By Philippa Hawker
On October 16, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of the Australian journalists known as the Balibo Five, there will be special screenings of the feature film Balibo in various locations in Australia and overseas. Robert Connolly's award-winning 2009 feature stars Anthony LaPaglia, Oscar Isaac,Damon Gameau, Gyton Grantleyand Nathan Phillips.
At the Astor Theatre, in Melbourne, filmmakers, cast member and members of the journalists' families will be in attendance, In Sydney, the film will be showing at the Golden Age Cinema, and in Darwin at the Deckchair Cinema. Bookings are now open, and funds from the screenings will support the establishment of a dental clinic in Balibo, East Timor.
International scale: Oscar Isaac and Anthony LaPaglia in Balibo.
In East Timor on the same day, there will be a free outdoor screening organised by Cinema Loro sa'e, the Yarraville Sun Theatre's outdoor cinema project. Cinema Loro sa'e employs local staff to shows free shorts and movies across East Timor
A big hand for Hanna
Daddy Cool.Credit: Simon Schluter
Legendary rock guitarist Ross Hannaford, from Daddy Cool who has been suffering ill-health in recent years, is the subject of Hanna, an hour-long encounter with the man and his music made by his filmmaker friend Haydn Keenan (Persons Of Interest, Going Down). Musicians and supporters got together earlier this year for a couple of benefit concerts to raise funds for Hannaford to help with his medical costs. Keenan's film is now available on DVD, with proceeds to go to Hannaford. It can be ordered at smartstreetfilms.com.au.
She speaks first
Melbourne's Speakeasy Cinema at Grey Gardens in Fitzroy presents the first in a new monthly series entitled She Speaks First, a season of screenings and conversations that focus on films directed by women. The first movie will be Ana Lily Amirpour's delirious Iranian–US vampire Western, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, a cool and beautiful black-and-white walk on the wild side. On Tuesday, September 29, the screening will be followed by a discussion led by writer Clementine Ford and a special guest; Wednesday, September 30, is a film-only event.
Eyes on the prize
Sheila Vand as The Girl in A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night.
Films by Australian student filmmakers have been screening and winning awards at recent international festivals. Australian Film Television and Radio School student Joel Loxton has won the jury award (international student award category) at the Montreal World Film Festival for his short film The Kangaroo Guy, about a politician who goes to extreme lengths to cover up a lie. Deszcz (Rain), directed by AFTRS student Malina Maria Mackiewicz, which was chosen to screen at Toronto, has also been selected for the forthcoming Chicago International Film Festival. Deszcz, a five-minute short about a woman visiting her lover in prison, will compete for the Gold Hugo, which is chosen from 50 short films from around the world.