Brisbane International Film Festival

Brisbane International Film Festival

By Kerry Vernon

The Fourth Brisbane Film Festival, screening at Hoyt's Regent with a festival of short films at the State Library, runs until August 14.

This month is the centenary of the first showing of moving images in Brisbane. That showing used a kinetoscope — a peep show device that used 35mm film. On August 13 some of those films, along with other pre-1900 films, will be presented by film historian Chris Long.

A fully restored print of Charles Chauvel's 1955 film, Jedda, the first Australian colour feature that made a serious attempt to deal with Aboriginal and European relations, is a festival highlight.

The festival will also include a retrospective of films on the Pacific war including features from China, Japan, the US, Britain and Australia. The screening of 800 Heroes, a rediscovered silent film from China about the anti-Japanese war effort in 1938 will be accompanied by a performance by the Chinese orchestra from the Conservatorium of Music.

From south of the Himalayas come five films, including The Servile from India which deals with the shocking system by which landowners exert control over those with nothing, and Jesus 71, a homage to the Bangladesh independence struggle.

As well as films from many other countries including Russia, Cambodia and the former East Germany; a number of gay films including three from Japan; and the powerful UK film The Darker Side of Black which deals with black popular culture. The festival also includes six films from the Middle East.

This festival is a rich feast for all film lovers.

For more information phone 3220 0444 or 0055 13521.

From GLW issue 197