BAPFF opens with a bang in Brisbane

A VISUALLY sumptuous drama about four women who push against the repressive, archaic gender politics of a small Indian village opens the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival (BAPFF) tonight at the Palace Barracks Cinemas.

“The Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival is the pre-eminent film festival of the region and there is something in it for all film lovers,” said Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.

“The opening night film Parched, is the first international feature film from Indian director Leena Yadav. It has already won 18 international awards and is competing for Best Screenplay at the 10^th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) in Brisbane tomorrow night.

“It’s a film that celebrates female empowerment and is a vibrant and visual delight that packs enormous power. Cinematographer Russell Carpenter, who won an Academy Award for his work on Titanic, brings Yadav’s vision to glorious life.

“BAPFF is a window to the many and varied world’s like this one and gives local film buffs a smorgasbord of choice. Tickets are still available for tonight while there are many other world-class features to select from, including 31 Australian premieres, during the 12-day festival.”

Now in its third year, BAPFF is supported by Screen Queensland and will showcase 82 films from 46 countries and areas to be screened from today until the 4 December.

Cr Quirk said BAPFF was a celebration of cinematic excellence from a region that’s home to 4.5 billion people and is responsible for half the world’s film output.

“There are numerous highlights: a Japanese retrospective which includes the 1964 Akira Kurosawa classic No Regrets for Our Youth; a free family screening of the cherished Australian classic Storm Boy starring David Gulpilil; Exile, which revisits a childhood lived under Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge; the unconventional love story Bangkok Nites; and I Am Not Madame Bovary, a comic take on Chinese bureaucracy.

“Others not-to-be-missed include The Salesman from esteemed Iranian director Asghar Farhadi; Ants on a Shrimp, which follows NOMA legend René Redzepi as he takes his team to Tokyo to create an astounding 14-course menu; The Bonfire, a dark Russian tale of two grief-stricken fathers; and Snow Monkey, a remarkable documentary from Australia’s George Gittoes that takes us into the world of Jalalabad street kids.”

Cr Quirk said Snow Monkey was one of the stand-out films being presented in the festival’s Australian showcase which will also mark the local premiere of Hounds of Love, a chilling serial killer thriller starring Stephen Curry.

“As an art form, film offers a unique insight into the political, social and economic state of the country it represents. It’s that cultural exchange that make BAPFF so special.

“Brisbane is Australia’s gateway to the Asia Pacific and therefore ideally placed to host a film festival dedicated to the region. I urge locals and visitors alike to embrace the opportunity to enjoy such a rich and diverse range of cinematic offerings from leading filmmakers.”

APSA/BAPFF Chairman, Michael Hawkins said BAPFF offered a world-class program.

“Asia Pacific cinema is known for its willingness to push boundaries and explore the human condition at its best and worst,” Mr Hawkins said.

“BAPFF in 2016 will enchant, mesmerise and amaze audiences. This year we have also expanded the brief and chosen 10 titles from Europe and America for inclusion while the Australian showcase is exceptional.”

The 2016 Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival starts today and runs until 4 December across Brisbane cinemas and cultural venues including Palace Barracks Cinemas, New Farm Cinemas, The Australian Cinémathèque at QAGOMA, Griffith Film School, The Cube at QUT and The Courier-Mail Piazza.

The full program and tickets, including special presentations and Gala events, are on sale now at bapff.com.au where you can also download the FREE BAPFF App on your smart phone to plan your festival.

To purchase tickets or view the full program, visit bapff.com.au

 

 

BAPFF Q&A GUESTS

 

• Stephen Curry (actor), Ben Young (director) and Melissa Kelly (producer) from HOUNDS OF LOVE
• Douglas Watkin (director) and Veronica Fury (producer) from ELLA
• Anurag Kashyap (director) from PSYCHO RAMAN
• Andrew Leavold and Daniel Palisa (Directors) from LAST PINOY ACTION KING
• Mehran Kashani (screenwriter), Reza Mirkarimi (producer) and Farhad Aslani (actor) from DAUGHTER
• E J-yong (director) from THE BACCHUS LADY
• Natalia Pavlenkova (actress) from ZOOLOGY
• Carl Papa (director) from MANANG BIRING
• Mohammadreza Saberi (producer) from MUHAMMAD, THE MESSENGER OF GOD
• Hellen Rose (music director) + Arshad Khan (cast member) from SNOW MONKEYS
• Nermin Aytekin (producer) and Mustafa Kara (director) from COLD OF KALANDAR
• Manoj Bajpayee (actor) from ALIGARH
• Catherine Dussart (producer) from EXILE
• Alireza Ghanie (director) from IMAGINARY BORDER
• Emily Avila (director) from IN A CANE FIELD (short)

ends