by GREG KING
For his Movies At Dusk program, Greg spoke to Mathieu Ravier to find our more about the Possible Worlds Film Festival. To hear the interview, click on the link below:
https://www.mediafire.com/listen/6hei97vsoq7jhgz/190627_001.MP3
From the world premiere of a documentary about the Air Sex World Championships (yes, this is a real thing); to the real “Argo” – the truth behind the covert rescue of six diplomats during the 1979 Iranian Hostage crisis; to an 84 year old’s attempt to get the sale of plastic bottled water banned in her town, the Possible Worlds Film Festival program is as vibrant as it is inspiring!
For nine years now, the Possible Worlds Film Festival, presented by Cosmos Tours and run by non-profit The Festivalists, has presented Australian film lovers with the best new independent cinema from the US and Canada. Over eleven days this August, the 2014 edition will be no exception, bringing together one of the finest and most eclectic collections of North American cinema ever screened in the Southern Hemisphere.
While the films may be from the Northern Hemisphere, some feature our finest actors. Young up-and-comers Callan McAuliffe and Kodi Smit-McPhee will shine in Beneath The Harvest Skyand Young Ones, respectively, while Paul Eenhoorn helps make his buddy-comedy Land Ho! one of the most charming additions to the schedule.
This year, festival curators have carefully chosen 18 feature films – 9 from Canada and 9 from the USA – that will enrich, excite and enlighten. The program will screen at Event Cinemas on George Street from August 7th to the 17th, ahead of satellite events in Canberra (August 20th) and Perth (August 22nd to 24th) which will screen selected titles.
“With one world premiere and thirteen Australian premieres, we have put together a Festival that focuses on discoveries; on introducing new films to Australian audiences,” explains Festival Director Mathieu Ravier. “Possible Worlds is a rare opportunity to take back the multiplex and showcase the vibrant visions of independent filmmakers working outside of Hollywood.”
Opening Night on August 7th will premiere Ricardo Trogi’s hilarious coming-of-age comedy 1987, a day before the film opens in Canada. The film will be one of five French-language films from the region.
Other Québécois films include TRIPTYCH, an adaptation of playwright Robert Lepage’s Sydney Festival hit Lipsynch and the Cannes-winning drama THE AUCTION, which has already seen Gabriel Arcand walk away with a Canadian Academy Award.
Rising indie star Xavier Dolan stars in two films at the festival, TOM AT THE FARM, a taut Hitchcockian thriller which the impressive talent also directed, and MIRACULUM, a critically acclaimed drama about the intertwined destinies of eight Montrealers on the cusp of life-changing decisions.
Also from Canada, THE DIRTIES is a provocative and audacious black comedy about school bullying, while THE GRAND SEDUCTION charms the socks off its audience with charismatic star turns by The Guard’s Brendan Gleeson and Friday Night Light’s Taylor Kitsch.
Having its world premiere at the festival will be Jonathan Evans’ riotous documentary AIR SEX: THE MOVIE, an unexpected film about an equally surprising subject, taking us behind the scenes of the Air Sex World Championships. No this isn’t a Best in Show, Christopher Guest helmed mockumentary, this is the real thing. An event where contestants compete on stage, miming sexual acts with imaginary characters; a strange new sport which has taken the comedy circuit by storm, and now, our cinemas as well!
Other documentaries that will inspire and delight audiences include WHEN THE JEWS WERE FUNNY, taking an insightful look at the history and legacy of Jewish comedy and OUR MAN IN TEHRAN, a film on the more serious end of the festival’s spectrum, unveiling the truth behind the covert rescue of six diplomats during the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979.
Tackling one of the more current topics will be the documentary DIVIDE IN CONCORD, a film exploring one citizen’s fight to have the sale of plastic bottle water banned in her town. Director and producer Dave Regos will visit Possible Worlds from New York to present the film, as one of the festival’s filmmaker Q&As.
Three Australian actors will see their turns highlighted in the program from America. Callan McAuliffe, who the Sydney Morning Herald is pitching as the “Next Liam Hemsworth” shines as a rebellious teen in BENEATH THE HARVEST SKY; in post-apocalyptic Western YOUNG ONES, celebrated actor Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road, Let me In) leads a great cast, including Boardwalk Empire’s Michael Shannon, Super 8’s Elle Fanning and Warm Bodies’ Nicholas Hoult. Finally, Australian born, Seattle based actor Paul Eenhoorn imbues buddy-comedy LAND HO! with understated charm; a hit of Sundance and the film – by Aaron Katz and Martha Stephen – which will close the festival.
Four outstanding independents round out the impressive program with bold new films making up a who’s who of the US indie landscape today. Sundance-winner I ORIGINS stars Michael Pitt and Brit Marling as scientists on the brink of a profound discovery. Josh Lucas (Red Dog) gives a standout performance as the unhinged sibling in dysfunctional family drama THE MEND, which made its mark at SXSW in March. THE HEART MACHINE is a smart love story that unfolds like a heart-pounding mystery, while the thriller FAULTS explores the attempts to deprogram a young woman under the grip of a mysterious cult.
Ensuring festival goers will experience more than just the eclectic mix of the finest independent cinema, the 10-day festival will include experiences for everyone; from complimentary drink receptions to a genre movie trivia night and filmmaker Q&A’s. The audience will also be invited to vote for their favourite films in the World Movies Audience Award, while juries will announce the awards for Best American and Best Canadian Film on closing night.
For more information, visit www.possibleworlds.net.au.
WHAT: 9th Possible Worlds U.S. & Canadian Film Festival – Opening Night screening of 1987 on August 7
WHEN: August 7 -17 (Sydney) | August 20 (Canberra) | August 22-24 (Perth)
WHERE: Event Cinemas George St (Sydney)
SYDNEY TICKETS: Adult $18, Concession $16 – Bookings: pwff14.eventbrite.com.au
