The Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival has unveiled the full programme for this year's event, boasting 82 films from across the region and beyond.
Now in its third year, BAPFF brings together a wide selection of feature, independent, documentary and animated films which showcase the diverse creativity of Asia Pacific filmmakers.
Notable inclusions for 2016 is thriller 'The Salesman' from Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, the eight-hour Filipino epic 'A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery' and the Australian premiere of low-budget horror flick, 'Hounds Of Love' which is being touted as the next 'Wolf Creek'.
'Hounds Of Love'Opening the festival is the Indian drama 'Parched' which has won 18 international awards and toured 24 film festivals across the world. Written and directed by Leena Yadav, the film centres on the unwanted lives of four women in a village of Rajasthan, situated in India's north-east.
Delve into a world of inter-cultural storytelling to discover some of the most insightful and thought-provoking cinema. Get an inside look at Japanese pop sensation NMB48 and the country's idol-making industry with 'Raise Your Arms and Twist', or see Kirsten Stewart as a Parisian ghost whisperer in the haunting 'Personal Shopper'.
'Raise Your Arms and Twist'There is also the opportunity for festival-goers to get up close and personal with their favourite actors and directors during special Q&A sessions planned for the screenings. It's a fantastic opportunity to witness the breadth of talent emerging from the region, including 31 of the 39 films nominated for this year’s 10th Asia Pacific Screen Award.
With 31 Australian premieres and 33 Queensland premieres across 12 days, it's a cinema smorgasbord and Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says this year's festival is the best yet. “These films represent the exceptional talent from a region that encompasses 70 countries and areas and includes award-winning films, independents, restored classics and genre favourites,” he says. “Brisbane, this is your film festival – I encourage you to go along and be part of it.”
'Personal Shopper'BAPFF Head Programmer Kiki Fung is particularly proud of the 2016 playbill, which for the first time will include films from outside the Asia Pacific region.
“For the first time, we have included a selection of films from Europe and The Americas, consisting of this year’s most acclaimed, forward-thinking, provocative and intimate works that will surely be conversation starters.”
