Four Australian short films accepted to Berlin International Film Festival
Four Australian short films have been selected to the Berlin International Film Festival.
The films are: You Like it, I Love It by writer director James Vaughan, The Amber Amulet written by Matthew Moore and Genevieve Hegney, directed by Moore; Summer Suit by director/producer Rebecca Peniston-Bird and writer Francesca Sciacca and Yardbird directed by Michael Spiccia and written by Julius Avery. Yardbird was accepted into Cannes last year.
The announcement:
Australian short films will have a strong presence at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival, with four films selected to screen in the Generation program, a section devoted to children and young people.
The films selected will include the world premiere of The Amber Amulet in Generation Kplus, the story of a superhero, a beagle, an amulet made of amber, and the potential that is locked inside all of us. The film is directed by Matthew Moore and co-written by Matthew Moore and Genevieve Hegney adapted from the novella of the same name by Craig Silvey. This will be Matthew Moore’s second short film screening at Berlinale, after Julian won the Crystal Bear Award for Best Short Film in Generation Kplus at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival.
Also screening in Generation Kplus, Summer Suit tells the story of 10-year-old tomboy Robbie, whose discovery of an old suit gives her a new sense of identity. Set over the summer of 1987, Summer Suit is inspired by screenwriter Francesca Sciacca’s own childhood in the country town of Euroa, where her dad ran the local service station. The film is directed and produced by Rebecca Peniston-Bird and will have its world premiere at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival which takes place 18–24 January in Park City, Utah.
Selected for the Generation 14plus section, You Like It, I Love It from writer/director James Vaughan is a surreal, meandering comedy about two brothers, a 24-hour veterinary service made of glass and an idea to deliver a sustainable musical spectacle to Australian primary schools. You Like It, I Love It will have its world premiere at the International Short Film Festival of Clermont-Ferrand commencing 1 February.
Screening in Generation 14plus, the Australian short film Yardbird directed by Michael Spiccia, produced by Jessica Mitchell and written by Julius Avery is about a young girl who takes on the local bullies that torment her father. The film screened in Competition at the Festival de Cannes 2012. Yardbird received funding through Screen Australia’s Short Film Completion program. Julius Avery is currently in pre-production on his first feature film, Son of a Gun, starring Ewan McGregor.
These four shorts will join Australian feature films The Rocket and Satellite Boy, recently announced by Berlinale, which will also screen in the Generation section.
The Berlin International Film Festival will take place 7–17 February 2013.
www.berlinale.de
GENERATION KPLUS
THE AMBER AMULET
22.25 mins
Production Companies Goalpost Pictures and Year of the Rabbit Films
Writers Matthew Moore, Genevieve Hegney
Adapted from the novella by Craig Silvey
Director Matthew Moore
Producers Lauren Edwards, Genevieve Hegney, Matthew Moore
Cast Ed Oxenbould, Genevieve Hegney, Eliza Logan
Synopsis This is the story of a superhero, a beagle, an amulet made of amber, and the potential that is locked inside all of us.
SUMMER SUIT
15 mins
Director/Producer Rebecca Peniston-Bird
Writer Francesca Sciacca
Cast Diana Glenn, Bethanie Whitmore, Damian Walshe-Howling
Synopsis Over the summer of 1987, 10-year-old tomboy Robbie suffers from occasional seizures which make her feel like a freak. When she discovers a discarded two-piece suit, she feels she has found a new identity. But when her suit fails her, a crisis looms.
GENERATION 14PLUS
YARDBIRD
13.5 mins
Production Companies Buffalo Films and Bridle Path Films in association with Good Oil Films
Writer Julius Avery
Director Michael Spiccia
Producer Jessica Mitchell
Cast Mitzi Ruhlmann, Wade Briggs, Luke Elliot, James Malcher, Matt Callan
Synopsis Yardbird is a film about a young girl who lives in a remote wrecking yard who takes on the local bullies when they travel out to torment her father.
YOU LIKE IT, I LOVE IT
16 mins
Writer/Director James Vaughan
Producer Olivia Hantken
Cast Kirin J Callinan, Alexander Vaughan, Greg Zimbulis
Synopsis Roberto and Chris have the house to themselves. Their neighbour, Tony, has an idea for a sustainable musical extravaganza he thinks could successfully tour Australian primary schools by rail.
Source: Screen Australia press release
