The Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival returns for its second year as the event looks to simultaneously cement its spot on the film festival calendar and offer Brisbane audiences a wide variety of films.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says the BAPFF further demonstrated Brisbane’s position as a major cultural hub in Asia Pacific. “BAPFF is a prestigious film festival showcasing the creative and cultural breadth of cinematic works... It reinforces the emergence of Brisbane as a major player, economically and culturally in the Asia Pacific region.”
Asia Pacific Screen Awards and BAPFF Film Director Maxine Williamson have delivered a world-class programme for Brisbane audiences – and these are only 17 of the 75! “It’s pleasing to see our Brisbane programme highlighting quality film straight from their world premieres in Toronto, Venice and Locarno Film Festivals.”
BAPFF Head Programmer, Kiki Fung, picked out her 5 Must See Films from the First Look programme.
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The First Look festival list shows movies and projects from Australia sharing the bill with films from Asia and further abroad. Tickets to the opening night film 'The Idol' and closing night film 'The Taking Of Tiger Mountain' have already gone on sale, but you'll have to wait a bit longer for the rest of the programme to launch.
Opening Night – The Idol (Palestine/UAE/Qatar/Netherlands/UK)
Straight from its world premiere in Toronto International Film Festival, 'The Idol' is an inspiring true story of one man’s journey from the poverty of the Gaza Strip to the top of the Arab pops.Closing Night – The Taking of Tiger Mountain (China/Hong Kong)
Veteran of Hong Kong action film, Tsui Hark explores a gritty retelling of one of the Cultural Revolution’s most beloved fables in this power-packed, visually spectacular 3D action-thriller.Spear (Australia)
A visually stunning collaboration with world renowned Bangarra Dance Theatre, 'Spear' is a poignant reflection of the continuing cultural connection of Indigenous people.
Right Now, Wrong ThenEarly Winter (Australia/New Zealand)
From former Cannes Camera d’or Winner Michael Rowe and starring acclaimed Canadian actor, Paul Doucet (Unité 9; Funkytown) and Suzanne Clément (Mommy; Laurence Anyways), 'Early Winter' is drawn from universal themes of loneliness and isolation and explores the story of a man in quiet crisis.
Right Now, Wrong Then (Korea)
2015 Locarno Golden Leopard winner, 'Right Now, Wrong Then' is a wryly offbeat comedic gem offering a whimsical look at the ‘butterfly effects’ that flow from our small, everyday social interactions
SpearTikkun (Israel)
Winner of four awards at Jerusalem Film Festival including Best Actor and Best Cinematography, 'Tikkun' paints a portrait of a devout Yeshiva scholar’s existential crisis of faith.
Hong Kong Trilogy: Preschooled, Preoccupied, Preposterous (Hong Kong)
Australian-born, world famed director/cinematographer Christopher Doyle’s love letter to Hong Kong this is a story of the people, for the people, by the people told over three generations.
Mountains May Depart (China)
From visionary Chinese auteur Jia Zhangke, 'Mountains May Depart' is a sprawling, extraordinary parable about contemporary China, and the inexorable seismic shifts that are reshaping the foundations of its society.
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The Assassin (Taiwan)
Winner of Best Director at Cannes Film Festival, 'The Assassin' is hypnotic and conjures the restrained beauty of a classical Chinese landscape painting.
A City Of Sadness (Taiwan) – Free
From the undisputed master of modern Taiwanese cinema, Hou Hsiao-hsien’s 'A City Of Sadness' is testament to human resilience and the crystallisation of Hou’s poetic form.
Tehran Taxi (Iran)
Master filmmaker and APSA Academy member Jafar Panahi was on the first APSA International Jury. Winner of the 2015 Golden Bear at Berlin Film Festival, 'Tehran Taxi' demonstrates clever story-telling of political and social issues through the daily conversations of his taxi passengers.
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Bad Boy Bubby (Australia)
Take a walk on the wild side at this special screening of a newly remastered version of 'Bad Boy Bubby', introduced by acclaimed Australian writer/director and APSA Academy member Rolf de Heer.
Another Country (Australia)
Acclaimed Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil narrates this journey into his home community Ramingining. The 2015 APSA nominee for Best Documentary Feature Film is a companion to co-writer Rolf de Heer’s drama 'Charlie’s Country' and co-writer/director Molly Reynolds’ documentary 'Still Our Country'.
Mustang (Turkey/Qatar/France/Germany)
With artful, award-winning performances and a beautifully shot narrative, the 2015 APSA nominee for Best Youth Feature Film Mustang is a gripping portrayal of youthful rebellion and will have your heart racing.
Hong Kong Trilogy: Preschooled Preoccupied Preposterous (Hong Kong)A Corner Of Heaven (China/France)
2015 APSA nominee for Best Youth Feature Film, A Corner of Heaven is the stripped-back tale of a boy searching for his mother which peels back the posturing of a modern-day society, to reveal the underbelly of the post-industrial age.
River (China)
2011 APSA Academy Children’s Film Fund recipient and 2015 APSA nominee for Best Youth Feature Film, 'River' explores three generations of father and child set against the breathtaking Tibetan landscape.
Mina Walking (Afghanistan/Canada)
The 2015 APSA nominee for Best Youth Feature Film, 'Mina Walking' talks bravely about a war-torn country where men call the shots. The film debuted at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.
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Set Me Free (Korea)
Making its debut at the 2014 Busan International Film Festival, 'Set Me Free' won the Citizen Critics' Award and Actor of the Year Award with lead Choi Woo-shik’s vulnerable performance of a teenager looking for security. The film is nominated for the 2015 APSA for Best Youth Feature Film.
The Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival screens 19-29 November. The full programme will be launched in the Queen Street Mall 28 October. Tickets on sale 28 October.
