THE 17TH WORLD OF WOMEN: WOW FILM FESTIVAL 2011

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY 

LAUNCHES ON INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY, 8TH MARCH 2011 AND CONTINUES FOR 3 DAYS WITH SCREENINGS, PREMIERES, PARTIES AND AWARDS
Seeing the world through the eyes of women
March 8th-10th 2011

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PLEASE NOTE: TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR AFTER ONLINE SALES HAVE CLOSED

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8 March 2011
SESSION 1
6.15pm Drinks, 7.00pm screening, 9pm finish, 9pm afterparty, 10pm finish
Dendy Opera Quays Cinema, 9/2 Circular Quay Way, Sydney
Australian Shorts + After Party at Opera Bar

1. Emilia Eckle - Sydney Premiere - Comedy - 7min 24sec
2. The Bridge - Australian Premiere, Drama, 14min 30sec
3. Cupid - Sydney Premiere, Comedy, 14min 30sec
4. The Storymaker - Experimental, 12min
5. How God Works - Comedy, 5min 41sec
6. Sisters - Sisters, Drama, Australian Premiere, 8min 4sec
7. Wendy Vs Helvetica - Comedy / Experimental, World Premiere, 4min 45sec
8. Franswa Sharl - Drama, 13min 52sec

9 March 2011
SESSION 2
12.00pm Morning Tea, 12.30pm screening, 2.30pm finish
NSW Parliament House Theatre, 6 Macquarie St, Sydney
Australian and International Shorts

1. Shiny Thing - Drama, Sydney Premiere, 14min 22sec
2. December 6 - Documentary, Canada, Australian Premiere, 9min 45sec
3. The Caretaker - Drama, World Premiere, 15min
4. Breath - Animation : USA, Australian Premiere, 3min 49sec
5. Not Even a Mouse - Drama, 14min 43sec
6. Dancing with The Prime Minister - Documentary, Sydney Premiere, 25min 18sec
7. A Reluctant Bride - Comedy, 6min 03sec

9 March 2011
SESSION 3
6.30pm screening (approx. 100min)
Dendy Opera Quays Cinema, 9/2 Circular Quay Way, Sydney
International Shorts

1. SIS - Sis, Drama UK, World Premiere, 11min
2. Eclipse - Experimental Indonesia, World Premiere, 2min 55sec
3. Yoghurt Cups - Drama USA / Czech Republic,World Premiere, 12min
4. Kidnap - Animation USA, Australian Premiere, 3min 55sec
5. 360 Degrees - Drama Spain, Australian Premiere, 9min 10sec
6. Knock off - Drama, Australian Premiere, 11min 27sec
7. Me, Myself & Your Husband - Comedy USA, Australian Premiere, 8min 36sec
8. Silence = Death - Documentary, Australian Premiere, 15mins
9. Sleeping with Frank - Experimental/Dance USA, World Premiere, 4min 35sec
10. Fish - Comedy Sweden, Australian Premiere, 10min
11. Pussy - Drama UK, Sydney Premiere, Comedy Sweden, 3min 26sec

9 March 2011
SESSION 4
8.30pm screening, (approx. 100min)
Dendy Opera Quays Cinema, 9/2 Circular Quay Way, Sydney
Australian Shorts

1. Elephantiasis - Drama, World Premiere, 11min 20sec
2. Mad - Documentary, World premiere, 9min 30sec
3. Tegan the Vegan - Animation, 12min 51sec
4. Happenstance - Drama, 7min
5. Paperback Rehab - Documentary, World premiere, 7min 30sec
6. With my Little Eye - Drama, Australian Premiere, 15min 30sec
7. Entanglement Theory - Experimental/Animation, Sydney Premiere, 10min 34sec
8. Clean Up on Aisle 9 - Comedy, World premiere, 6min 48 sec
9. The Love Song of Iskra Prufrock - Drama, 16min

10 March 2011
6.15pm Drinks, (approx. 8.15pm finish)
7.00pm Awards ceremony event
Dendy Opera Quays Cinema, 9/2 Circular Quay Way, Sydney

10 March 2011
SESSION 5
8.30pm screening, (approx. 100min)
Dendy Opera Quays Cinema, 9/2 Circular Quay Way, Sydney
Australian Shorts

1. Lani's Story - Documentary, Sydney Premiere, 10 min excerpt from the 55 mins film
2. Invasion - Drama, 15min
3. An Unfinished Romance - Comedy, Sydney Premiere, 10min
4. This is How You'll Make Your Bed in Prison - Documentary, Sydney Premiere, 9min 49sec
5. Nerve Ending - Experimental/Dance, Sydney Premiere, 7min
6. Red Water Red - Drama, Sydney Premiere, 8min
7. Il Contadini e la Notte - (The Farmers And The Night), Documentary, 16 min
8. Push Bike - Drama, 12min
9. Cockroach - Animation/ comedy, 13min

Sydney -siders in need of a cool, affordable yet satisfying indie film fix will be happy to hear that the WORLD OF WOMEN: WOW FILM FESTIVAL will be celebrating 17 years of womens short film excellence.  WOW has announced an exciting, diverse showcase of contemporary short films with key creative input by women fiction, documentary, animation and experimental.  Experience a different storytelling and a unique perspective seeing the world through the eyes of women.   This prestigious festival is presented by Women in Film and Television (WIFT) NSW and launches at the City of Sydney Library, Customs House on International Womens Day, Tuesday 8th March and continues for 3 days at the Dendy Opera Quays and NSW Parliament House with screenings, premieres, filmmaker Q&As, parties and awards.

Check out and vote in WOWs online competitions, the Digi-vodule competition on Youtube, www.youtube.com/user/TheWOWfilmfestival and IndieFlix sponsored WOWs FestivalOnline, www.wiftnsw.org/wow

Opening Night, Tuesday 8th March will commence with drinks at 6.15pm followed by the screening of an imaginative selection of Australian Shorts at 7pm.  The official WOW Festival Opening After Party will be held at Opera Bar. Australian and International Shorts will be screened on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th March.

Short film highlights include Sydney Premiere Emilia Eckle directed and starring Alyssa McClelland ("The Bet", "Surviving Georgia) and David Lyons, ("Sea Patrol","ER"), Sydney premiere and award winning Red Water Red directed by Qing Xie, Not Even a Mousea moving drama directed by Actor Zoe Carides (Death in Brunswick, Packed to the Rafters, All Saints,) World premiere of Mad directed by Meryl Tankard ,and Tropfest finalist. How God Works directed by Matilda Brown (Underbelly, Rake, Offspring).

For more information go to www.wift.org/wow, email wowfilmfestival@wiftnsw.org.au,  ph 0402 246 601

Official Sponsors for 2011 festival  include: Screen Australia, Arts NSW, Office for Womens Policy, Department of Premier & Cabinet, City of Sydney, Dendy Opera Quays, Opera Bar, Panavision, Spectrum Films, Tresscox Lawyers, AFTRS, SMPTE, Metro Screen, Wacom, ARRI Australia, Miller Camera Support, Art Resistance, Videocraft, IndieFlix, Icon Film, Dendy, Village Roadshow, Hopscotch, Corban & Blair, Millie Loves Min, The Photo Studio, A Sustainable Life, JAM Directions, Film Mosaics, Inside Film, Australian Directors Guild, Australian Cinematographers Society, Australian Composers Guild, Australian Editors Guild, Aurora Community Channel, SBS Television.

FILM HIGHLIGHTS include:

Emilia Eckle directed by Alyssa McClelland   
Sydney Premiere
Featured at St Kilda Film Festival 2010,  Dungog Film Festival 2009, Palm Springs International Shortsfest 2009, Adelaide Shorts Film Festival 2009

A romance comedy. Young Emilia (Alyssa McClelland, "The Bet", "Surviving Georgia") finds bookish Tom, (David Lyons, "Sea Patrol","ER") to be charming and delightful. If he keeps his glasses on, he feels the same about her. Their first date is a hit, it does seem to be true love at least that is, until the awkward moment after the good-night kiss.
*screening Tuesday 8th March at 7pm - SESSION 1

How God Works directed by Matilda Brown 
A Tropfest finalist. Matilda Brown (Underbelly,Rake,Offspring), has inherited the talents of her famous parents Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown where she directs and acts in this amusing story of two opposites who both love the strange ways that God works.
*screening Tuesday 8th March at 7pm - SESSION 1

Franswa Sharl directed by Hannah Hilliard
Award-winning comedy: Crystal Bear Award at Berlin Film Festival, IF Media Award for most popular film at Flickerfest, Best Australian Short at Melbourne International Film Festival.
Twelve year old Greg has inherited his fathers competitive streak. On a family holiday to Fiji they have different ideas about where Greg should focus his talents. When his creative pursuits fail to amuse his father Greg goes to bizarre lengths to win him back. Based on a true story.
*screening Tuesday 8th March at 7pm - SESSION 1

This is How You'll Make Your Bed in Prison  directed by Katie Mitchell   
Sydney Premiere
"The system had me from two years old, it probably had me before then because it had my mother...it could never let me go."  Follows the story of Vickie Lee Roach, an Indigenous woman who took the Howard Government to the High Court of Australia in a landmark civil rights case.
*screening Tuesday 8th March at 7.00pm - SESSION 1

Shiny Thing  directed by Lisa Gloufchis
Starring Melbourne comedian and Triple J breakfast radio host, Tom Ballard, Louise Siversen (Rush, City Homicide, All Saints) and Felicity Soper ( Rush, City Homicide, Neighbours). A heart warming comedy/drama.  17 year old boy Lochlan feels underappreciated by his dazzling attention grabbing mother, but this time Lochlan is not going to let her steal the show.
*screening Wednesday 9th March at Parliament House Theatre at 12.30pm.  Morning tea at 12 noon - SESSION 2

Not Even a Mouse directed by Zoe Carides
Actor Zoe Carides (Death in Brunswick, Packed to the Rafters, All Saints, Brilliant Lies, Grassroots) directs this moving drama starring Anna Lise Phillips ( Animal Kingdom, The Boys), Dan Wyllie ( Chopper, Muriels Wedding, Romper Stomper)
A family drama where a prodigal son returns to an excited family, but, trouble looms when anther estranged member of the family turns up on the doorstep.
*screening Wednesday 9th March at Parliament House Theatre at 12.30pm. Morning tea at 12 noon - SESSION 2
 
Silence = Death       
Australian Premiere
A diverse collection of short French films, dramas and documentaries, written and directed by ten talented French female directors, from the testimony of women who are HIV positive. Created for the twentieth anniversary of ACT UP Paris. Responds to the almost total absence of images on the subject of women and HIV, their fight against the disease and their militant struggle.
*screening Wednesday 9th March at 6.30pm - SESSION 3

Fish directed by Asa Johannisson      
Australian Premiere
A quirky comedy from Sweden.  Can a girl who is focussed on caring for a fish find interest in a man? Fish is a tribute to all of us who have ever felt that we dont fit in.
*screening Wednesday 9th March at 6.30pm - SESSION 3
 
Mad directed by Meryl Tankard        
World Premiere
Short documentary directed by acclaimed choreographer, Meryl Tankard.  Focuses on madness and schizophrenia, explored by poet and writer, Sandy Jeffs, who has lived with schizophrenia and all its moods for 34 years.  Sandy featured at the Melbourne Writers Festival 2010 and has 5 books of poetry published.
*screening Wednesday 9th March at 8.30pm - SESSION 4

The Love Song of Iskra Prufrock  directed by Lucy Gaffy 
Iskra (Victoria Haralabidou, "Home and Away", "All Saints", "East West 101") a Croatian refugee, works as a radiologist in an inner-city surgery. In an effort to recover from her violent past, Iskra has made her life one of ritual. But she finds that her new life is a lonely until she meets Leo (Luke Elliot, "Noise" "Rush", "Satisfaction").     However it would seem for Iskra that even love was not meant to be easy. AFI Award Screenings 2010 nominated Best Short Film, Australian Directors Guild Awards nominated Best Student Film 2010
*screening Wednesday 9th March at 8.30pm - SESSION 4

Red Water Red directed by Qing Xie   
Sydney Premiere
Blisteringly sensual, an eerie feeling of unease fills every meticulously composed frame." STOCKHOLM International Film Festival (XX Short Film Competition) 2009  *Awards*  WINNER - Film Victoria Award BEST FILM (VCA Premiere Awards 08) // WINNER - GOLD AWARD, Australian Cinematographers Society 2009 // NOMINEE - Kodak-Award NEW DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR 2009 

Sadomasochism, the spectre of a dead mother and an elaborate and grotesque fantasy all play a part as a young Chinese girl draws her father into a sexual relationship, and a forbidden feast.  Red Water Red is an uneasy story about the bonds of family, the bounds of intimacy, and the returns of love.
*screening Thursday 10th March at 8.30pm - SESSION 5
 
An Unfinished Romance directed by Alison Heather    
Sydney Premiere
Starring Zoe Ventoura (Packed to the Rafters, Kick, Footloose) and Matt Rossner (Wolf Lullaby, Corpus Christi), Danika Armytage (Death and the Maiden, Persephones Wolf)
About two strangers, two hookers, two paper boats and a whole raft of assumptions. A gentle romantic comedy looking at the assumptions we make about other people, which in the end can make or break our sense of enchantment, the essence of romance.
*screening Thursday 10th March at 8.30pm - SESSION 5

Pushbike directed by Mairi Cameron   
Multi-award winning
Stars Karmen Raspovic (Being John Malkovich,Stark, Boys from the Bush, Blue Heelers),. Michelle swims lap after lap after lap at the local pool, trying to escape the humdrum of her domestic life. When her clothes are stolen from the change room one night, she must brave a nude ride home on her old push bike, where something even more thrilling and illicit awaits her in the dark.
*screening Thursday 10th March at 8.30pm - SESSION 5

The complete film festival schedule will be available in February, visit www.wift.org/wow 

Festival Season Pass $60/55/50 +BF
Opening Night $30/25/20 +BF
Evening Pass $20/16/12/ $15 group (10+) +BF
Single Session $12/9/7 $9 group (10+) +BF
NSW Parliament House session $10/7/5 $6 group (10+) +BF

FOR GROUP BOOKINGS OF 10+, PLEASE CALL 1300 GET TIX (438 849) TO BOOK OVER THE PHONE.