The programme for the Adelaide Film Festival has been announced, with the Australian premiere of Cate Blanchett's 'Carol' leading proceedings.
The festival runs throughout October and as it it enters its 11th year, is promising the best local, national and international films with someone on offer for everyone. Alongside Blanchett, other esteemed guests include: Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Jane Fonda, Michael Keaton, Richard Roxburgh, Anthony LaPaglia and Rachel McAdams, to name a handful. There are many events happening, here are some highlights:
'Carol' is directed by Todd Haynes and set in 1950s Manhattan. Cate Blanchett plays a wealthy and married socialite who develops a strong bond with a department store assistant, played by Rooney Mara. This bond becomes a love with complicated consequences. Carol will join a stellar line-up of ten films competing in the Foxtel Movies International Feature Competition, all of which are premieres. Other movies include 'Freeheld', starring Julianne Moore and Ellen Page; 'Office', a robust South Korean thriller from debutant Hong Won-Chan; and 'Threshold', a film looking at the plight of refugees through the innocence of a child in pre-war Kosovo.
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Over 180 films from more than 50 countries will screen in this year's festival – from the US to France, Norway, Iceland, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand, Chile and more.
The opening night off the Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) will see the world premiere of Scott Hicks' documentary 'Highly Strung'. The movie was one of many projects to come from the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, many of which are showing at the festival.
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With a unique festival initiative, audiences will be invited to create their own short film which will premiere. 'The Film You Wrote' campaign encourages film lovers to write the script for a short film through choose-your-own-adventure style multiple choice questions via the festival's website and social media pages. Starring Adelaide actor Tilda Cobham-Hervey, situated in Port Adelaide, and music from South Australian emerging talent, 'The Film You Wrote' is a unique way for the audiences to get involved. They will get to see the fruits of their labour when it has its world premiere on 19 October.
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A second screening of Adelaide director Rosemary Myers’ debut feature 'Girl Asleep' has been announced (25 October) for the programme after tickets to its world premiere (20 October) sold out in record time. Based on South Australian theatre company Windmill's critically acclaimed stage work for teenagers that premiered at the 2014 Adelaide Festival of Arts, 'Girl Asleep' is a funny and darkly beautiful coming-of-age story with a uniquely Australian twist.
Set in the cream-brick heart of 1970s Aussie suburbia, 'Girl Asleep' follows a shy girl, Gerta, on the cusp of turning 15 and, she worries, of losing herself. Confronted with the confusing realities of high school, bitchy friends and boys she clings to her childhood and her only friend, resident nerd Elliott, hoping it will all go away. But when her parents throw her a surprise birthday party Greta is magically flung into a strange parallel world, one that’s weirdly erotic, a little bit dangerous and thoroughly ludicrous - and one where she can find her true identity.
AFF is re-uniting the much loved Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton, Australia’s film champions. They will be back in Adelaide to entertain audiences as ringmasters of the 'Ultimate Quiz Night'. Margaret and David will preside over the evening’s proceedings of games, raffles and rowdy, competitive, one-upmanship.
On the closing night, David will join forces with the iconic South Australian Yalumba Wines in their beautiful winery grounds. David will select a vintage film and talk to the audience about why this film has improved with age, while enjoying certain vintages.
Closing the festival will be the Australian premiere of 'Youth', starring Michael Caine, Jane Fonda, Rachel Weisz and Harvey Keitel and from director Paolo Sorrentino. Fresh off receiving a ten-minute standing ovation when it screened at Cannes earlier this year, 'Youth' focuses on Caine and Keitel – a retired composer and an over the hill movie director, respectively – and reflects on the distance of youth from the viewpoint of the old. A story of the friendship between two old men as they look towards the future.
Adelaide Film Festival Highlights
'Spotlight': Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton and Rachel McAdams star as journalists from 'The Boston Globe' and investigate a cover-up of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church. Australian premiere.'Grandma': Paul Weitz directs this comedy-drama, in which Lily Tomlin plays a poet mourning the death of her longtime partner. The real value happens when her teenage granddaughter turns up unexpectedly on her doorstep.
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'Now Add Honey': From director Wayne Hope and starring Robyn Butler, Hamish Blake and Portia De Rossi, this Aussie comedy about a spoilt teenage movie star will hit your sweet spot.
'Death Of A Chook': The title is a metaphor for director Robert Gibson’s personal life; he not only moults dramatically, but ruffles the feathers of all those with whom he associates. Wry, funny and brutally honest. World premiere.
The Adelaide Film Festival runs 15-25 October.
