Brisbane film festival opens with The Sweeney
The Brisbane International Film Festival has announced its opening and closing films. In its 21st year, the festival will open on 14 November with The Sweeney, directed by Nick Love and starring Ray Winstone and Hayley Atwell. The festival will close with Anna Karenina, starring Keira Knightley and directed by Joe Wright.
The announcement:
Arts Minister Ros Bates has opened the envelope to reveal the two big name premiere films chosen to open and close Screen Queensland’s 21st Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF).
The curtain goes up on Queensland’s number one film event on 14 November with The Sweeney, the action-packed reincarnation of the seminal 1970’s British police drama starring Ray Winstone (Sexy Beats, The Departed) and co-starring Damian Lewis and Hayley Atwell.
The festival will close on 24 November with the eagerly-anticipated adaptation of Russian classic Anna Karenina, reuniting lead actress Keira Knightley with her Atonement and Pride and Prejudice director, Joe Wright.
This audacious effort also stars Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, Contagion) and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy, Kick-Ass) and re-interprets Leo Tolstoy’s beloved novel.
“BIFF is serving up a sumptuous treat for film fans with the Australian premieres of both The Sweeney and Anna Karenina as the main gala events of this year’s festival,” Ms Bates said.
“Brisbane will be the place to be for film lovers and filmmakers, with the first-time collaboration of the event with the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), the region’s highest accolade in film.
“BIFF and APSA will be working together to feature APSA selected and nominated films, and “in conversation” sessions with APSA guests at BIFF’s popular industry days. The APSA awards night is on November 23.
“The film industry in Queensland is an economic and cultural success story, and the partnership is a unique meeting of the Australian and Asian screen sectors.”
Ms Bates said the exciting headline titles were indicative of the growing caliber and stature of BIFF which in 2011 attracted audiences of more than 22,600, an increase of 13 percent on 2010.
The 2012 program will also feature titles in the second annual BIFFDOCS competition, a $25,000 initiative offering Australia’s richest prize for documentary film making.
The entire BIFF program for 2012 will be revealed on October 22.
Tickets for opening and closing nights and festival passes are now on sale.
For more information go to www.biff.com.au
Source: Brisbane International Film Festival press release
