We present a list of 6 Films and 6 Short Films you cannot miss at the Byron Bay International Film Festival that is taking place from October 14th – 23th in Byron Bay, Australia.
Short Films
A tree in the sea by Shahir Zag – 18:30 min.
The last traditional fisherman of Fujairah fishes illegally in a marine reserve to keep a promise he made 65 years earlier.
Boat People by Paul Meschuh – 28 min.
On his journey from Somalia to Europe, shipwrecked Moussa is picked up by a wealthy couple on their luxurious catamaran. The athletic young man is the only survivor of a disaster in the Mediterranean Sea and asks Hannes and Gerlinde to smuggle him across the border. Questioning Moussa’s true intentions, the yacht owners are torn between mistrust, fear and the urge for helping a fellow human being. A political drama of two separated worlds colliding within one global community.
Come Alive by Darcy Prendergast and Xin Li- 6 min.
A witch flees from the peril that surrounds her. A tale about a bleak witch hunt, in colonial Tasmania. A paint on glass animated music video
Moom by Robert Kondo and Daisuke Tsutsumi – 13:50 min.
Have you ever wondered what happens to your forgotten objects? In this story, those objects with its ‘memory’ still attached end up rising from the waters of the magical lake. Scared and lost, memories need help to let go of their objects. Sometimes, it can be as simple as opening a car door or loosening a lid. Other times, memories can have a hard time letting go. Those memories might need more help. This is the story of one of those memories stuck in this world. His name is Moom.
The Albatross by Joel Best – 6:35 min.
In the centre of a freezing, misty lake, a struggling writer’s solitary fishing trip is disrupted by a strange creature from the bottom of a whiskey bottle.
Vacant by Elle Marsh – 4 min.
A car park so great it should have its own postcode. This film explores the beauty and emptiness of Australia’s largest car park. In broader terms it explores what urban sprawl and transport means for sustainable living and its implications on a city’s cultural identity. Soundscape and images recorded on location at Melbourne’s International Airport car park. Screening with The Landscape Within.
Feature Films
From Nowhere by Matthew Newton – US | 2016 – 89 min.
Nearing their high school graduation, three undocumented Bronx teenagers navigate the difficulties of adolescence while living with the threat of being discovered by the authorities and their friends. Like most teenagers, all they want to do is hang with their friends, fall in love, and figure out where to go to college, but unlike their American classmates, these three live with the threat of being discovered by the authorities. When one of their teachers connects them with a lawyer to help them get their papers, the teens start to dig into their family histories to assist their immigration cases. As they continue to deal with the everyday problems of adolescence, the teenagers are forced to confront their past and, at the same time, fight for their future. An Audience Award Winner at SXSW.
High-Rise by Ben Wheatley – UK | 2015 – 119 min.
High Rise Focuses on the inhabitants of a new tower block in the London commuter-belt as residents more primal urges start to emerge and civilization’s veneer begins to fade. As an increasingly primitive world erupts into the corridors and luxurious apartments everything starts to change. The ensemble cast, which includes Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons and Sienna Miller – deliver perfect performances, building on the unsettling material.
Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World by Werner Herzog
US | 2016 – 98 min.
Herzog tackles this ambitious topic in 10 chapters; beginning with the birth of the phenomena in a drab University of California room, continuing through themes such as hacking, addiction, online harassment, and artificial intelligence. His interviews with pioneers, experts, geeks and other visionaries are frequently downright playful, despite the often chilling content. He explores everything from computer games and self-driving cars to cellular-free zones and artificial intelligence with his trademark scepticism and curiosity. And finally, Herzog confronts the future with probing questions about the role that the Internet itself will play in shaping society’s morals and dreams.
Midori in Hawaii by John Hill – US, Japan | 2015 – 85 min.
Midori is a struggling wedding photographer in Kona, Hawaii. Her small world is thrown off balance when her judgmental sister and brother in-law come to visit from Japan. As they travel the island together the reason for her sister’s visit gradually becomes clear and old grudges and mistrust begin to surface. Midori in Hawaii is a gentle comedy, starring Byron Actress Saya Minami, that explores the nature of memory and the lifelong relationship between two very different siblings.
The Eagle Huntress by Otto Bell – US, Mongolia, UK | 2016 – 87 min.
The Eagle Huntress follows Aisholopan, a 13-year-old girl, as she trains to become the first female in twelve generations of her Kazakh family to become an eagle hunter, and rises to the pinnacle of a tradition that has been handed down from father to son for centuries.
Zach’s Ceremony by Aaron Petersen – Australia | 2016 – 96 min.
Ten-year-old Zach enjoys fishing and boxing with his dad Alec, and is looking forward to his initiation ceremony. It’s a vital part of his Indigenous heritage, marking the transition from boyhood to manhood. Growing up isn’t easy, and for Zach there are the added pressures of racism and city living – a long way from his father’s community in Far North Queensland. An Aboriginal activist, leader and actor, Alec is a devoted dad, but his strict parenting inevitably causes friction. Shot over six years, this is a remarkable portrait of a young man struggling with identity and his father’s expectations, as he heads towards adulthood.
To know more about this festival visit the FESTIVAL PROFILE or go to the official webpage HERE.
Categories: Film Festival
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