Latest Articles: Festival

THE SECRET RIVER Opens Adelaide Festival to Rave Reviews

Directed by Neil Armfield, written by Andrew Bovell and designed by Stephen Curtis, THE SECRET RIVER opened the Adelaide Festival to rave reviews last week: “Neil Armfield’s brilliantly inventive direction adds the theatrical fairy-dust that makes the play soar…Andrew Bovell’s script for this Sydney Theatre Company production produces some incredibly complex characters who speak some remarkably powerful lines.” – In Daily “The adaptation, the direction, the design elements, the acting: these weave an experience not only more than the sum ...
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LOVE AT FIFTH SITE heads to Adelaide Fringe

Written by Tristram Baumber, LOVE AT FIFTH SITE is heading to Adelaide Fringe, have a sneak peak at this set of interactive films presented by Google’s Creative Lab and Grumpy Sailor
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LADIES IN BLACK at Sydney Festival

The Sydney Morning Herald gives LADIES IN BLACK an outstanding review for its Sydney Festival season. Featuring the work of an all-star HLA team, LADIES IN BLACK is written by Carolyn Burns, directed by Simon Phillips and designed by Gabriela Tylesova. “Burns’ scenes retain the artless economy of St John’s prose and her faultless ear for the language of the times. Director Simon Phillips and designer Gabriela Tylesova’s production is likewise faithful to the tone of the source, a simple, ...
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SUNDANCE 2017

Congratulations to all of our clients who have films headed to Sundance Film Festival next year! BERLIN SYNDROME – directed by Cate Shortland RED DOG: True Blue – directed by Kriv Stenders SLAPPER – written/directed/produced by Luci Schroder See the full list of Australian films going to Sundance in 2017 here
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HOLDING THE MAN wins Best Feature Film at the Image+nation – Montreal International LGBT Film Festival.

Congratulations to director Neil Armfield, whose film HOLDING THE MAN has won the jury award for Best Feature Film at the Image+nation – Montreal International LGBT Film Festival. Of the film the jury said: “The winner of this category is a masterful melodrama and time capsule of a devastating time in the LGBT history, that touches on a familiar theme with a lot of humour and honesty, and a frank courage rarely achieved in narrative film. The performances by the ...
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BERLIN SYNDROME & YELLOW BIRDS headed to Sundance

Directed by Cate Shortland and shot by Germain McMicking BERLIN SYNDROME will have its world premier at Sundance! Joining it at the festival will be YELLOW BIRDS, designed by Annie Beauchamp. Read more about BERLIN SYNDROME here  
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Neil Armfield & Rachel Healy’s 2017 Adelaide Festival Program

First-time Adelaide Festival artistic directors, Neil Armfield & Rachel Healy have unveiled an ambitious 2017 program. Highlights include Canadian-American singer Rufus Wainwright, Australian theatre production The Secret River (directed by Neil Armfield), Barrie Kosky’s production of Handel’s opera Saul and a film by artist Del Kathryn Barton starring Cate Blanchett.
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Wesley Enoch’s 2017 Sydney Festival Program

“Being excited by something happening in your home town is a source of huge pride… that pride helps you feel part of something bigger than yourself, helps you understand the world better and gives you an anchor when you need to feel steady.” – Wesley Enoch, Sydney Festival Director. Check out the 2017 Sydney Festival program!
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Melbourne International Film Festival 2016

Melbourne International Film Festival celebrates its 65th event, 28th July – 14th August 2016. Bringing you the best in international and local features, documentaries, short films and world premieres. This year’s program includes Alice Englert’s short film THE BOYFRIEND GAME, aswell as GIRL ASLEEP, shot by Andrew Commis. Head to the website to book your tickets – miff.com.au
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Shot by Andy Commis GIRL ASLEEP has taken out the Official Competition Grand Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)

Rosemary Myers’ feature debut, Girl Asleep, has taken out the Official Competition Grand Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). “Truly original, theatrical, and impeccably choreographed, this coming of age story woke us up. Stylish, quirky but substantive and with every frame filled with evocative and hilarious detail,” said SIFF festival director and chief curator Carl Spence. Girl Asleep held off strong competition including Australia’s other entrant, Holding The Man, and was also the recipient of the SIFF Youth Jury Award ...
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Billie Pleffer joins the DIRECTING THE SHORT FILM panel at St Kilda Film Festival

Billie Pleffer joins the DIRECTING THE SHORT FILM panel as part of the St Kilda Film Festival on Monday 23 May @ 6pm. Come along to hear prominent and successful Australian short film directors Corrie Chen (Reg Makes Contact, Wonder Boy), Bec Peniston-Bird (Goodnight Sweetheart, Summer Suit) and Billie Pleffer (Baby Baby, Bino) discuss the secrets of successful short filmmaking. Learn the essential tips, insights and inspirations on directing a short. Find more information about the session here.
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Natasha Pincus’ OH CANADA to open St Kilda Film Festival

Directed by Natasha Pincus, Missy Higgin’s music video for OH CANADA has been announced as a finalist in the SoundKILDA music video competition. The video will also be screened as part of the St Kilda Film Festival’s opening night celebrations. See the full list of SoundKILDA finalists here.
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THE KETTERING INCIDENT international premier at Series Mania festival in Paris

Directed by Tony Krawitz and written by Cate Shortland, THE KETTERING INCIDENT, will have its international premiere at the prestigious Series Mania festival in Paris. It will be joined by CLEVERMAN, directed by Wayne Blair, and READY FOR THIS, directed by Tony Krawitz and written by Kristen Dunphy. Series Mania will have its seventh edition from April 14 to April 25 at Le Forum des Images and Le Grand Rex in Paris. It has become the biggest European TV Fiction ...
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CLEVERMAN WORLD PREMIER AT BERLINALE

Directed by Wayne Blair and with costume design by Emily Seresin, CLEVERMAN, will be joining Alice Englert’s THE BOYFRIEND GAME at this year’s Berlinale. Read the full Screen Australia Media Release here.
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GIRL ASLEEP REVEALED AS ONE OF THE FIRST 13 TITLES IN THE GENERATION SECTION OF THE BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL.

DOP Andy Commis’ film GIRL ASLEEP has been revealed as one of the first 13 titles in the Generation section of The Berlin Film Festival. The lineup is divided into Generation Kplus, for films targeted at younger kids, and Generation 14plus, for movies made for teenagers.
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EDITOR SIMON PRICE’S FILM FREE IN DEED HAS WON BEST FILM AT THE 2015 VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

Editor Simon Price’s film FREE IN DEED has won the Orizzonti Award for Best Film at the 2015 Venice Film Festival. Read about it here.
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CINEMATOGRAPHER BONNIE ELLIOTT’S FILM SPEAR REVIEW FROM 2015 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Read the full review here.
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MACBETH ANNOUNCED AS SURPRISE SCREENING AT MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Director Justin Kurzel, composer Jed Kurzel’s and production designer Fiona Crombie’s MACBETH has been announced as a surprise screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Find all the details here.
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THE DAUGHTER AND THE DRESSMAKER HAVE BOTH BEEN SELECTED FOR THE 2015 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Director Jocelyn Moorhouse and production designer Roger Ford’s THE DRESSMAKER, and cinematographer Andy Commis’ THE DAUGHTER have both been selected for screenings at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. Read about the full line-up here.
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ANDY COMMIS’ THE DAUGHTER TO SCREEN AT 2015 VENICE FILM FESTIVAL.

THE DAUGHTER, shot by cinematographer Andy Commis, will be screening out of competition at the 2015 Venice Film Festival. Read about the festival line up here.
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NEIL ARMFIELD’S ADAPTATION OF HOLDING THE MAN WORLD PREMIERE

Neil Armfield’s highly anticipated film with cinematography by Germain McMicking and original compositions by Alan John was successfully received at the closing of the Sydney Film Festival. Read the full review here.
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THE DAUGHTER RECEIVES 4 STARS AT THE SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL

HLA’s Andy Commis’ slow-burning Australian drama opens competition with 4 stars. Read more here.
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THE FILM BACKTRACK, SHOT BY STEFAN DUSCIO, PREMIERES AT THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND

Read all about the film, tickets and showings here
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THE OFFICIAL SELECTION ROSTER FOR THE 68TH CANNES FILM FESTIVAL HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED, INCLUDING JUSTIN KURZEL’S MACBETH

The Official Selection roster for the 68th Cannes Film Festival has been announced, including MACBETH directed by Justin Kurzel, composed by Jed Kurzel and production design by Fiona Crombie. Read all about the Official Selection here
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