The Brisbane International Film Festival 2022 Program Revealed
Brisbane International Film Festival’s program of films is an abundance of cinematic gems. From Queensland Premiere of seriously red, an intense romantic comedy, to Closing Night Red Carpet Gala premiere of Sweet As (described as The Breakfast Club meets Outback coming-of-age story), audiences can discover something for themselves at this festival.
Film festivals serve as invaluable’sites of memory’ through their programming, screenings and engagement with audiences. This essay investigates how BIFF stands as an iconic festival with its own distinct ‘festival memory’ for audiences and staff members alike.
Table of Contents
Seriously Red
BIFF 2022 will begin with the Queensland premiere of Seriously Red, an entertaining romantic comedy about taking risks and channeling one’s inner Dolly Parton. Written and directed by Gracie Otto and featuring Krew Boylan from McLeod’s Daughters, Wild Boys, A Place to Call Home and Schapelle among many others – this will mark an exciting start.
She will be joined onscreen by an array of Australian talent including Daniel Webber, Celeste Barber and Bobby Cannavale. Additionally, this festival will showcase short films from around Australia with one such as RIDE Shorts Gala featuring six inventive works produced with funding from Screen Queensland’s RIDE Shorts Initiative.
Jahvis Loveday hails from the northern Rivers region of NSW. He graduated with his bachelor of film from SAE Institute and boasts various TV and short film credits to his name. His debut feature film ‘Killer Native’ was selected for First Nations Creators Program before its international premiere at Series Mania 2020.
Sweet As
Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) has unveiled an exceptional 2022 program, boasting award-winners, anticipated releases from esteemed directors and home grown content. Kicking off with Leah Purcell in The Drover’s Wife as its Queensland Premiere; while Memoria by Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Grand Jury prize winner from Cannes featuring Tilda Swinton will premiere for Australia premiere.
BIFF is also pleased to present the RIDE Shorts Gala, an exciting showcase of five short films created through Screen Queensland’s RIDE Shorts Initiative. This year’s lineup of movies includes Monster Fest winner Sweet Mary, Where Did You Go? – which has already been selected for official competition at one of the oldest film festivals worldwide: Moscow International Film Festival 44th Moscow International Film Festival, an Academy Awards qualifying festival. What an outstanding achievement and honour this is for our state!
The Banshees of Inisherin
With rugged landscapes, eccentric characters, and intriguing legends aplenty, Inisherin is a vivid backdrop for this bleak yet comic comedy from Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri). Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan stand up admirably as leading actors.
Keoghan and Farrell have made careers out of depicting men behaving badly, and they’re on top form here. Gleeson makes grumbles into an artform while Condon delivers his lines with warranted frustration but genuine concern. The Banshees of Inisherin is an emotionally gripping story about one man losing their sense of purpose and ultimately grip on reality – an example which could apply to anyone, not just rural sheepherders and their duplicitous friend.
Tar
Cate Blanchett plays Lydia Tar, an iconic orchestral composer renowned for her orchestral compositions. Produced and directed by Todd Field, TAR combines historical context with an emotionally charged present day narrative encompassing obsession, artistic freedom and resilience.
Mat is responsible for overseeing film submissions as well as industry development and audience expansion, possessing an established curatorial voice with passion for cinema. He previously managed Mercury Cinema programming team as they established one of Adelaide’s key cultural institutions by introducing programs like Seniors on Screen.
By submitting your film to BIFF, you indemnify it from any claims brought against it related to its submission, and grant BIFF an Australian royalty-free non-exclusive licence for creating professional session compiles and screening it at the Festival. Furthermore, you give BIFF the right to use excerpts of your Film for publicity or promotional purposes related to BIFF.
