BBFF2013 will run from March 1st to the 10th.  Entries are now open at our specially reduced earlybird rates.

The range of films we screen is diverse and dynamic – Our team is passionate about supporting independent filmmakers in all stages of their careers and we believe in creating positive opportunities wherever possible – showcasing the amazing works of talented creatives to an open, intelligent audience as well as some well connected, highly respected Judges. The festival features an award for the Best Young Australian Filmmaker which is open to Australian Director’s and Producers under 25 and offers young Australian filmmakers reduced entry fees for their films.

All films entered will automatically be considered for nomination in any award categories that the film might qualify for during the selection process. BBFF awards include but are not limited to Best Film, Documentary, Short Film, Drama, Cinematography, Surf Film, Animation, Experimental Film, Environmental Film, Music Video, Best Young Australian Filmmaker (open to Australian Director’s and Producer’s under 25.) & an award for the Best Local Film. The Byron Bay International Film Festival is open to films of all lengths and all genres. Films in competition must have been completed after Jan 1st 2010.

All accepted Filmmakers are encouraged to attend the festival to meet the festival team, other filmmakers and their audience. Byron Bay audiences are exceptionally warm and expressive and each year the number of attending filmmakers grows.

My Suicide’s Director David Lee Miller said of the festival “We have traveled with our film, My Suicide, from Berlinale to San Francisco, and the Byron Bay Film Festival is absolutely world class – Film maker friendly, professionally run, and featuring top notch, bleeding edge independent films. Add the inspirational setting and the people, and the gestalt is pure magic”

Filmmaker Andy Mullins whose acclaimed short film Minnie Loves Junior had its Australian Premiere in Byron said “We have travelled all over the world with Minnie Loves Junior, and the program at Byron Bay was one of the best I have seen, let alone had the privilege of being a part of”.

Best Film – Inuk (France/Greenland)

Best Dramatic Feature – Face to Face (Australia)

Best Short Film – Tethered (Australia)

Best Byron Film – On Borrowed Time (Australia)

Best Young Australian Filmmaker – Chris Haysom – Better on the Inside

Best Animation – The Missing Key (Australia)

Best Surf Film – Come Hell or High Water (USA)

Best Environmental Film – Minds in the Water (USA)

The Byron International Documentary Prize ($5000) – PressPausePlay (Sweden)

Best Cinematography – PressPausePlay (Sweden)

Best Music Video – Have you Seen My Sister Evelyn (USA)

Best Experimental Film – Year Zero (Czech Republic/Netherlands)

Contribution to the Northern Rivers’ Film Community – Lois Randall

From reknown Chinese Director Chen Kaige (My Beautiful Concubine, Yellow Earth) comes Sacrifice BBFF’s penultimate film on Sunday 11th at 4pm.

For generations the Zhao family has wielded power, until their mortal enemy TU’AN GU (Wang Xue Qi) slaughters the entire clan, determined to wipe out their influence forever. But one Zhao baby survives hidden by CHENG YING (Ge You) the doctor who delivered him. When Tu’n Gu learns of the baby’s escape he seizes every infant in the city, vowing to kill them all unless the Zhao baby is surrendered. As the tyrant’s soldiers arrive at Cheng Ying’s home the frantic doctor hides his WIFE (Hai Qing) with their own baby whilst surrendering the Zhao child as his own. But his family is discovered, his baby is presumed to be the Zhao heir and murdered along with his wife for harboring the infant. Now set on revenge Cheng Ying enrolls the Zhao orphan into the service of the Tu’an Gu household, plotting to use him as an instrument of vengeance when he comes of age. But as the day of reckoning draws closer, so too does Tu’n's discovery of the boy’s true identity.

Watch the trailer…

ABC North Coast Radio 94.5 FM- Outside Broadcast FRIDAY 9th from 9am-11am

Interviewees- Don’t miss this fabulous opportunity to hear them in person!

Paul Cox & David Bradbury – On Borrowed Time, and The Dinner Party

Richard Mordaunt – The Secret of the Assassins

Teresa Tico from Miss South Pacific

Marie-Rose Phan-Le and Jennifer Outland from Talking Story

Robert Raymond from Going Vertical and Pierce Kavanagh from Manufacturing Stoke

Jack & Peter Thompson

Alison Teal from Alison’s Adventures & Michael Magidson from Inuk

read more…

FILM NOTES

On Borrowed Time

Globally renowned local documentary filmmaker David Bradbury made the film, and its topic is another internationally recognised Australian filmmaker, Paul Cox, who is the film festival’s patron. Paul Cox has long been acknowledged as one of the most prolific and important filmmakers to come out of Australia. In 2009 David conducted a ‘one off’ interview with Paul in order to honour the filmmaker’s life and art. This turned into a larger project and more personal association than anticipated. The film chronicles much more than the filmmaker’s art, it also reveals Paul’s greatest challenge – liver cancer and a prognosis of only six months to live. On Borrowed Time is David Bradbury’s tribute to the man and his filmmaking. And, as it happens, his longevity! On Borrowed time is the feature doco at the Closing Gala Night of BBFF2012 on Saturday at 7.30pm.

The Dinner Party

During an intimate dinner party at the home of filmmaker Paul Cox, eight liver transplant recipients share their stories. ‘The Dinner Party’ provides a unique insight into the lives of organ recipients reflecting on life, love, health and the nature of human existence. This raw and unguarded film communicates the incredible gift of life one receives as a recipient of an organ or tissue donation. A special preview screening of The Dinner Party will take place on Sunday 11^th March at 11am.

The Secret History of the Assassins

In 1960 local filmmaker Richard Mordaunt and Michael Oliver set out to explore the Valley of the Assassins in northern Persia and reveal a chapter of Middle Eastern history which had remained largely hidden for 900 years. 50 years later they return with Sally Oliver for a very personal journey inside the Islamic world. Already screened.

Miss South Pacific

What does a beauty pageant in Suva, Fiji have to do with climate change? Quite a lot, as it turns out. ‘Miss South Pacific: Beauty and the Sea’ is a short documentary film about the 2009-2010 Miss South Pacific Pageant that brought contestants, or Queens, from all the major Pacific Island Nations to compete in a week long pageant for the crown of Miss South Pacific. Addressing the theme of Climate Change and its impact on Pacific Island countries, the Queens eloquently and passionately implore judges, spectators, and the world at large to reduce global carbon emission lest their island homes will be lost to rising seas. Is it too late to turn back the tide? Watch Miss South Pacific and see. Already screened.

Talking Story

TALKING STORY chronicles the lives, rituals and wisdom of healers and spiritual leaders from diverse world cultures, told from the unique perspective of an apprentice healer, who was born in Vietnam and educated in the West. The film transports the viewer into a world of exotic places, sacred practices and practical applications in the art of healing from the beaches of Hawaii to the heights of the Himalayas. In exploring her calling, the apprentice learns about the commitments, responsibilities and mysteries of being a healer. What emerges is a series of intimate portraits of healers as both human and divine. The personal journey serves as a thread, guiding the audience and introducing them to an expanded view of what it means to be a healer. Talking Story screens in Byron Bay on Sat 10^th March at 10.30am and in Murwillumbah on Sat 10^th at 2.30pm

Going Vertical

Featuring extraordinary archive footage, modern classic Going Vertical, charts the 42-year-old debate over the heritage of the shortboard. Lifelong rivals and surfing royalty American Dick Brewer and Australian Bob McTavish, both now in their sixties, both lay their claims with passion and persuasion. Robert ran a Going Digital: Free Filmmakers Workshop last Saturday. His film screens at Pighouse Flicks on Sunday 11^th at 2pm.

Manufacturing Stoke

Manufacturing Stoke is an introspective look into the surfing culture’s struggle to be beneficial unto itself, a tapestry of both influential and eclectic members of the surfing community that are constantly striving for positive change amid one of surfing’s greatest paradox: no other sport is as intrinsically linked to nature, surfers are indeed directly connected to the earth’s pulse and yet a majority of the materials used are environmentally toxic. Byron Bay Community Centre, Friday March 9 at 7.30pm

Jack and Peter Thompson

Jack and Peter Thompson: Masterclass . One of Australia’s cinema legends sits on the couch with his broadcaster brother Peter for an intimate look at a life in film. Starting out in a number of Australian TV series, Jack has gone on to have an award winning career in feature films. Along the way he has worked with a number of big screen legends including director Clint Eastwood, Russell Crowe and Christopher Walken. Jack will join us fresh from the set of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby. Come and join us for what will be an unforgettable evening with one of Australia’s acting greats. Byron Bay Community Centre, SCU Room Friday March 9 at 7.30pm

Alisons Adventures

Join Alison Teal, extreme adventurer/film maker/soul surfer, on her wild adventures around the world through her ‘Alison’s Adventures’ film series to promote her interactive on line adventure club coming soon! With the films and website, Alison hopes to enlighten our future generations through cultural exploration/education and make the world a smaller place. Alison is currently touring film festivals and schools to spread the word and inspire kids and families to get out there, adventure, and reach for their dreams! Alisons film has already screened and she took part in an Extreme Filming: Free Discussion Panel last night.

Inuk

In Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, sixteen year-old Inuk lives a troubled life with his alcoholic mother and violent step-father. One morning, after pulling the half-frozen boy out of an abandoned car, the social services decide to send Inuk North, to a children’s home on a tiny island in the middle of the arctic sea-ice. Shortly after arriving, Inuk meets Ikuma, a local polar bear hunter, who has his own share of problems. Overcome by self-doubt and a haunted past his extraordinary hunting skills are mysteriously disappearing. One morning, the children’s home’s warm-hearted director, Aviaaja, asks Ikuma to take Inuk on his annual seal-hunting trip. She is certain that despite the risks of such a long and dangerous voyage, Inuk will undoubtedly learn that he has both a valiant past and a hopeful future. So when Inuk, the boy from the city, joins Ikuma, the last great hunter of the North, on this epic dogsled journey, they will face much more than the bitter cold and fragile sea-ice. The most difficult part of the journey will be the one they must make within themselves…Michaels film has already screened and he took part in an Extreme Filming: Free Discussion Panel last night.

With Sunday 11th March marking the final day of film festivities, be sure to join us as we wind down 2012 BBFF and get ready to roll up the red carpet with the Closing Red Carpet Gala Party on Saturday 10th. A handful of our top awards will be handed out, including the big one for Best Film.

This red carpet event acknowledges and celebrates the creative spirit of all festival participants – including you, our much-valued patrons and supporters. As we like to celebrate in style, we share the raising of a glass and delights from The Beautiful Feast, once again giving you the opportunity to mix with the creative talent behind your favourite local and international BBFF films.

And of course, to celebrate- a film par excellence, a film about a filmmaker, a film about Paul Cox- David Bradbury’s On Borrowed Time.

“I give it 4 and a half stars” ~ David Stratton

read more…

Documentarian David Bradbury brings us an affectionate portrait of the life and work of venerated Australian director Paul Cox. Arguably one of the most important filmmakers to come out of this country, and certainly one of the most prolific, director Paul Cox (Man of Flowers 1983, Lonely Hearts 1981, My First Wife 1984, Innocence 2000) occupies a unique place in the Australian film landscape. Born in Holland, Cox relocated to Melbourne in his early 20′s in the 1960s. Cox went on to make more than 22 feature films over the next four decades, all highly personal and artistically ambitious. All outside the Hollywood model. Featuring a who’s who of Australian film and intellectual life of the past 30 years – including David Stratton, Phillip Adams, David Wenham, Bob Ellis, John Clarke, Chris Haywood and Wendy Hughes – Bradbury’s tribute to the great director delves into Cox’s outlook on filmmaking and life, particularly in the wake of his remarkable recent brush with cancer.

Thursday 8th March- 8.45am on 94.5 FM

Local Director Graham Cooney will be going to air on the ABC talking about his latest documentary- Man Of The Trees. This film documents the final years of a much loved and highly respected member of the local communities life, Bruce Chick. Reknowned throughout the country for his pioneering re- forestation and conservation efforts, Bruce was awarded an Order Of Australia Medal and Senior Guardian of the Environment for his environmental work. He was one of the most famous residents the Tweed yet ended up at ninety five years of age living alone just two kilometres from town. His family all lived elsewhere with his closest relative living one hundred and seventy kilometers away . The only people he saw on a day to day basis were his meals on wheels for about ten minutes five days a week. The doco covers his remarkable re-forestation efforts , local history , the intriguing campaign to save our rainforests and volcanic history . He left us an unparalleled legacy truly a man ahead of his time.

PIctured- Bruce Chick

Wednesday 7th March- 10.20 am

Over ten years in Afghanistan, THE BOY MIR tracks cheeky, enthusiastic Mir from a childish eight to a fully grown eighteen-year-old. This is a journey into early adulthood in one of the toughest places on earth and a journey that mirrors the vitally important story of Afghanistan.
This feature documentary screens on Saturday 10th March at 1pm, in the Byron Bay Community Centre

Watch the trailer…

Yeah Donny, a year on since my brother and best friend was taken away from the earth, but his memory lives on, wherever we may roam, we take his spirit with us. Yew.

Country: Australia
Running Time: 2 minutes

Watch the trailer…

Yeah Donny!!! from nick colbey on Vimeo.