Described as “Australia’s independent showcase for the edgiest filmmakers on the planet,” the 8th Byron Bay International Film Festival kicked off on Friday, February 28th and runs through March 9th, 2014. The festival opened with the Australian premiere of WHEN MY SORROW DIED: THE LEGEND OF ARMEN RA & THE THEREMIN – the candidly told life story of Armen Ra, who toured with Nick Cave and whose performance Debby Harry describes as ‘beyond’. RISE OF THE ECO WARRIORS closes the festival.15 brave and passionate young people and one scientist step up against rampant destruction in Borneo to save its Orangutans.
Other film highlights include:
Multi-award winning anti-fracking doco GASLAND 2 from Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated director and ativist, Josh Fox. Nominee, Best Film; Best Environmental Film; Best Documentary
Australian premiere of WHEN MY SORROW DIED: THE LEGEND OF ARMEN RA & THE THEREMIN – the candidly told life story of Armen Ra, who toured with Nick Cave and whose performance Debby Harry describes as ‘beyond’. Opening Night Film. Nominee, Best Film, Best Documentary
World premiere of the gobsmacking DWARVES KINGDOM – about a real life fantastical mountain village built for 3,000 Chinese dwarves.
Game-changing Australian gay surf film OUT IN THE LINE UP cracks open homophobia in this Aussie way of life. Nominee, Best Surf Film.
THE INTERVIEWER by former Tropfest winner, Genevieve Clay-Smith, and co-created with 12 people living with a disability.
World premiere of highly anticipated, A WOMAN’S DEEPER JOURNEY INTO SEX starring infamous Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss and pornstar Jesse Jane
A GUERRA DA BEATRIZ, the first post-war dramatic feature film from East Timor. Nominee, Best Dramatic Feature
World premiere of Aussie surf film BURRAJURRA, a doco about the life-changing indigenous surf charity featuring champions Layne Beachleyand Josh Melling. Nominee, Best Surf Film
RISE OF THE ECO WARRIORS closes the festival.15 brave and passionate young people and one scientist step up against rampant destruction in Borneo to save its Orangutans. Nominee, Best Environmental Film.
Girls go hard in New Zealand’s PRETTY BRUTAL about the highs and lows of the roller derby scene – one of six films to be shown at the Festival’s showcase for International Women’s Day on 8 March
THE ACTIVIST. A thriller set in 1973 about two Native American activists embroiled in a secret that stretches all the way to Hollywood and Nixon. Nominee, Best Film, Best Dramatic Feature
THE DEFLOWERING OF EVA VAN END. A Wes Anderson-style feature about a family aflutter when an Adonis-like exchange student moves in. Nominee, Best Film, Best Dramatic Feature
A cross-cultural dance fusion from the streets of New York to farthest India, UPAJ: IMPROVISE. Stars Emmy-winner, Jason Samuels-Smith. Nominee, Best film, Best Documentary.
image via ianyanmag
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