As was blogged previously, SUFF co-presented the Australian premiere of Lunopolis with Fantastic Planet Film Festival last Monday at the Dendy, Newtown.
Fantastic Planet described Lunopolis as "The X-Files meets The Blair Witch Project", which is the most accurate description you'll find anywhere.
The film follows the story of two documentarians who accidentally uncover proof of a hidden city on the moon, and the secret society determined to keep it hidden (www.lunopolis.com). It touches on many of the hottest of conspiracy topics - aliens, déjà vu, time travel, area 51, immortality, a secret moon base, the explanation of the mysteries surrounding Dec 21, 2012 and more - yet manages to skillfully avoid the pitfalls usually associated with films who tackle these subjects.
As a low budget film, the filmmakers did extraordinarily well - proving once again how substance can win hands down over Hollywood gloss.
Screened with Lunopolis was the captivating short "The Chronoscope" - a mocumentary about a beautiful scientist in the 1930s who invents a machine that can see into the past. Funny and intelligent, if you watched it on tv you'd be forgiven for wondering if it were real!
And while we're speaking of shorts... Fantastic Planet Film Festival continues tonight with short film sessions 2 and 3, which are definitely not to be missed. See you there!
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Monday, 1 November 2010
SUFF co-presents LUNOPOLIS with Fantastic Planet
Quick post to remind you all that our co-present of LUNOPOLIS is TONIGHT (Monday 1 November, 7pm) at Dendy Newtown.
We love the Fantastic Planet Film Festival - not to mention their sister festival A Night of Horror - their programming is always creative and surprising.
Anyway back to Lunopolis! Tonight is the premiere and we're really thrilled to be part of it. We know you'll love the film as much as we do, so see you there!
the SUFF team
PS If you can't make tonight, there's still plenty on during the week.
We love the Fantastic Planet Film Festival - not to mention their sister festival A Night of Horror - their programming is always creative and surprising.
Anyway back to Lunopolis! Tonight is the premiere and we're really thrilled to be part of it. We know you'll love the film as much as we do, so see you there!
the SUFF team
PS If you can't make tonight, there's still plenty on during the week.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
SUFF screens at Rosnay Organic Farms in Canowindra, Central West NSW
The rain poured down as we drove through the farm gate. Pulling up close to the house after hours of driving, we looked around uncertainly. We were supposed to be screening here, but hadn't counted on the weather. And where was everyone? Kath dashed to the house to find someone while the rest of us waited in the relative warmth of the car. She came back quickly. No-one there!With our phones uselessly out of range, we were wondering what to do next when an eerie feeling caused me to looked up. A sillhouette in the doorway of another building! Uncertainly, Kath jumped out again to speak with the stranger, while we contemplated our chances of getting out alive... this was just a little too much like a B-grade horror... *
...and then back to reality when the sillhouette turned out to be the lovely Sam from Rosnay. Yes, we had arrived at Rosnay Organic Farms, one of SUFF's supporting partners. He gave directions to our new screening destination.
Only slightly disappointed that we weren't starring in our own horror flick, we headed to the hall to screen some of the shorts which featured in this year's festival.
While the numbers were lower than expected due to the rain and fears of flash flooding, we can safely say that everyone present had a ball! With dinner cooked and served by Florence and the Rosnay wines flowing freely, there was no chance of anything other than a good time to be had. In contrast to the weather, our hosts and the locals were completely warm and welcoming.
But the country hospitality didn't end there. After the screening we headed back to the Rosnay farm to the cottage they rent out (from $150 per night for 2 people up to $350 for six in case you're wondering). Totally gorgeous! And as were were to find out the next day, the views were as stunning as the location was peaceful. So much for our horror film scenario.
Canowindra (for some reason pronounced ca-NOWn-dra, took us city folk a while to get that one right!) is a picturesque little town around 45 minutes' drive south-west of Orange. We decided to check out Canowindra's main street and raid the local op shops.
Later we were shown around the vineyard and then invited to have dinner with Sam and his beautiful family in their home, a straw bale house they'd built themselves. Inspirational!
All in all, with the screening, the wines, the location but most of all the company of the locals, this visit was one that we'll remember for a long time.
You can check out our photos here!
*This and the preceding paragraph may not be entirely factual, in the interests of a good story.
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
THE SYDNEY UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL TO SURFACE IN CENTRAL WEST NSW
The best of the Sydney Underground Film Festival is heading to the Rosnay Winery, located near Cowra in Central West NSW, to celebrate independent filmmaking and organic wine with the local community.
Members of the public are invited to bring a picnic rug, sit back and relax with quality, independent films under the stars. Guests will also be invited to try Rosnay’s quality organic wines or their world-class olives and figs.
The Sydney Underground Film Festival (SUFF) showcases unique and entertaining films that challenge the conservative conventions of filmmaking and supports filmmakers who push their filmmaking practice in both form and content.
SUFF’s 2010 festival at the Factory Theatre recently screened 89 films to sell-out crowds over one huge weekend, and the Rosnay event will showcase a number of the award-winning films from the 2010 festival.
SUFF is a natural partnership for Rosnay who are long-time supporters of the arts and have previously sponsored events such as the Peats Ridge Festival as well as events for artists, galleries and musicians.
WHERE: Rosnay Winery - Rivers Road (4 km from the turnoff on the Cowra Road, outside Canowindra)
COST: $15 for films only. $30 for films and dinner. Tickets available at the door.
TIME: 5.30pm for music, drinks and dinner (RSVP only). Films commence from 7.00pm.
RSVP (for dinner): Monday 11 October
ALCOHOL: Cellar Door is licensed: No BYO
BRING: Folding chair, rug, cushions etc For more information contact: Belinda Worsley - Kabuku Public Relations T: 0415 686 014 E: Belinda@kabukupr.com.au
Members of the public are invited to bring a picnic rug, sit back and relax with quality, independent films under the stars. Guests will also be invited to try Rosnay’s quality organic wines or their world-class olives and figs.
The Sydney Underground Film Festival (SUFF) showcases unique and entertaining films that challenge the conservative conventions of filmmaking and supports filmmakers who push their filmmaking practice in both form and content.
SUFF’s 2010 festival at the Factory Theatre recently screened 89 films to sell-out crowds over one huge weekend, and the Rosnay event will showcase a number of the award-winning films from the 2010 festival.
SUFF is a natural partnership for Rosnay who are long-time supporters of the arts and have previously sponsored events such as the Peats Ridge Festival as well as events for artists, galleries and musicians.
WHERE: Rosnay Winery - Rivers Road (4 km from the turnoff on the Cowra Road, outside Canowindra)
COST: $15 for films only. $30 for films and dinner. Tickets available at the door.
TIME: 5.30pm for music, drinks and dinner (RSVP only). Films commence from 7.00pm.
RSVP (for dinner): Monday 11 October
ALCOHOL: Cellar Door is licensed: No BYO
BRING: Folding chair, rug, cushions etc For more information contact: Belinda Worsley - Kabuku Public Relations T: 0415 686 014 E: Belinda@kabukupr.com.au
THE SYDNEY UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL TO SURFACE IN CENTRAL WEST NSW
The best of the Sydney Underground Film Festival is heading to the Rosnay Winery, located near Cowra in Central West NSW, to celebrate independent filmmaking and organic wine with the local community.
Members of the public are invited to bring a picnic rug, sit back and relax with quality, independent films under the stars. Guests will also be invited to try Rosnay’s quality organic wines or their world-class olives and figs.
The Sydney Underground Film Festival (SUFF) showcases unique and entertaining films that challenge the conservative conventions of filmmaking and supports filmmakers who push their filmmaking practice in both form and content. SUFF’s 2010 festival at the Factory Theatre recently screened 89 films to sell-out crowds over one huge weekend, and the Rosnay event will showcase a number of the award-winning films from the 2010 festival.
SUFF is a natural partnership for Rosnay who are long-time supporters of the arts and have previously sponsored events such as the Peats Ridge Festival as well as events for artists, galleries and musicians.
WHERE: Rosnay Winery - Rivers Road (4 km from the turnoff on the Cowra Road, outside Canowindra)
COST: $15 for films only. $30 for films and dinner. Tickets available at the door.
TIME: 5.30pm for music, drinks and dinner (RSVP only).
Films commence from 7.00pm.
RSVP (for dinner): Monday 11 October
ALCOHOL: Cellar Door is licensed: No BYO
BRING: Folding chair, rug, cushions etc
For more information contact: Belinda Worsley - Kabuku Public Relations
T: 0415 686 014 E: Belinda@kabukupr.com.au
Members of the public are invited to bring a picnic rug, sit back and relax with quality, independent films under the stars. Guests will also be invited to try Rosnay’s quality organic wines or their world-class olives and figs.
The Sydney Underground Film Festival (SUFF) showcases unique and entertaining films that challenge the conservative conventions of filmmaking and supports filmmakers who push their filmmaking practice in both form and content. SUFF’s 2010 festival at the Factory Theatre recently screened 89 films to sell-out crowds over one huge weekend, and the Rosnay event will showcase a number of the award-winning films from the 2010 festival.
SUFF is a natural partnership for Rosnay who are long-time supporters of the arts and have previously sponsored events such as the Peats Ridge Festival as well as events for artists, galleries and musicians.
WHERE: Rosnay Winery - Rivers Road (4 km from the turnoff on the Cowra Road, outside Canowindra)
COST: $15 for films only. $30 for films and dinner. Tickets available at the door.
TIME: 5.30pm for music, drinks and dinner (RSVP only).
Films commence from 7.00pm.
RSVP (for dinner): Monday 11 October
ALCOHOL: Cellar Door is licensed: No BYO
BRING: Folding chair, rug, cushions etc
For more information contact: Belinda Worsley - Kabuku Public Relations
T: 0415 686 014 E: Belinda@kabukupr.com.au
Friday, 10 September 2010
'The Taint' review by Yasmin Vought screens 10 September
The Taint certainly is one of the most horrendously grotesque films of this year. Banned (or soon to be banned) in pretty much every state and territory that it was released in, it promises to shock, disgust, infuriate and disturb you to the core. The Taint is described as a satirical horror-comedy seeking to expose the misogynistic views of contemporary genre films, by being the most misogynistic film of all time.
My viewing notes for this film pretty much read as follows; “Penis…. Is that Corey, the social networking party dude? Human faeces… penis… severed penis… pinball music… penis… ahh that’s what ‘taint’ means… smashed heads… sperm explosion…” In light of this quite simplistic method of film analysis, please forgive me if I do not give you the usual run down on how tight the editing was and the details of fancy cinematography techniques, such as the depth of field in the face-mutilation scene. Because let’s face it, that would just be missing the point entirely. This is a trash film, best viewed trashed (responsibly and on SUFF wine of choice ‘Rosnay’ wine, of course!) or at least with your sense of humour intact and your mind firmly planted in the gutter.
Essentially this film is a horror comedy in the style of ‘Cannibal: The Musical’ and in my opinion, inspired by classics such as Dario Argento horror masterpiece, ‘Suspiria’ and countless John Waters trash flicks. The Taint’s film genre also borders on tacky romance at some points, with a few flashback scenes that are presented in a spoof soap opera style. Think ‘Mills and Boone’ meets ‘Passions’, only with mutilation and sexual violence. Ahh zombie love…
Drew Bolduc, the lead Actor and Director of ‘The Taint’ will be doing a Q&A after the SUFF screening of his film this Friday night at The Factory Theatre, Marrickville. His character, Phil O’Ginny, reminds me of a mutant cross between Matt Stone and Napolean Dynamite. Drew also acted in and directed a short film in 2008 called ‘The Godening’, in which a young man loses his religion and becomes a hedonist and an alcoholic. He then has to battle Satan to save his soul from eternal damnation. I must see this film! Until then, I’ll be heading to the Factory Theatre this Friday night to watch ‘The Taint’ with some like minded creeps and weirdos and to hopefully ask Drew what his fascination is with bodily fluids and smashed heads. Catch this film before it’s banned!
My viewing notes for this film pretty much read as follows; “Penis…. Is that Corey, the social networking party dude? Human faeces… penis… severed penis… pinball music… penis… ahh that’s what ‘taint’ means… smashed heads… sperm explosion…” In light of this quite simplistic method of film analysis, please forgive me if I do not give you the usual run down on how tight the editing was and the details of fancy cinematography techniques, such as the depth of field in the face-mutilation scene. Because let’s face it, that would just be missing the point entirely. This is a trash film, best viewed trashed (responsibly and on SUFF wine of choice ‘Rosnay’ wine, of course!) or at least with your sense of humour intact and your mind firmly planted in the gutter.
Essentially this film is a horror comedy in the style of ‘Cannibal: The Musical’ and in my opinion, inspired by classics such as Dario Argento horror masterpiece, ‘Suspiria’ and countless John Waters trash flicks. The Taint’s film genre also borders on tacky romance at some points, with a few flashback scenes that are presented in a spoof soap opera style. Think ‘Mills and Boone’ meets ‘Passions’, only with mutilation and sexual violence. Ahh zombie love…
Drew Bolduc, the lead Actor and Director of ‘The Taint’ will be doing a Q&A after the SUFF screening of his film this Friday night at The Factory Theatre, Marrickville. His character, Phil O’Ginny, reminds me of a mutant cross between Matt Stone and Napolean Dynamite. Drew also acted in and directed a short film in 2008 called ‘The Godening’, in which a young man loses his religion and becomes a hedonist and an alcoholic. He then has to battle Satan to save his soul from eternal damnation. I must see this film! Until then, I’ll be heading to the Factory Theatre this Friday night to watch ‘The Taint’ with some like minded creeps and weirdos and to hopefully ask Drew what his fascination is with bodily fluids and smashed heads. Catch this film before it’s banned!
El Monstro Del Mar! review by Yasmin Vought screens 10 September
Described as an Ozploitation genre film, Stuart Simpson’s El Monstro Del Mar is a tale of three foxy rockabilly babes - hired assassins hiding away in a seaside village after a big job. Amazonian goddess Beretta (Nelli Scarlet) appears to be the leader of the pack, and has a dominance and presence on screen that forces you to pay attention - or else she will probably slit your throat and feed you to her two sidekicks! Beretta‘s punk rock attitude (Nelli is the frontwoman of Melbourne band, The Scarlets) is reminiscent of Suburban Mayhem beauty Katrina Skinner (played by Emily Barclay) and is complimented by the more subdued nature of Blondie (Karli Madden)and the sexual allure of the Morticia-meets-Elvira raven haired vixen, Snowball (Kate Watts).
The leading ladies are quite believable in their parts, almost as though they were plucked straight from their crème Cadillac, cruising around the streets of Melbourne, cranking The Cramps on their stereo. After watching El Monstro Del Mar, I want to join their crew and drink whiskey with them and go on a sexy car stealing, killing rampage on the South coast.
However, it’s not all fun and cruising, because just when we think that the girls are indestructible, they get themselves into a bit of trouble in this apparently not so sleepy seaside town by swimming in the forbidden beach. Channelling The Mighty Boosh’s tale of Ol’ Gregg, there is something deadly and frightening that lurks beneath the sea, and it’s not happy about being disturbed. Without spoiling the plot too much, this film quickly becomes a monstrous revenge film that would make Tarantino and the residents of Tromaville equally proud.
The combination of ass-kicking babes reminiscent of Russ-Meyer femme revenge flick, ‘Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill’ together with an amped up killer alt-country, rockabilly soundtrack to boot, make this film well worth your time and your pretty little pennies. If only to witness the sexy black and white opening title, or the frightening death skull dream sequence toward the middle. The cinematography is also quite exquisite and filmed almost entirely with an over saturated and highly contrasted film stock, giving the film a surreal and fantastical atmosphere. I half expected to see some Western clad Mermaids emerging from the waters, but let’s save that for the sequel (fingers crossed).
El Monstro Del Mar is showing this Saturday at the Factory Theatre in Marrickville at 4pm and will be followed by an exclusive Q&A with Writer and Director, Stuart Simpson and the Monstro crew.
The leading ladies are quite believable in their parts, almost as though they were plucked straight from their crème Cadillac, cruising around the streets of Melbourne, cranking The Cramps on their stereo. After watching El Monstro Del Mar, I want to join their crew and drink whiskey with them and go on a sexy car stealing, killing rampage on the South coast.
However, it’s not all fun and cruising, because just when we think that the girls are indestructible, they get themselves into a bit of trouble in this apparently not so sleepy seaside town by swimming in the forbidden beach. Channelling The Mighty Boosh’s tale of Ol’ Gregg, there is something deadly and frightening that lurks beneath the sea, and it’s not happy about being disturbed. Without spoiling the plot too much, this film quickly becomes a monstrous revenge film that would make Tarantino and the residents of Tromaville equally proud.
The combination of ass-kicking babes reminiscent of Russ-Meyer femme revenge flick, ‘Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill’ together with an amped up killer alt-country, rockabilly soundtrack to boot, make this film well worth your time and your pretty little pennies. If only to witness the sexy black and white opening title, or the frightening death skull dream sequence toward the middle. The cinematography is also quite exquisite and filmed almost entirely with an over saturated and highly contrasted film stock, giving the film a surreal and fantastical atmosphere. I half expected to see some Western clad Mermaids emerging from the waters, but let’s save that for the sequel (fingers crossed).
El Monstro Del Mar is showing this Saturday at the Factory Theatre in Marrickville at 4pm and will be followed by an exclusive Q&A with Writer and Director, Stuart Simpson and the Monstro crew.
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