The Film in Revolt team reveal what they are looking forward to at the upcoming Sydney Film Festival. This year we will be everywhere at the festival again with extensive youth film coverage and interviews! The festival runs from the 5 – 16 June and checkout the youth pass (for 15 – 25 years) to get you access.
Amelia
The Minuscule series was one of my favourites when I was younger and I can’t wait to watch Minuscule – Mandibles from Far Away. Also on my watch list is the documentary The Final Quarter. I’m looking forward to seeing how archival footage is used to retell Adam Goodes’ fight against racism.
Jacinthe
Two films that I’m incredibly keen to see are Her Smell and The Dead Don’t Die. Her Smell caught my eye after rave reviews from its premiere at Toronto Film Festival in 2018, and Jim Jarmusch’s new film is a zombie comedy with an all star cast including Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton and Chloe Sevigny – so what’s not to love?
Tiana
May El-Toucky’s provocative film Queen of Hearts due to the hefty debate it engages with on morality versus raw desire when exploring the illicit relationship between a woman and her stepson. By contrast, The Third Wife drew me in with its gorgeous cinematography of the rural Vietnamese landscape and the understated yet captivating acting of its lead.
Janine
I’m beyond excited to see High Life and experience french director Claire Denis’ entrance into the sci-fi thriller genre. There’s also no way I’m missing out on Amanda Kramer’s Ladyworld – a reimagining of Lord of the Flies in which teenage girls are trapped in an endless birthday party and slowly lose their sanity.
Michael
I really want to try and stray from the Official Competition films this year so I’m keen to watch Why don’t you just die!, which is giving me Crazy-Russian-Pulp-Fiction-Vibes, and Daniel’s Not Real, which is a horror with an intriguing premise.
Mischa
So many films caught my eye but I really like the look of Daniel Isn’t Real in the Freak me out program and Anthropocene: The Human Epoch looks visually stunning. The Poetry Slam after the screening of Partho – Sen Gupta’s Slam looks cool. I’m thrilled to be attending the festival again.
Bonnie
Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts – Being a a fan of Trixie Mattel, and having seen her live, I’ve been excited for this documentary the moment it was announced. Trixie’s drag exaggerates feminity, and exemplifies the plastic-Barbie fantasy with influences of country music legends like Dolly Parton. In providing a more intimate and comprehensive view into development of the public figure’s: life, drag, music and career, the documentary will reveal the reality of drag, document the rise of an all-star, and transpire an important story of the a current archetype of contemporary drag culture in mainstream media, i am certain the film will inspire every viewer.
Up the Mountain – Threatened by rapid urbanisation, the rich cultural heritage of China and the picturesque sights of its natural environment continue to decline when tradition and modernity come to a clash. As China continues to develop economically and technologically, traditional art techniques and its environment are being forgotten. Up the Mountain will provide an intricate “portrait of a community and the joy of creating”. In my writing, the rich imagery of Yunnan constantly serves as inspiration for my creative pieces. In my art practice, i am infinitely inspired by China’s art history and the paint-like features of film. I trust that the film will provide a bounty of lush, visual imagery that also serves as a reminder of the multifaceted nature of China.
Kena
I want to see School’s Out as it seems like a really well-crafted psychological thriller (my favourite genre!) about school students who are more than they seem… Something that relates to me. I also really want to see Vai – an anthology style film where six Indigenous women from nations in the South Pacific each star in a narrative segment as the character ‘Vai’ – it seems like a wicked feminist feature that’s different from your average film, and cultures of the South Pacific are very interesting to me.
Callum
Tito and the Birds blends my love of Roald Dahl books and dynamic visuals used by Tim Burton in his films to create a vibrant world that absorbs us into films visuals and story. Children of the Sea – As a child, I was introduced to the unique style of Japanese animation through the amazing films created by Studio Ghibli, this film captures the unique style that makes Studio Ghibli’s film so great.
Jennifer
Tito and the Birds – Besides the film looking visually stunning with its combinations of oil painting and digital animation mediums, the concept of fear being contagious is extremely intriguing to me and I am excited to watch how they try to eliminate fear in society.
The Final Quarter – As a major sports fan, it is only natural that I am drawn to a film such as this, especially about an athlete like Adam Goods. Adam Goods has been such a controversial figure in the sporting community so I would enjoy learning about different perspectives on the matter and his impact on the sport of AFL.
Nick
The Souvenir –––– I have heard lots of good things about this one and Parasite ––––– One of my favourite directors, Bong Joon Ho.
Jordan P
There are two stories set in contrasting worlds that catch my eye, yet birthed behind the scenes of Australia – I am Mother and The Nightingale.
Maddy
I love Australian comedy, so when you combine that with two of my favourite actors (Richard Grant and Sam Neill), It makes Palm Beach a film at the top of my list of things to see at SFF19. On a more dramatic level there are two movies I want to check out. Hearts and Bones looks like a brilliant Australian drama that has me wanting to know more. And in American drama, American Woman has a very intriguing storyline and I am very interested in seeing how this film develops.
Suzanna
The Third Wife as I am fascinated by polygamy in asian culture as I have heard about it in my own family’s history, and I also want to see The Souvenir as I’ve read great things about it.
Sydney Film Festival
5 – 16 June
This Q&A and party is an opportunity for under-25s to meet and speak with the emerging Australian filmmakers behind the films Suburban Wildlife and Sequin in a Blue Room. Find out how these young filmmakers got their first feature projects off the ground, then hang around afterwards for a chat and a snack.