Sometimes the world is a perfect place. How better to open our events pieces for 2017? Image: Hidden Figures
The Big Event for the weekend is obviously Tropfest, which runs in Parramatta Park for the first time, with Tropfest Jnr during the day on Friday. The event opens at lunchtime for bands and stuff, so it is a long, langorous afternoon for the whole family.
The films start at dusk. It will be broadcast on Ten’s Eleven from 8.30, hosted by Angela Bishop, Scott Tweedie & Liv Phyland. Online it will be streamed from 7.30pm by Red Bull, and run on VOD subsequently. Host here is Ash London.
Read more: Tropfest same but different for 2017.
In a very different tone, but under the same darkening skies after a hot day, the Fleurieu Film Festival south of Adelaide climaxes its short film comp – object is water, which obsesses South Australians – with ten films, wine and food. On the Friday night, patrons can catch a free screening of The Boys are Back, shot in the area and made by Scott Hicks. Someone will win two free tickets to Los Angeles and back. If they don’t return, secret Adelaide magicians will make sure they can never taste red wine again, ever.
Meanwhile the Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival continues its campus run around Australia.
Read more: Golden Koala brings films by emerging Chinese directors to Australia.
Most of the Oscar biggies are running here now – Moonlight, Lion, La La Land and Manchester by the Sea, along with Jackie. Hacksaw Ridge of course has already gone. You can also find Passengers, Gold, Allied, Live by Night, Perfect Strangers, Rosalie Blum, Le Ride (bike doc), I. Daniel Blake, Paterson and Your Name, though they may not be in your city.
Sydney Film Festival is restarting its monthly season of films at the Powerhouse this weekend on Saturday 11 Feb with The Lunchbox. These screenings come the chance to buy a meal at The Bellbird.
We are now around a month out from the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival, which really kicks the national fest circuit off again.
The work of Philippe Parreno continues to be showcased at ACMI in Melbourne. The Cinematique opens on Feb 22 with Allonsanfan, while the organisation itself is running Tanna until Feb 11.
Botticelli’s Inferno is popping up at various Palace locations around Australia, again as an Event cinema thing on Feb 11.
The Transitions Film Festival has booked a slot at the Nova in Melbourne through next week. Sorry, rest of Australia.
Sydney Opera tragics can catch the Thursday 16 Feb champagne premiere film screening of the Paris Opera Ballet’s production of Rudolf Nureyev’s Swan Lake, filmed live in HD at the Palais Garnier, December 2016. Leo Schofield will be in attendance.
Feb 10 sees the Event version of Madam Butterfly. Melbourne gets the Herzog film about the internet from 15 Feb. On 16 Feb, Scorsese’s Silence rolls out, along with Hidden Figures (yes!), The Great Wall (a curiosity) and The Coming War with China (an odd take).
And don’t forget SBS On Demand. You always wanted to see Suburban Mayhem.
