May 5, 2016
The 10th annual Heritage Bank Nanango Film Festival will be coming to the South Burnett on May 27-29 with a bumper crop of the best new Australian films.
The Festival, formerly known as the Big Screen Film Festival, looked in danger of folding last year when the National Film And Sound Archive in Canberra had its budget cut by the Federal Government.
But thanks to a $20,000 sponsorship from Nanango’s Heritage Community Bank, it will be returning as usual with all the features that have made it so popular with South Burnett movie-goers over the last decade.
The three-day Festival will be officially opened at 6:30pm on Friday night, May 27 by this year’s special guest, actor Michael Caton.
Although probably best known for starring in the 1997 hit film “The Castle”, Michael’s 45 year career has seen him perform in television, theatre and film both in Australia and abroad.
His television appearances range from leading roles in international series such as Dossa And Joe to the ABC’s deadpan comedy Bad Cop Bad Cop. Other credits include The Sullivans, Stingers, Flying Doctors, The Les Darcy Story, Great Expectations, Blue Heelers, All Saints, Wildside and A Country Practice, as well as the mini-series Never Tell Me Never and Shadows Of The Heart.
In film, he played lead roles in Strange Bedfellows with Paul Hogan, The Animal with Rob Schneider, The Interview, The 13th Floor, Monkeygrip and Hoodwinked.
And his list of theatre credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, Threepenny Opera, Move Over Mrs. Markham, Between The Lines, The Stripper, Sexual Perversity In Chicago, Floating World, Tooth Of Crime, Girls Night Out, Cowardly Custard, Gentlemen Of Verona, Salad Days and The Canterbury Tales.
His most recent feature film – The Last Cab To Darwin – will be screened as part of this year’s Festival.
Michael will be appearing at the opening night, and also the at Saturday morning’s screening of “The Last Cab To Darwin”, where he’ll lead a Q&A session after the movie ends.
On Saturday, the Festival will also be offering a Gala Fundraiser evening with a chocolate fountain, where $5 from every ticket sale will be donated to a local charity.
The movies that will shown at this year’s Film Festival are:
Eddie The Eagle (PG)
Eddie the Eagle is a 2016 biographical sports comedy directed by Dexter Fletcher. The film stars Taron Egerton as Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, a British skier who in 1988 became the first competitor to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping. Hugh Jackman and Christopher Walken also star.
Looking For Grace (M)
After a teenage girl goes missing, her parents along with the help of an investigator seek to find her, while also juggling their own secrets and stories between them. This acclaimed new film from Sue Brooks, the multi award-winning director of Japanese Story and Road To Nhill, is an intimate, funny and profoundly moving story about chance, fate and the complexities of family life and stars Radha Mitchell, Richard Roxburgh and Odessa Young
The Dressmaker (M)
When a glamorous woman returns to her small town in rural Australia with her sewing machine and haute couture style, she transforms the women and exacts sweet revenge on those who did her wrong.
This film is directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and stars Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth and Hugo Weaving.
The Last Cab To Darwin (M)
When Rex, a Broken Hill cab driver, is told he doesn’t have long to live, he sets out on an epic journey to Darwin in a bid to die on his own terms. Directed by Jeremy Sims and starring Michael Caton, Jacki Weaver, Ningali Lawford and Mark Coles Smith.
Oddball (G)
An eccentric chicken farmer, with the help of his granddaughter, trains his mischievous dog Oddball to protect a penguin sanctuary from fox attacks in an attempt to reunite his family and save their seaside town. Directed by Stuart McDonald and starring Shane Jacobson, Sarah Snook and Alan Tudyk.
Blinky Bill (G)
An adventurous young koala embarks on a journey across the wild and dangerous Australian outback in the hope of finding his missing father, but he soon discovers that there is more to being a hero than meets the eye. This animated film was directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and features the voices of
Toni Collette, Richard Roxburgh, Barry Humphries, David Wenham, Deborah Mailman and Rufus Sewell.
Broke (MA15+)
A disgraced sports star and gambling addict attempts to turn his life around with the support of his number one fan and his daughter. Directed by Heath Davis and stars Steve Le Marquand, Max Cullen, Claire van der Boom and Steve Bastoni.
A Month Of Sundays (PG)
Unable to sell his house or bond with his teenage son after getting divorced, a man begins receiving phone calls from his dead mother. Directed by Matthew Saville and starring Anthony LaPaglia, Julia Blake, Justine Clarke and John Clarke.
The Daughter (M)
Christian returns to his hometown for his father’s wedding. Reconnecting with childhood friends and family, he unearths a long-buried secret that threatens to shatter lives. Directed by Simon Stone and starring Geoffrey Rush, Ewen Leslie, Paul Schneider, Miranda Otto, Odessa Young and Sam Neill.
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Tickets to the Opening Night on Friday, May 27 or the Gala Fundraiser on Saturday, May 28 are $20, which includes finger foods and two complimentary drinks.
Tickets to all other screenings are $5, except the school screening of Blinky Bill, which is for school children only and free for participating schools.
Nanango State School’s P&C will run a canteen offering snacks and refreshments for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday screening sessions, and Reel Pizzas will be selling wood-fired pizzas Saturday and Sunday.
All screenings will occur at the Nanango Cultural Centre in George Street except for “The Dressmaker”, which will screen at Ringsfield House’s cinema in Alfred Street, Nanango.
Tickets can be obtained from any South Burnett Regional Council Customer Service Centre until May 27, or from Thorps Showcase Jewellers at Kingaroy Shoppingworld from Monday, May 9.
Tickets can also be obtained at the Nanango Markets on Saturday, May 7.
Screenings will follow this schedule:
