Features and shorts

Bayside Film Festival is about to shine with one of the most exciting lines up yet! We have looked beyond our shores to put this program together, collecting stories that show courage and strength, suspense and truth. Our program explores themes that will entertain and challenge you, and some are not for the faint hearted. In so doing, the program reflects our humanity and our interconnectedness, and that is the art of good story telling.

The Festival’s special guests include Adam Eliot, Melanie Coombs, Lisa Maza, Blair McDonough, Anna Brady and Rohan Spong.

Amadeo Marquez Perez

Artistic Director


Opening night: Wednesday 15 July 2009, 7-9pm

A red carpet event feature Beyond our Shores – an award winning short film program that shines a light on emerging and established filmmakers. Hosted by Carmen Lahiff-Jenkins.

Old Country, New Country

2009, Documentary, 22 mins, Australia
Story by: Mark Jones, Roy and Albert Wiggan
Director and Producer: Mark Jones and Alex Petersons
Co-Producers: Meg Henschke-Jones and Cindy Petersons
Executive Producers: Kirsty Cockburn and George Negus

Old Country New Country is a parable about the clash between the oldest living culture in the world and the industrialized world.

The Year I Got Younger

2008, Documentary, 7 mins, Australia
Director: Genevieve Bailey 
Producer: Proud Mother Pictures, Aindrias Stack

A hangover tastes the same in every city. Shot in Galway, Prague and Melbourne this Irish fiddle player reflects on his old and new found addictions.

Home Away From Home

 

 2008, Documentary, 18.37 mins, Australia
Director/Producer: Riyadh Abdul Hussain 

The story of an Iraqi refugee's settlement in Australia, and his family's adjustment to a new life in a new country. Sarsam, formerly Marketing Manager at Al-Jazeera TV, now works as an Adelaide taxi driver.

My Rabbit Hoppy

2008, Animation, 3 mins, Australia
Director: Anthony Lucas
Producer: Julia Lucas

The film tells the tale of a school project which turns horribly wrong.

Beyond our shores (Program 2) Thursday 16 July 2009, 11am-1pm

Mary & Max

 

 2009, animation, 35 mm, Australia
Director/writer Adam Eliot
Producer Melanie Coombs

A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year old, severely obese man living in New York.

Q&A with Adam Eliot & Melanie Coombs will follow the screening.

Beyond our shores (Program 3) Friday 17 July 2009, 11.15am-12noon

A premier collection of diverse films from around the world:

Little wings

 

Drama
Director: Polly Staniford

Six-year-old Billy doesn’t fit in. It’s not until he loses first tooth and receives a special gift from the tooth fairy that other kids start to notice him.
Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of magic…

Last time I cried

 

Documentary
Director: Genevieve Bailey

An intimate snapshot of ten people’s lives as each subject, aged between three and 93, answers some big questions about life.

Jackie, Jackie

 

Comedy
Director: Adrian Wills

Jinaali is a sweet overweight Aboriginal checkout chick at the local supermarket. Her boss, Mr Chuck, is constantly on her back until Jinaali finds a voice of her on. Have you got any Jackie, Jackie doll yet?

Kill all the rockstars

 

Comedy
Director: Blair McDonough

Tim a bright eyed record company office boy accidentally overheads his Boss and executive committee plotting to assassinate Delvin Moon one of the world biggest RockStars. Can he save the day?

Strangers of the sushi train

 

Drama
Director: Anna Brady

There was only one stop and it was murder. This slick noir spoof will have you guessing till the end of the line. Evocative saxophone music enhances the mood.

Beyond our shores (Program 4) Saturday 18 July 2009, 7-9pm

Billy the Kid

2008, Documentary, 84 mins, North America
Director/Writer: Jennifer Venditti
Producer: Chiemi Karasawa