AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY UNREELS 6TH AUSTRALIAN FILM FESTIVAL

The Australian Embassy in Manila presents the highly anticipated 6th Australian Film Festival from 11-18 October 2008, featuring a collection of award-winning films from Down Under.

The Hon Simon Crean MP, Australian Minister for Trade, formally opened the festival with the VIP screening of Romulus, My Father , topbilled by Eric Bana. The film is based on Australian philosopher and writer Raimond Gaita's critically acclaimed memoirs and tells the story of Romulus (Bana), his beautiful wife, Christina (Franka Potente, Bourne Identity), and their struggle in the face of great adversity to bring up their son, Raimond. It is a story of the unbreakable bond between father and son. The movie received top honours in the prestigious 2007 Australian Film Institute Awards, including Best Film and Best Actor for Eric Bana . The film marks the directorial debut of actor Richard Roxburgh, more popularly known for his starring roles in Moulin Rouge, Mission Impossible II and Van Helsing.

Touted as Asia-Pacific’s Hollywood, Australia has successfully competed in the international film marketplace for decades. It has the distinction of producing the world’s first full length feature film, The Story of the Kelly Gang, in 1906. Today, Australia has won many accolades and is widely recognised for its talented actors, directors and technicians. Nicole Kidman, Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pearce, Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts and Toni Collette are among the prominent Australian actors who have carved out successful film careers in Hollywood.

This year’s festival highlights include Home Song Stories, an award-winning autobiographical drama about a glamorous Shanghai nightclub singer and her tale of survival in Australia; Razzle Dazzle, a
fly-on-the-wall mockumentary about the tears, tantrums and tiaras in the world of competitive dance; Clubland starring Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn who plays a stand up comedienne and single mother trying to revive her entertainment career; and the award-winning 1976 classic, Storm Boy.

A must-see is the festival’s Indigenous program, featuring critically acclaimed films such as Ten Canoes, Yolngu Boy, Radiance, The Tracker and Crocodile Dreaming in celebration of Indigenous People’s Month.

Audiences can catch the 6th Australian Film Festival at the Gateway Cineplex 10 at the Araneta Center, Quezon City from 11-18 October. Admission fee is Php80.00 at the Gateway Cineplex. The festival continues at the Ayala Onstage, Ayala Centre Cebu from 16-18 October, and at the Havener Auditorium, International Rice Research Institute in UP Los Banos from 28-30 October and 5-7 November.

The 6th Australian Film Festival is presented by the Australian Embassy, Screen Australia, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Centre for the Moving Images in cooperation with the Gateway Cineplex 10 and the Araneta Center. Major partners include Australian wine labels Hardy’s Lindemans, Penfolds and Rosemount; Berri fruit juices; cheeses Australian Gold, Lemnos, Mersey Valley, Tasmanian Heritage, and Mamma Lucia; Bizu; AGS Four Winds; Italianni’s; The Arts Council of Cebu; The International Rice Research Institute; the Philippines-Australia Alumni Association; 2nd Avenue; NU 107; and the Cinemanila International Film Festival. 

See: 6th Australian Film Festival for Festival program and updates  or call 02 7578 135/173.