As you probably already know by now, Sydney Film Festival starts today and runs until June 19th.
They are screening an amazing 161 films from 42 countries. CIVIC LIFE, BOXING GYM, MICROPHONE, LETTERS FROM THE BIG MAN and SAMMY’S ADVENTURES: THE SECRET PASSAGE are some of the many films you should not miss. Book tickets here.
Showing posts with label sydney film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sydney film. Show all posts
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Interviews with Sydney Film Festival Staff #2 - Katherine Berger
When did you start SUFF, and why? Stefan and I came up with idea to start a film festival in mid 2006 but the first festival was in September 2007. We started it because we felt there was a need for a more alternative/‘underground’ film fest in Sydney as we felt we didn’t really have somewhere to enter our type of films that we were making (not that we wanted to screen our own material – we would never do that – it just highlighted to us that there was a need for it). There was some good galleries and some underground spaces that you could potentially show your work at but no real film festival environment celebrating alternate,experimental, art films.
What got you interested in underground film? I’m not one of those folks that seriously got into films when I was like ten or anything. I think at that age I would have been watching some crud on the TV and I know for certain when Encino Man came out I knew it word for word! However, as I got a little older and my grunge music stage turned into punk music stage I got exposed to films like Bad Boy Bubby, Everynight Everynight, Blue Murder (stronger themed Aussie films) and then Stanley Kubrick films like A Clockwork Orange and Scarface and Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s The City Of Lost Children and Lynch’s Eraserhead and then the list just grew from there... and I realised there was a whole world of amazing films out there aside from the often Hollywood drivel. Then the more abstract films fascination actually came from hearing about the Sydney UBU filmmakers while I was doing a small film course at UBS Film School (now grown to become Sydney Film School) and then by the time I enrolled in art school at Sydney College of the Arts I had already discovered an interest and love of experimental art films.
What have been some pitfalls that you've learned from in running a festival like this? Running a festival on no money is hard and especially without a proper office but volunteers (and in my case family too!) and supportive businesses and friends makes it much more pleasant! I just don’t want to go grey before my time! Every year I say I’m not doing it again without a proper office and some more funding... However, here I am again..... Next year I am not doing it without a proper office!!
What have been your highlights? Highlights have included starting off in 2007 very smoothly and receiving comments on the success and professionalism of the festival and how its run, Tin Can Man on opening night 2007, having an ex Iraqi war veteran speaking also in 2007 (APEC was on during the festival weekend), The Miscreants (world premiere) by George Gittoes in 2008 – the fact they gave us the premiere was incredible!, lots of amazing shorts films over the years, Kamahl singing “My Way” at the festival last year and the fact that we are still here (when we were worried we would be a one year pony and in lots of debt!)
Anything else? Anyone with a spare office to donate?
What got you interested in underground film? I’m not one of those folks that seriously got into films when I was like ten or anything. I think at that age I would have been watching some crud on the TV and I know for certain when Encino Man came out I knew it word for word! However, as I got a little older and my grunge music stage turned into punk music stage I got exposed to films like Bad Boy Bubby, Everynight Everynight, Blue Murder (stronger themed Aussie films) and then Stanley Kubrick films like A Clockwork Orange and Scarface and Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s The City Of Lost Children and Lynch’s Eraserhead and then the list just grew from there... and I realised there was a whole world of amazing films out there aside from the often Hollywood drivel. Then the more abstract films fascination actually came from hearing about the Sydney UBU filmmakers while I was doing a small film course at UBS Film School (now grown to become Sydney Film School) and then by the time I enrolled in art school at Sydney College of the Arts I had already discovered an interest and love of experimental art films.
What have been some pitfalls that you've learned from in running a festival like this? Running a festival on no money is hard and especially without a proper office but volunteers (and in my case family too!) and supportive businesses and friends makes it much more pleasant! I just don’t want to go grey before my time! Every year I say I’m not doing it again without a proper office and some more funding... However, here I am again..... Next year I am not doing it without a proper office!!
What have been your highlights? Highlights have included starting off in 2007 very smoothly and receiving comments on the success and professionalism of the festival and how its run, Tin Can Man on opening night 2007, having an ex Iraqi war veteran speaking also in 2007 (APEC was on during the festival weekend), The Miscreants (world premiere) by George Gittoes in 2008 – the fact they gave us the premiere was incredible!, lots of amazing shorts films over the years, Kamahl singing “My Way” at the festival last year and the fact that we are still here (when we were worried we would be a one year pony and in lots of debt!)
Anything else? Anyone with a spare office to donate?
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
this week's controversial film: Autism: Made in the USA
This Thursday we'll be screening Autism: Made in the USA. This is a highly controversial film, as discovered by one of our staff members in a discussion on it today. She said:
"It's not about not vaccinating at all, it's about questioning the vaccines themselves, their ingredients, how many we give to children (when they are so young and under-developed to handle them all) and do they really need to contain a mercury product and is this mercury product (thermisol) a cause of autism?
By not questioning vaccinations (which I'm sure you can agree is a HUGE money spinner for pharmaceutical companies) we just don't know the damage they could be potentially causing. Thankfully mercury is being phased out and that is due to people questioning it (even though I just had 3 rounds of Gardisal and then looked up the ingredients to find a range of stuff including Thermisol!!)
But there is still not enough investigation into vaccines and we just take whatever we are told to by doctors. I had NO IDEA all this was going on. Isn't our job to question - particularly pharmaceutical companies?
Unfortunately you do get people on the opposite side taking a no-vaccine approach (which I don't agree with) because they are scared (you would be too if you look at the ingredients found in vaccines!). So if there was more investigation into vaccines and as you'll see in the film, a campaign to "green our vaccines" then we can hopefully come to a successful and healthy conclusion. Anyway that's just my thoughts...."
We'd love to have you come to the Sydney screening and discuss your thoughts after seeing the movie. The screening is to be held at the Mu Meson Archives.
Address: Cnr Parramatta Rd & Trafalgar St Annandale - behind the King Furniture building up the steel staircase
Date: Thursday 12 August 2010
Time: 7:30pm for 8 start (sharp)
Price: $10 at the door - includes glass of wine
Tickets to SUFF main events can be purchased here.
"It's not about not vaccinating at all, it's about questioning the vaccines themselves, their ingredients, how many we give to children (when they are so young and under-developed to handle them all) and do they really need to contain a mercury product and is this mercury product (thermisol) a cause of autism?
By not questioning vaccinations (which I'm sure you can agree is a HUGE money spinner for pharmaceutical companies) we just don't know the damage they could be potentially causing. Thankfully mercury is being phased out and that is due to people questioning it (even though I just had 3 rounds of Gardisal and then looked up the ingredients to find a range of stuff including Thermisol!!)
But there is still not enough investigation into vaccines and we just take whatever we are told to by doctors. I had NO IDEA all this was going on. Isn't our job to question - particularly pharmaceutical companies?
Unfortunately you do get people on the opposite side taking a no-vaccine approach (which I don't agree with) because they are scared (you would be too if you look at the ingredients found in vaccines!). So if there was more investigation into vaccines and as you'll see in the film, a campaign to "green our vaccines" then we can hopefully come to a successful and healthy conclusion. Anyway that's just my thoughts...."
We'd love to have you come to the Sydney screening and discuss your thoughts after seeing the movie. The screening is to be held at the Mu Meson Archives.
Address: Cnr Parramatta Rd & Trafalgar St Annandale - behind the King Furniture building up the steel staircase
Date: Thursday 12 August 2010
Time: 7:30pm for 8 start (sharp)
Price: $10 at the door - includes glass of wine
Tickets to SUFF main events can be purchased here.
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Welcome to the first post!
Helllooooo out there! Welcome to our blog!
The 2010 festival is only 3 months away (9-12 September 2010) and we thank you for your interest in our festival! Your grassroots support is always welcome so please spread the SUFF love and keep in touch with us in the following ways...
Via the website (www.suff.com.au), blog (you are on it!), FB (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sydney-Underground-Film-Festival/13013644783) and twitter (http://twitter.com/sufilmfest).
Also please be aware FILMMAKERS - final entries are due in June so get entering via WITHOUTABOX (https://www.withoutabox.com/login/5828) or contact us for an entry form (you can enter via PAYPAL, direct deposit or Australia Post money order). Entries close June 11 or if you really need an extension - plead your case to kath@suff.com.au :)
Much love from SUFF
info@suff.com.au
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