired, strutting egomaniacs with an image problem come to a part of the world that suffers the same, the Middle East, a region whose customs they are absurdly ill-equipped to negotiate. One outlandish affront follows another as they reluctantly take on an inexperienced Jordanian filmmaker to shoot their vulgar videos. His name, Anas, makes the frontman squeal with outrage.

A clash of cultures? Kind of, but not as solemn as that sounds. In fact, you won’t stop smiling. Steve Pratt will be in attendance

The rugged beauty and creative spirit of the people of Sardinia are revealed in this extraordinary documentary, in which music is coaxed from limestone and the sound of the stars from basalt sculptures. Journey into the heart of one of the most mysterious islands in the Mediterranean, and see it through the eyes of those who have made an art of living, and make a living from their art, the people of Cabras on its west coast. Beautiful images, heavenly music and intimate insights will transport you deep into life past and present of this magical place. Valentina Conti & Raffaello Fusaro will be in attendance.

P R O U D S U P P O R T E R O F T H E B B F F 2 015

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9TH BYRON BAY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2015

Palace Cinemas 108 Jonson St, Byron Bay Tickets available online at www. palacecinemas.com.au/festivals/ byronbayinternationalfilmfestival/ or at the cinema box office daily from 11am-8.30pm. Phone bookings by credit card only (ex Amex & Diners) on (02) 6680 8555.

A tough contemporary thriller set against the backdrop of the Connemara coastline, in the west of Ireland, where boats were once lured ashore and plundered. Now, the local lifeboat crew are called out one night to rescue a boat in the stormy seas. They find a crewmember dead, handcuffed to the steering wheel, and a rich stash of contraband. Is it a gift or a curse? Tense and thought-provoking. It’s Ireland’s entry to the Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film.

Session PC3

Open Spaces

One Night Only | USA | 0:15:25 | Dir: Nick Rafter | Prod: Lorraine Schaffer | Dramatic Short | 2013

Saturday 7th, 8:30pm – $25

Special Presentation with Paul Cox and David Wenham

Sunday 15th, 6:15pm – $15

| UK | 00:16:00 | Dir: Che Grant | Prod: Paddy Grant | Dramatic Short | 2014 | Australian Premiere

A first-date disaster or the beginning of true romance?

Almost Married

A shy young Arab American living in NYC has his life transformed after he meets his elderly neighbour, who hasn’t left her apartment since 9/11.

a deeper moral dilemma than they can handle. Luis and Elvira travel to Romania in a desperate quest to find help for their ailing daughter. Their relationship and resolve start to unravel. They will have to make the hardest decision of their lives.

Session PF3

Friday 13th, 8:30pm – $15

Session PC5

Friday 13th, 8:30pm – $15

Session PC1

Tierra de Patagones (Land of Patagones)

A mystery thriller hybrid starring Leeanna Walsman as Dawn, a mum on the run with her daughter; pursued by a sinister and obsessive figure from the past (a creepy Matt Day). Haunting and taut, the story unfolds in layers as we learn more and more about the past Dawn is desperate to keep hidden.

Pighouse Flicks

1 Skinners Shoot Rd, next to the Byron Bay Brewery Tickets are available online at www. pighouseflicks.com.au. Before and during the festival the box office is open every day from Monday to Friday from 6pm and on weekends from 4pm.

Session PF1

Saturday 7th, 8:30pm – $15

Alluring and illuminating story of two brothers, the ‘Gauchos del Mar’, and their pursuit of surfing at one of the southernmost regions of the world. Adjusting from city life with the native people and fighting against the harsh weather to reach Ushuaia, they board a boat and sail through the Beagle Channel and across the dangerous Straight of Le Maire to realise their goal: to surf in the freezing waters off the tip of South America.

Safia – You are the One Session PF2

Sunday 8th 4pm – $15

Scene 16

Cigano

It’s Friday the 13th but you can make your own luck at BBFF 2105

Claire – The Next Ones to Come

The self-drawn borderline between brutality and absurdity.

Intrusion

A stunning one-shot apocalyptic music video.

Dir: Paul Cox | 2015

Festival Patron Paul Cox and international star David Wenham combine for a very special evening, to talk about their working career together and to share some scenes from their latest film collaboration, Force Of Destiny. Premiering at MIFF in August, the film is a tale of survival inspired by Cox’s personal experiences and his recent book, Tales from the Cancer Ward. Get up-close and personal with one of Australia’s most respected screen actors and BBFF stalwart Cox, one of Australia’s most prolific and admired directors – a tireless champion of independent cinema. David Wenham & Paul Cox will be in attendance.

Session PC2

Wednesday 11th, 6:15pm – $15

Don Miguel

| UK | 01:38:00 | Dir: Ben Cookson | Prod: Lionel Hicks | Dramatic Feature | 2013 | Australian Premiere

Gormless Kyle has picked up an STD on his stag night, a guilty secret he has to keep from his bride-to-be. Avoiding all sexual contact only creates mounting suspicion in the poor girl, owing to his increasingly outlandish excuses and escapades. His best mate Jarvis’s brightest ideas only add to Kyle’s discomfort, and the hilarity of this rude and very funny English smut-fest.

Saturday 14th, 8:30pm – $15

Der Ausflug (The Run)

Rhododendron

Eugenio; seeking a loan, brings a unique bargaining tool to persuade bank manager Don Miguel to sign.

An edge-of-the-seat psychological thriller as a teacher finds himself caught up in a battle of wits and survival.

The Gift/An Bronntanas Touch

WINNER OF WORLD ENVIRONMENT AWARD 2014 GREEN BUSINESS DIVISION

An ambitious soap actress is unable to find the authenticity in a break-up scene she is rehearsing.

The Cradle of Storms

Carpe Jugular

| USA | 00:04:00 | Dir: Philip Buiser | Prod: Philip Buiser & Eric Brassard | Dramatic Short | 2013 | Australian Premiere

Sweetheart

Three brothers have to figure out what to do with their newly undead brother before their parents wake up. Philip Buiser will be in attendance

Stuffed

Noisy neighbours? A true-to-life and life-affirming tale of urban angst. | USA | 00:26:26 | Dir/Prod: Bryce Lowe-White | Surf Film | 2014 | Australian Premiere

High-performance surfing in some of the North Pacific’s most volatile waters, off the Aleutian Islands, the necklace of volcanic and other smaller islands between Alaska and Russia.

An intense, boldly cinematic vision focusing on a cult-like group and a vulnerable young man falling under its hypnotic spell. Ryan shares the same problems as millions in the West – fresh out of college he’s in a dead-end job and searching for some meaning in his life. Offered a new start via a self-help group known as The Center he becomes enmeshed in a world that seems to offer hope but soon reveals a dark secretive side. Executive produced by Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs).

Dream sequences, nightmares or hallucinations?

Four Brothers. Or Three. Wait … Three

A nightclub dancefloor where getting your groove on is a risky business.

| USA | 01:11:52 | Dir/Prod: Charlie Griak | Dramatic Feature | 2015 | Aust Premiere

It could have been a nice Saturday … were it not for a mad cow, a hysterical mother and two ambulance men.

The Center

Déjà-Moo

Sebastian, a wealthy young man, has a flat tyre and accepts help from a Gypsy passer-by in return for a ride home.

Ben Cookson will be in attendance

Session PC4

Curacautin Bajo el Agua (Curacautin Under Water)

A mysterious asteroid crashes into the Pacific, causing the adults on Earth to lose all human values. Young Sweetheart fights to stay alive in this brutal new world, where nowhere is safe.

Schimbare (The Change)

Macabre comic story of Peter, a postman in a small country town. Shy and sensitive, he spends his spare time reading poetry to his mum or working on his hobby of taxidermy. Warwick Young will be in attendance

III

Citizens of southern Chile unite to protect their sacred and pristine land from being flooded by a dam’s construction.

A tense and gripping thriller where a Spanish couple on a mission in eastern Europe find themselves in

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MAGIC HAPPENS IN THE DARK • MARCH 6 – 15, 2015 • BBFF.COM.AU The outbreak of a mysterious deadly epidemic devastates a rural European village. Sisters Ayia and Mirra promise their dying mother to look after each other to the end of their lives. When Mirra falls victim to the disease, the desperate Ayia realises that conventional medicine will not save her. At the local priest’s house Ayia unearths a collection of Shamanic books containing mystical drawings that she deciphers as a ritual for spiritual healing she believes will save her sister. The visually rich and unique film is already gaining a reputation with horror enthusiasts as ‘Not only one of the most original horror films of the last decade, but one that should be on the top of any horror enthusiast's to-watch list’.

Session PF4

Saturday 14th, 6pm – $15

Làssami (Leave Me)

Agua Blanca (White Water)

Jäger des Augenblicks Hope Credit Union, a Saturday 14th 8.30pm – $15 – Ein Abenteuer bank with a twist. Suburban King/Top-Girl am Mount Roraima (Roraima – Climbers of the Lost World) Session PF5

| USA | 00:05:27 | Dir/Prod: Micro

A poignant story of family ties, freedom of choice and deep understanding between the generations. An old man and his grandson embark on a one-way expedition to the snow-covered

A spellbinding experience as three characters from the Mumbai slums prepare to be part of the tallest human pyramid for the upcoming festival of Dahi Handi.

Steffi Gefallt Das (Steffi Like This)

Iztaccihuatl volcano.

Where is this groom taking his bride?

Gianluca Sodaro will be in attendance

El Mal Amor (Evil Love)

A beautiful girl from the city

Documentaries | Short Doc | 2014 |

Paul is a social media junkie who can’t live without his smart phone. Would he be better off leaving it at home?

Will Jackways Interpretation

interrupts the lonely life of a camel

Three expedition climbers take on a previously unexplored mountain region between Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana, to climb the spectacular and formidable mesa Mount Roraima. They are determined to seek out new and difficult routes without technical or motorised help. Overhanging walls, impenetrable fog and rushing waterfalls make the ascent almost impossible. But before they can even attempt to tame the monster, they must fight through the mystic ‘Lost World’ jungle, enduring 40-degree heat and torrential rain.

Session PF6

Sunday 15th, 4pm – $15

The Ramona Flowers Tokyo

What happens when you up-end

all the negative stereotypes about banks and put them squarely in service of the community?

Plug & Play

Anthropoid creatures with plugs in place of heads are up to mischief. Entirely finger-drawn using the

integrated touchpad of a laptop.

One Night in Florida

herder in some remote spot on the vast Azerbaijan steppes. She joins him, preferring his simple decency

| Netherlands | 00:01:00 | Dir: Tess

How far would you go to get the love of your life?

and wonderful as the story, but in its otherworldly isolation is born the humblest and most intimate of love stories. Richly rewarding viewing.

| NZ | 00:10:00 | Dir/Prod: Tim Pierce | Short Doc | 2014 | Aust Premiere

Will Jackways is a humble, honest human being who has a positive impact on everyone who meets him. An insight into Will’s interpretation of how to live.

A mysterious masked stranger and a boy form the centrepiece of a gathering of elderly society women.

A journey through Obama’s speech, in which he addressed the outrage caused by the trial of George

Zimmerman, who shot a black 17-year-old student in Florida.

Berlin Troika

A hyper-real political crisis makes for satirical laughs for us but nerveracking work for the young diplomat struggling to interpret between two aggressive superpower leaders who hold the fate of humanity in their hands.

Ultima Chiamata (Last Call)

Supported by extraordinary archive materials, Last Call is a witty and accessible examination of the political history that has led us to the global crisis we now face. In 1972 the controversial bestselling environmental book, The Limits to Growth provided a scientific forecast of global environmental and financial collapse. The report sparked major global debate at many levels: among policy makers, environmental movements, big companies… Its message was clear: Planet Earth has limits, and we break those limits at our peril. Forty years later this message of global decay has become a frightening reality, though still denied in many political arenas. Is there still time for a last call? Do we still have time to change the ending?

A fly-on-the-wall insight into one of Australia’s most loved athletes, Sally Fitzgibbons, as she pursues that all-encompassing goal, a surfing world title. Ethan McLean & Matthew Taylor will be in attendance

What the Sea Gives Me Ballina Fair Cinemas Ballina Fair Shopping Centre, corner of Fox and Kerr streets, Ballina Before the festival, box office open from 9.30am-9pm. To reserve a ticket phone (02) 6686 9600 or check the website www.ballinainfo/cinema.

Session B1

Friday 13th, 6:45pm $15 / $13/ $12

Brodie Stanton – A Film Portrait

| USA | 1:14:00 | Dir/Prod: Pierce Kavanagh | Documentary Feature | 2014 | Ballina Premiere | Best Surf Film Nominee

A visual epic song of praise to the world’s oceans, and the people whose lives are spent playing in them, living from them and studying their inhabitants. The destinies of these sea-struck devotees are irreversibly defined by their connection to the ocean, whether researching Great White sharks, diving to depths never before reached, capturing waves on the frigid fringes of the planet or surfing mountains of water, this stunning film will open the eyes and awaken the senses.

Bereave

| USA | 1:40:00 | Dir/Prod: Evangelos Giovanis, George Giovanis | Dramatic Feature | 2014 | Aust Premiere | Special Mention

Session B3

Sunday 15th, 2pm $15 / $13/ $12

Early Checkout

Local schoolkid and world Muay Thai champion Brodie Stanton reveals his passion for the ring. Jayden Morrison will be in attendance

Saturday 14th, 2pm $15 / $13/ $12

Makeover

Horrie, a lonely widower, decides it’s time to start dating again.

Kanowna

Western Australian Goldfields, 1902: Trooper Brown (Dustin Clare) does the unforgivable. What must he do to save his reputation? Dustin Clare will be in attendance

Sunday

Eve and Charlie are about to have a baby. After years of history and months of separation, they have 24 hours to find out whether they have a future together. Set in Christchurch, NZ, a year after the earthquakes that devastated the city, Sunday is a story like the city, one of past devastation and a chance at rebuilding. Cowritten by and co-starring Dustin Clare and his partner Camille Keenan. Camille Keenan & Dustin Clare will be in attendance

Kumu Hina: A Place in the Middle

The beautiful aria Habanera from Georges Bizet’s Carmen gets a comical makeover.

Clan

Aboriginal man James Saunders struggled for years with coming out but he did and has since become a role model for young, gay Aborigines.

Some Rainbows Never Grey

Session L2

Saturday 14th, 5pm

I Bow to You

Three older gay men frankly discuss why they chose to marry women in the 1960s, the heartbreak that followed and their eventual self-discovery.

Walks Like a …

Jim Lounsbury & Dustin Clare will be in attendance

Imagine a world where a little boy can grow up to be the woman of his dreams, and a young girl can rise to become a leader among men. Welcome to Kumu Hina’s Hawai’i. Hina Wong-Kalu, a proud and confident native Hawaiian māhū, or transgender, teacher uses traditional culture to inspire a student to claim her place as leader of the school’s all-male hula troupe. Despite her success as a teacher and community leader, Hina longs for love and a committed relationship. Will her marriage to a headstrong Tongan man fulfil her dreams? A powerful struggle to maintain Pacific Islander culture and values within modern day Hawaiʻi.

$15 / $13 concession Day Pass $25 / $22 concession

Two men. One body. No idea. A black comedy about two mates with a problem on their hands and few clues how to solve it. Also starring Jacki Weaver in a superb cameo role.

Your Home-Grown Celebrities

Metube: August Sings Carmen Habanera

Hunted down by a jackal, a woman (Mel Dobra) is forced to face her fears.

The Winsome Choirs

Star Court Theatre

Star Court Arcade, 126 Molesworth St, Lismore Tickets for the Star Court Theatre should be bought at the door, except for our ACON Fundraiser, which can be booked online on the What’s On page for movies at www.starcourttheatre.com.au.

Session L1

Thursday 12th, 7:30pm $15 / $13 Concessions BBFF is proud to co-present an evening with ACON – the largest community-based gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) health and wellbeing organisation in Australia. A percentage of proceeds from the evening will be donated to ACON Northern Rivers' office.

A prank, a kid, two grandmothers and a question of gender.

Choir director Peter Lehner takes two choirs through their paces. A story about much more than singing. Catherine Marciniak

Teagan

The Ab-Sorption Method

Three animators tell a story of transition – from male to female, and from despondency to happiness.

Violet is about to get a life-changing visit from her past. Penny Evans will be in attendance

feeding the soul an industry body run by the people who are putting their heart and soul into marketing and developing food businesses from Grafton to Tweed. A group of growers, food artisans, manufacturers, restaurateurs, retailers and distributors who are working as a group to facilitate the development, growth and sustainability of the food businesses in the northern rivers.

FIND OUT MORE, MEET OUR MEMBERS OR GET INVOLVED

www.northernriversfood.org.au

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MAGIC HAPPENS IN THE DARK • MARCH 6 – 15, 2015 • BBFF.COM.AU Dingo Love

Berlin Troika

Session M2

Saturday 14th, 4pm

Farmer John Cooper once shot dingoes on sight. Then he discovered there was a lot to like about them. Debrah Novak Will be in attendance

Not Without My Dogs

A young diplomat faces a political crisis when he is recruited to interpret between the two conflicting superpower leaders. He must balance their egos and manoeuvre the world’s destiny to resolution or annihilation.

Saturday 14th, 7:30pm $15 & $13 Concession We’re putting our favourite fun and entertaining shorts on for Lismore, every one having its first Australian Screenings at BBFF – these films from around the world will charm and engage you.

A Mile in These Hooves

Foster brothers Tom and Mark travel across America to beat the world record for distance in a two-person costume. An engaging comedy about love, friendship and a burlap donkey.

$12 & $10 concession

One Night in Florida

Lay Down Your Guns

Regent Cinema 5 Brisbane St, Murwillumbah The Regent’s box office is open from 11.30am-9.30pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Check website www.cinemaregent.com or phone (02) 6672 8265. Tickets also available on the day. There is no disabled access or disabled toilet facilities – this venue has stairs.

A rollicking ride through President Obama’s speech, where he addressed the outrage caused by the trial of George Zimmerman.

Bread or Blood

Northern Rivers muso Dan Hannaford acts out the theme of his sprightly C&W song.

Family-Friendly Session $12 & $10 concession

Horrie

Juliet Carrington will be in attendance

A Little Farther

Three elderly men spy on a woman through their binoculars from the covered swimming pool in a sports centre. The glass walls of the pool are both their shield and their vantage point. But one night they witness an incident that can’t be undone.

Outlier

Beginning At 30

| Australia | 0:09:30 | Dir: Lucas Li |

Beginning at 30 explores the lives of four women from Iran, Africa, Vietnam and Australia.

A different kind of road movie, along the rails and rivers that are the arteries of the route across the US, taken by Kelly’s Army, who sought justice for workers in 1894.

Berlin Troika

Newborns

Successful novelist and misanthrope Lilith (Jean Marsh) and chatty, religious Odamee (Miriam Margolyes) are united by the same lethal diagnosis – and the same hospital room. What starts as a power struggle about the TV remote control ends up a deeply touching story about finding new hope.

Newborns is a poetic, though shocking portrait of young women who have survived acid attacks in India and their courageous and imaginative efforts to reclaim their lives.

A young diplomat recruited to step in and interpret between the two conflicting superpower leaders, who seem to hold the fate of humanity in their hands.

Ultima Chiamata Love Marriage in Kabul (Last Call)

Mousse

A blind girl with her friend take a trip to a miraculous fountain in a faraway village to find a cure. On the way they meet a young man on a different journey…

From stray pup to war hero to quarantine hazard, Horrie is the amazing true story of Australia’s most beloved war dog and his lifelong companion, Private Jim Moody.

Dingo Love

Cholchu

| Yamba | 0:03:45 | Dir/Prod:

From the remote steppes of Azerbaijan comes this heartwarming story of a camel herder whose simple peasant existence comes to an end when his father dies and he meets a young woman from the city. His huge leap into modern life makes for a rich and engaging story of cultural upheaval, sensitively told.

Debrah Novak | Byron Bay Filmmaker | 2014 | Murwillumbah Premiere

Dog lovers will enjoy Dingo Love, the endearing story of farmer John Cooper, who after a life of shooting dingoes decides to befriend them.

Not Without My Dogs

Session M4

Sunday 15th, 2pm

Two Italian brothers have their lives transformed when their baby niece is left on their doorstep.

$12 / $10 concession

Gli Zii (The Uncles)

| UK | 0:21:26 | Dir: Gerard Monaco | Prod: Andy Price | Dramatic Short | 2013 | Australian Premiere

Village woman Xi Er’s husband is seriously ill and needs expensive treatment so she marries another man to get the money. Then she embarks on developing a bicycle powered respirator to help her first husband breathe – a project that is widely mocked but which shows that when it comes to love, the heart knows no boundaries.

Session M5

Session M1

Session L3

Saturday 14th, 6pm

$12 & $10 concession

Anómalo (Anomalous)

With two children and 37 dogs, the Olesens enjoy a unique lifestyle in the Canadian wilderness. Dog care, water hauling at 40 degrees minus and home-schooling are their preferred routine. 14-year-old Annika starts training for her first race, the Junior Iditarod in Alaska. The 4000km trip is fraught with obstacles. Can optimism, love and loyalty prevail on this dangerous epic voyage? A moving, beautifully-shot story of passion and unconditional love.

Session M3

What could be easier than robbing a shop on the outskirts of town? Mousse has pride and principles but is fed up with his second-class life. What happens when he faces another’s principles? A comedy of errors.

pure

A story of star-crossed lovers in Kabul. One, a former resident of Mahboba Rawi’s orphanage Hope House, is Abdul, whose love for Fatemeh is thwarted by her father. Sydney resident Rawi returns to Afghanistan every year for her charity Mahboba’s Promise, and this time takes up Abdul’s case. Amin Palangi & Pat Fiske will be in attendance

A witty and accessible study of the history of the controversial bestselling environmental book The Limits to Growth, published in the 1970s – and a call to action now that its message of global decay through unrestrained growth has become a frightening reality, though still denied in many political arenas.

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$12 & $10 concession

Boundaries of the Heart

| Germany | 1:34:00 | Dir/Prod:

Ralf Breier, Claudia Kuhland | Documentary Feature | 2014 | Australian Premiere

Beautifully shot and uplifting story about the Olesen family in the wilds of northern Canada, who set out one winter with two children and 37 dogs on a 2500 mile expedition to allow daughter Annika to compete in the Junior Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska. Will optimism, love and loyalty prevail against the physical challenges and formidable natural obstacles?

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Now up to 58 flights per week. Ballina Byron Gateway Airport offers up to 7 flights a day, with up to 58 flights per week travelling to Sydney, Newcastle and Melbourne. There are daily services to Sydney and Newcastle and 5 or more direct flights to Melbourne every week. So whether your trip is for fun or for business, make Ballina Byron Gateway Airport your first choice and support your local airport. * the above times are subject to change and should be confirmed with the airline partner.

www.ballinabyronairport.com.au

Gateway Airport