10/08/08
IT'S A WRAP! Here's to a tremendous festival!
This year's St.George Bank BIFF has been one of the most successful festivals to date.

SHOWTIME AUDIENCE TOP 10 – As voted by you, the audience!

Top 10 Features
1. Persepolis
2. Lemon Tree
3. Son of Rambow
4. Hunger
5. Sukiyaki Western Django
6. In Bruges
7. Black Ice
8. Katyn
9. Redbelt
10. Lorna's Silence

Top 5 Documentaries
1. The Burning Season
2. Garbage Warrior
3. Global Metal
4. Man on Wire
5. Not Quite Hollywood

Top 5 Short
1. Take 3
2. Edgar and Elizabeth
3. The Funk
4. Seize the Day
5. Mutt

SELL OUT SESSIONS
We're thrilled with the number of sell out sessions this year -
and now you know why we urge you to book your tickets in advance!

Black Ice
Choke
Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?
When the Show Tent Came to My Town
Go West! A Lucky Luke Adventure
Hansel and Gretel
Z
My Winnipeg
3 Women
Great Australian Albums:
The Go-Betweens' 16 Lovers Lane
Great Australian Albums:
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' Murder Ballads
Four Women
Caramel
In Bruges
Revanche
QNFA Public Screenings
Persepolis
The Edge of Love

JURY AWARDS
This year the St.George Bank Brisbane International Film Festival was proud to once again host four juries; NETPAC for the promotion of films from the Asia Pacific region, FIPRESCI for the promotion of film and art to encourage new and young cinema, INTERFAITH for the promotion of humanitarian values and the CINE SPARKS JURY AWARD.

After a week of viewing films and careful deliberation all four juries proudly announced the winners of their respective awards last Sunday night.

NETPAC
The Network For the Promotion of Asian Cinema
Jurors: Jung Soo-wan, Jackie McKimmie andYing Liang
Recipient: FOSTER CHILD (dir Brillante Mendoza)

INTERFAITH
Interfaith Award is for Promoting Humanitarian Values
Jurors: Jenny McMillan, Halim Rane and Ghil'ad Zuckermann
Recipient: THE VISITOR (dir Thomas McCarthy)
High commendation was given to: LITTLE MOTH (dir Peng Tao)

FIPRESCI
Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique
Jurors: Bodo Fründt, Adrian Martin and Deb Verhoeven
Recipient: GOOD CATS (dir Ying Liang)

CINE SPARKS Jury Award
Jurors: Ben Osborn, Madeleine Bendixen, Oscar Jonsson, Dominique Tuck
Recipient: THE KING OF PING PONG (dir Jens Jonsson)

THE COURIER-MAIL QUEENSLAND SHORT FILM COMPETITION WINNERS
The Courier-Mail Queensland Short Film Competition Audience Favourite Award (Apple Mac Book Pro and iPod Touch 16GB valued at $3300 from our sponsor Cirrus):

NINE MILES BEAUTIFUL, directed by Marty Moynihan and produced by Peter Blackburn.

The Courier-Mail Queensland Short Film Competition Critics Choice Award ($5000 cash from our sponsors The Courier-Mail)

SEIZE THE DAY, directed by Alex Chomicz and produced by Wade Savage.

09/08/08
WHERE WILL YOU BE ON SUNDAY NIGHT?
End the festival with a bang with one (or even two) of the thrilling Closing Night films.

Tickets still available, but selling fast!

HEARTBEAT DETECTOR
A corporate thriller and philosophical commentary on the era of neo-liberal capitalism, Heartbeat Detector follows a psychologist as he investigates a seemingly erratic top executive in his own company.
Heartbeat Detector – Sun 10 Aug, 4pm - The Regent

FUNNY GAMES
Acclaimed Austrian director Michael Haneke (Hidden) updates his 1997 thriller of the same name with Naomi Watts and Tim Roth as the hapless couple forced to endure a series of torturous funny games at the request of two psychotic yet creepily-polite young men.
Funny Games – Sun 10 Aug, 4.10pm - The Regent

PUBLIC ENEMY: WELCOME TO THE TERRORDOME
A revealing and bold portrait on the revolutionary titans of rap and hip-hop, Public Enemy. Combining powerful live footage with interviews with the Beastie Boys, Henry Rollins and DMC.
Public Enemy: Welcome to the Terrordome – Sun 10 Aug, 7.30pm - Palace

Join DJ Capital from 6.45pm who will be scratching and spinning some of Public Enemy's greatest tracks as well as hip hop from the 90s.

WHAT WE DO IS SECRET
This wild biopic on lead singer of The Germs, Darby Crash, perfectly nails the danger, exhilaration and raw punk sounds of the scene. Starring Shane West and Bijou Phillips.
What We Do Is Secret – Sun 10 Aug, 8.40om - Palace

DEAD TIME: KALA
A narcoleptic reporter and a gay cop become ensnared in a vast conspiracy involving burnt corpses, secret treasure and an angel of death. Joko Anwars comic-book-mystery thriller is a cocktail of film noir, ghost story and political intrigue.
Dead Time: Kala – Sun 10 Aug, 6.30pm - Palace

DIARY OF THE DEAD
George A. Romero is back with another addition to his zombie cycle and its one of his best to date. Fusing a politically-charged subtext with jet-black humour and inventively gory set-pieces, Diary follows a group of film-school students who hit the road when the zombie plague strikes.
Diary of the Dead – Sun 10 Aug, 9.30pm - Palace

Audience Top 10 Vote
As the festival draws closer to the end, we have divided our Top Films, as voted by you, into three categories: FEATURE, DOCUMENTARY and SHORTS. There is still one day to go - be sure to vote!

Top 10 Features
1. Persepolis
2. Son of Rambow
3. In Bruges
4. The Visitor (screens again: Sun 10 Aug, 2pm - The Regent !SEE BELOW!)
5. Hunger
6. Redbelt
7. Lemon Tree
8. Katyn
9. Revanche
10. Lorna's Silence

Top 5 Documentaries
1. The Burning Season
2. Rain of the Children
3. Garbage Warrior
4. Man on Wire (screens again: Sun 10 Aug, 2.20pm - Palace)
5. Not Quite Hollywood

Top 5 Shorts
1. Courting With Justice
2. Seize the Day
3. The Funk
4. Take 3
5. Mutt



08/08/08
AUSTRALIAN CINEMA THIS WEEKEND!
St.George Bank BIFF's closing weekend features a strong focus on Australian Cinema. Be among the first to see the latest homegrown titles and participate in Q&A sessions with the filmmakers.

Son of a Lion
Benjamin Gilmour's assured debut examines the tensions between traditionalism and modernity in today's Pakistan, when a young boy seeks an education in place of his family's weapon-manufacturing business.
Sat 9 Aug, 2pm - The Regent
(Benjamin Gilmour will attend this session)

Three Blind Mice
On the eve of their scheduled departure, three naval officers spend a wild night in Sydney's CBD, but dark secrets threaten to shatter their uneasy friendship and send them AWOL. Directed by Matthew Newton and starring, Newton, Pia Miranda, Barry Otto and Gracie Otto.
Sat 9 Aug, 8.50pm - Palace
Sun 10 Aug, 2.30pm - Palace
(Matthew Newton and Gracie Otto will attend both sessions)

Kissing Paris
A lyrical, romantic story of one woman's journey from Melbourne to Paris to discover the truth about her mother's secret love letters. Haunting and heartfelt, Anna Kannava's sophomore dramatic feature is a powerful adventure with a uniquely Australian sensibility.
Sat 9 Aug, 12.10pm - Palace
(Anna Kannava will attend this session)

Lake Mungo
After a young woman drowns while swimming in a local dam, her grieving family experiences a series of strange and inexplicable events. A mystery thriller with documentary overtones, Lake Mungo is a powerful and unique debut from Joel Anderson.
Sat 9 Aug, 6.20pm - Palace
Sun 10 Aug, 12pm - Palace
(Joel Anderson will attend this session)

DIY - Distribution: – Maximise your chances of festival success
So, you've just made a fantastic short film and you want to start entering it into festivals... BUT:

• St Kilda or Melbourne – both film festivals want a première, so which one first?
• you're confused by the competitive Dendy Awards versus the non-competitive Sydney Film Festival?
• do you have a chance at Telluride?
  you want to enter Cannes/Berlin/Venice but don't have a 35mmfilm print should you tell them or not?
• which festivals look for Australian entries?
• what is the difference between Sundance, Slamdance, Moondance, and Raindance?
• what are festival prizes worth?

Want to know the answers? Then this four-hour seminar is for you!
Sat 9 Aug, 12pm - GoMA
$15 / $13.50 conc

SHOWTIME TOP 10 – (as at 8 August)
1. The Burning Season
2. Rain of The Children (screens again: Sat 9 Aug, 4.40pm)
3. The Man From Hong Kong
4. Son of Rambow
5. Man on Wire (screens again: Sun 10 Aug, 2.20pm)
6. In My Father's Country
7. The English Surgeon
8. Garbage Warrior (screens again: Sat 9 Aug, 5pm)
9. Hunger
10. Two Rivers



07/08/08
RESIST! – Resistance and Terrorism in Post-World War II Europe
Don't miss the strong line-up of films made by some of the world's greatest filmmakers, including RW Fassbinder, Claude Chabrol, Costa-Gavras and Gillo Pontecorvo. This may be your last chance to see these great films on the big screen.

The Films of Olivier Assayas
Renowned French autuer Olivier Assayas is known for his bold style and diverse filmography. St.George Bank BIFF has assembled a bite-sized programme of some of his earlier work.

Olivier, a past BIFF guest, has personally recorded video introductions for each of his films for our audience. See an Assayas DOUBLE this Saturday at Palace with PARIS AWAKENS followed by IRMA VEP.

SHOWTIME TOP 10 (as at 7 August)
1. The Burning Season
2. Rain of The Children (screens again: Sat 9 Aug, 4.40pm)
3. The Man From Hong Kong
4. Not Quite Hollywood
5. Son of Rambow
6. Man on Wire (screens again: Sun 10 Aug, 2.20pm)
7. In My Father's Country
8. The English Surgeon
9. Garbage Warrior (screens again: Sat 9 Aug, 5pm)
10. Hunger



06/08/08
FESTIVAL UPDATES
An extra session of Three Monkeys will screen in place of The Adventures of Barry McKenzie on Thurs 7 Aug, 9.20pm.

Barry McKenzie will now screen afterwards at 11.20pm. All pre-puchased tickets are valid for these sessions.

TONIGHT AT THE JIMBOUR WINES FESTIVAL CLUB
Don't miss Sita Sings the Blues director, Nina Paley's Q&A this evening at 6pm and totally FREE!

Asian Indie Cinema In Focus – Seminar, 8pm – FREE
Stick around for some wonderful live jazz music staight after. Have a drink and discuss the films you've seen/will see with a friend!

Tickets Released for the Chauvel Presentation
Friends and colleagues of Heath Ledger will attend the award presentation at The Regent on Thursday 7 August, 7pm. Hosted by David Stratton, the presentation will include interview and film material from Ledger's career.
Chauvel Presentation
Thurs 7 Aug, 7pm - The Regent

Choke
Another 140 tickets are now available for Choke. The film has been moved from Regent 1 to Regent 4 to satisfy demand. Customers who have tickets for Regent 1 can use them in Regent 4.
Choke
Sun 10 Aug, 7pm - The Regent

SHOWTIME TOP 10 (as at 6 August)
1. The Burning Season
2. Rain of The Children (screens again: Sat 9 Aug, 4.40pm)
3. The English Surgeon
4. The Man From Hong Kong
5. Hunger
6. Not Quite Hollywood (screens again: Wed 6 Aug, 2.30pm)
7. Son of Rambow
8. Man on Wire (screens again: Sun 10 Aug, 2.20pm)
9. In My Father's Country
10. Two Rivers



05/008/08
THREE MONKEYS – RE-SCHEDULED SCREENING
The THREE MONKEYS print has finally arrived! The new session is on
Thurs 7 Aug, 9.20pm at The Regent (cinema 1).

SPECIAL GUESTS AT THE FESTIVAL!
LORNA'S SILENCE – DIRECT FROM CANNES
Arta Dobroshi arrives in Brisbane! Arta is the star of the new Dardenne brothers film, LORNA'S SILENCE. Screening at St.George Bank BIFF directly from Cannes! Meet Arta and hear her speak about working with Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. The Dardenne's other award winning films include The Child, The Promise and The Son.

Lorna's Silence
Tues 5 Aug, 6.30pm - The Regent
Wed 6 Aug, 9pm - Palace
Tickets still available, but selling fast.

WONDERFUL TOWN
Aditya Assarat has just arrived in Brisbane for the screening of his multi-award winning film, WONDERFUL TOWN. It is a beautiful love story set in a small Thai town recovering after the 2004 tsunami. A festival must-see.

Wonderful Town
Tues 5 Aug, 7.15pm - Palace
Wed 6 Aug, 4.30pm - Palace

GOOD CATS
Ying Liang (The Other Half, BIFF 2007) has also arrived in Brisbane to present his new film, GOOD CATS. He returns with another droll look at the lightning-fast urbanisation gripping mainland China. Electrifying, intense and moving - not to be missed!

Good Cats
Wed 6 Aug, 2.30pm - GoMA
Fri 8 Aug, 4.20pm - GoMA

SHOWTIME TOP 10 (as at 5 August)
1. The Burning Season
2. Rain of The Children (screens again: Sat 9 Aug, 4.40pm)
3. The English Surgeon (screens again: Tues 5 Aug, 4.40pm)
4. The Man From Hong Kong
5. Hunger (screens again: Tues 5 Aug, 9.10pm)
6. Not Quite Hollywood (screens again: Wed 6 Aug, 2.30pm)
7. Son of Rambow
8. Quiet Chaos
9. Man on Wire (screens again: Sun 10 Aug, 2.20pm)
10. In My Father's Country



04/08/08
140 EXTRA CHOKE TICKETS RELEASED
Another 140 tickets are now available for Choke. The film has been moved from Regent 1 to Regent 4 to satisfy demand. Customers who have tickets for Regent 1 can use them in Regent 4.



03/08/08
Audience Top 10 vote (so far!)
After each session, audience members are encouraged to rate the film they have just seen using our Showtime voting slips. This section will be updated daily with the top 10 films to date. We will find out the audience favourite, as voted by you, at the end of the festival. Remember your vote counts!

SHOWTIME TOP 10 (as at 3 August)
1. The Burning Season (screens again: Mon 4 Aug, 2pm)
2. Son of Rambow
3. Rain of The Children (screens again: Sat 9 Aug, 4.40pm)
4. Hunger (screens again: Tues 5 Aug, 9.10pm)
5. Not Quite Hollywood (screens again: Wed 6 Aug, 2.30pm)
6. Man on Wire (screens again: Sun 10 Aug, 2.20pm)
7. In My Father's Country (screens again: Mon 4 Aug, 10.45am)
8. Persepolis (screens again: Fri 8 Aug, 7pm)
9. The Battle of Algiers
10. Man of Cinema: Pierre Rissient (screens again: Tues 5 Aug, 2.20pm)



01/08/08
LOOK WHO'S IN TOWN!
Festival guests have started to arrive by the droves! Among them, Japanese horror icon Eihi Shiina has come to St.George Bank BIFF to present her latest film Tokyo Gore Police on Sat 2 Aug at 11.15pm at The Regent.

Eihi is internationally renowned for her jaw-dropping performance in Miike Takashi's Audition as a young woman with a very dark past. Her latest role is in Nishimura Yoshihiro's wild and very bloody Tokyo Gore Police. Don't miss out on this rare chance to see a cult screen icon live in the flesh!

Other guests in town include Mark Hartley director of Not Quite Hollywood, Brian Trenchard-Smith director of Turkey Shoot, Adoor Gopalakrishnan director of Four Women, Dimitri Karakatsanis director of Small Gods and Cathy Henkel, director of The Burning Season.

See them introduce and talk about their film!
Check the programme for session details. Sessions marked with 'G' indicate that there will be a guest present at the screening.

SOLD OUT SESSIONS
Tickets are selling fast! We've SOLD OUT of tickets for the
following sessions:
IN BRUGES
CHOKE
THE EDGE OF LOVE
QNFA PUBLIC SCREENING 1
Only 5 tickets left for CARAMEL!

Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance to avoid missing out.

30/07/08
OPENING NIGHT KICKS OFF TONIGHT!
Morgan Spurlock has touched down in Brisbane ready for the premiere of his film Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?
which will open the festival tonight.

OPENING NIGHT HAS SOLD OUT!
Couldn't secure tickets? Be sure to attend In Conversation with Morgan Spurlock tomorrow at 2.30pm at GoMA. Morgan will be in attendance and will discuss documentary filmmaking, Middle Eastern politics, the hunt for bin Laden and the perils of eating Maccas for a month. Buy tickets.

Back at the festival office, preparations for tonight's Opening Night celebrations are well underway. The Regent chandeliers have been polished and our sample bags stuffed. Opening Night audience, you're in for a real treat!



29/07/08
1 DAY TO GO!
FAMILY FILMS AT ST.GEORGE BANK BIFF
Take your children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces to a range of interesting and fascinating world cinema films suitable for young filmgoers.

Denias, Singing on the Cloud is the story of a young boy from West Papua who attends a school despite physical hardships and prejudice in the classroom.

Go West! A Lucky Luke Adventure is adapted from the popular comic series. Cowboy Lucky Luke rides into cinemas with a hilarious adventure for the entire family to enjoy.

Other family films screening include the famous Brothers Grimm story,
Hansel and Gretel, the charming comedy, Son of Rambow, the beautifully animated, Sita Sings the Blues and delightful drama, When the Show Tent Came to My Town.

Family films will screen across both weekends and are suitable for ages 7+. We encourage to you bring along your young ones - these films are a terrific introduction to world cinema!



26/07/08
5 DAYS TO GO!
Don't miss the main retrospective, RESIST! Resistance and Terrorism in Post-World War II Europe. This thought-provoking collection of acclaimed films examines European terrorism from the conflicts in Ireland to the Baader-Meinhoff attacks in Germany. This fascinating retrospective features the works of Marco Bellocchio, Claude Chabrol, Costa-Gavras, RW Fassbinder and Gillo Pontecorvo.

GROUP BOOKINGS
Looking for something fun and interesting to do with a group?
Take advantage of our discount group bookings. For groups of 20 people or more, tickets can be purchased at a special price. Please see the box office staff for more information.

18/07/08
HEATH LEDGER: 2008 CHAUVEL RECIPIENT
Heath Ledger has been announced as the 2008 Chauvel Award recipient in honour of his contribution to Australian cinema.

Friends and colleagues of Heath Ledger will attend the award presentation at The Regent on Thursday 7 August, 7pm. Hosted by David Stratton, the presentation will include interview and film material from Ledger's career. This event will be open to the public with tickets on sale from today.

18/07/08
TICKETS NOW ON SALE!
St.George Bank BIFF has now officially launched!

Crowds gathered around the Queen Street Mall stage this morning to hear about this year's exciting line up and to also receive an Official Programme. Mark Hartley, director of NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD was in attendance and spoke about his film which will headline this year's Ozploitation retrospective.

With Opening Night less than two weeks away, remember to buy your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

All the information within the Official program is also on this website.

St.George Bank BIFF
31 July – 10 August
www.stgeorgebiff.com.au

18/07/08
$5 PARKING! – Myer Centre Car Park
St.George Bank BIFF patrons are invited to take advantage of a fantastic parking deal at the Myer Centre Car Park.

For the duration of the Festival, the Myer Centre Car Park on Elizabeth Street is offering St.George Bank BIFF patrons $5 all day parking (from 10.00am).

To access this deal, simply show your BIFF ticket when exiting the car park.

For information about the Myer Centre Car Park, please phone (07) 3229 1699 or visit www.forwarddriven.com

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter