Australia’s most easterly film festival kicks off Friday with a selection of NZ shorts, a doco and a AU-NZ feature in the mix.
Moko: very friendly but not very adept at boogie boarding
Photo: soulinthesea.com/
Michelle Joy Lloyd’s Sunday is the feature in question. Recently given an altogether simultaneously at the same time release on several platforms here, it plays in competition in Byron Bay. Sunday goes up against four other films, including Cut Snake from Matchbox’s Tony Ayres, for the Best Dramatic Feature gong.
The other NZ title in competition is J.Ollie Lucks & Max Bellamy’s short doco The Characteristics of C-Minor, nominated for Byron Bay’s Best Cinematography gong. The directors will attend. Lucks is presently fundraising for his Loading Docs project, Wilbur Force.
The festival has a strong local focus, including competition strands for Byron Bay films, young Australian filmmakers and, playing to its local strengths, best surf film.
Most of the other titles heading for Byron Bay are not on their first run out, although some are making their first appearance in Australia. Amy Taylor makes the trip to present her Moko the dolphin doco Soul in the Sea at its Aussie premiere. The film had its world premiere here in the 2013 NZIFF.
Angela Bloomfield works her way through Linda’s List
Tim Pierce’s short doco Will Jackways Interpretation and Dan Inglis’ experimental short Flare, both completed last year, also make the trip. Angela Bloomfield & Kate McDermott’s 2013 Linda’s List is the oldest of the NZ shorts crossing the ditch.
The Byron Bay Film Festival runs 6 – 15 March.
