The Australian Dream
BUSHFIRE FUNDRAISER
THE ANNUAL AUSTRALIA DAY EVENT
SHORT FILM PROGRAM
+THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM
SHORT FILM PROGRAM
+THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM
+PANEL DISCUSSION - details to be confirmed
+DRINKS RECEPTION
+DRINKS RECEPTION
Screened 25 Jan 2020 6.30pm - 10.30PM - SELL OUT
Regent Street Cinema
All proceeds from the donated raffle prizes & any private collections will go to
Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities
Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities
THE SHORTS
AUSTRALIAN SHORT FILM TODAY
90 Mins
See the Rising Stars of Australian Short Film.
Australian Short Film Today is an international traveling roadshow featuring award-winning Australian short films.
This year’s 90-minute selection included Academy Award eligible Judas Collar which won best short film and best director at St Kilda Film Festival and the jury award at Austin Film Festival. Also included is the mysterious Nursery Rhymes, nominated for best narrative short at AACTA; a tender look at twin sisters in An Act of Love, the Australia Directors’ Guild winner; the poignant High School Lover which premiered at Flickerfest; a cyber take on love with A Quick Love Story which had its global premiere at Australian Short Film Today in New York; and a ringer from New Zealand, Fire in Cardboard City, an animated disaster movie that premiered at Tribeca Film Festival.
FULL SHORTS PROGRAM
This year's films explored love in many forms, connectivity versus isolation, and technology versus humanity
Nursery Rhymes
5 minutes — Drama — Directed by Tom Noakes, written by Will Goodfellow
On the side of a country road, a bizarre encounter with a Metalhead takes a profound turn
Best Director, Sydney Film Festival 2018
Special Mention: Best Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under, Palm Springs Shortfest 2018
11 minutes — Sci-Fi Drama — Written and directed by Daniel White
An inventor from the not-so-distant future reminisces about his single greatest creation
15 minutes — Drama — Written and directed by Alison James
In outback Australia a wild camel is fitted with a tracking device known as a Judas Collar
Best Short Film and Best Director, St Kilda 2019, Jury Award, Austin Film Festival 2018
Eligible for entry into the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020
11 minutes — Drama — Directed by Ellie Hayward, written by Aven Yap
A Chinese-Australian tiger mum pushes her Australian-born piano-prodigy son to his limit
Official Selection, St. Kilda Film Festival 2018
12 minutes — Drama — Written and directed by Lucy Knox
The bond between identical twins is tested when one sister rebels against their sense of oneness
Best Direction in a Student Film, Australian Directors Guild 2018
2 minutes — Animation — Written and directed by Jelena Sinik
In our age of attention scarcity, On explores just where our gaze is falling
Best Tertiary Animation in Australia, ATOM Awards 2018
Loved
7 minutes — Drama — Directed by Samuel Van Grinsven, written by Sue Slack-Smith
A woman's life unravels when an unexpected phone call forces a secret to the surface
8 minutes — Drama — Written and directed by Cielo Croci
After being out of contact for years, a young man reaches out to his high school girlfriend
Official Selection, Flickerfest 2018
7 minutes — Comedy — Written and directed by Brenden Dannaher
Lovable but lonely Steve finally meets a woman who understands him. Unfortunately she is an online survey.
Global premiere at Australian Short Film Today in New York 2019
Fire in Cardboard City
9 minutes — Animation — Directed by Phil Brough, written by Phil Brough and Matt Heath
When a city made entirely of cardboard catches fire, it's up to the local fire chief and his brave deputies to save Cardboard City and its citizens from impending doom
Finalist: Best Animated Short, Tribeca Film Festival 2018
THE FEATURE
THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM
(2019) Director: Daniel Gordon Stars: Adam Goodes, Stan Grant
240 MINS
Featuring prominent Indigenous Australians Adam Goodes and Stan Grant, this brilliant documentary offers an in-depth exploration of events that polarised a nation. Pulling together exclusive interviews with Goodes, and key people from the time, this is the perfect companion to The Final Quarter, which LAFS screened to a sell-out crowd in October. This screening will again be followed by an in-depth panel discussion – details to be announced soon.
In the final three years of his playing career, Goodes was named Australian of the Year, publicly called out racism, and celebrated a goal by performing an on-field Indigenous war dance, similar to the Māori haka. He quickly emerged as a champion for the Australian Indigenous community, intent on helping to heal the divide that has dogged Australia since European colonisation. But after he had a young supporter of a rival team ejected from the arena for racial abuse, the cheers very quickly turned to jeers as football crowds turned on him. The searing press attention that followed only fuelled the fire, and he eventually walked away from the game without any of the fanfare he deserved.
Picking up the Goodes story where The Final Quarter left off, The Australian Dream is a rare and powerful first-hand insight into the effects of racism in sport and across wider society. Critics and audiences alike agree – this is a film not to be missed! The London Australian Film Society recognises that January 26 represents a day of mourning for many Indigenous Australians, and always hold our Australia Day screenings on an alternate date.
REVIEWS
"A sobering but emotional reminder of unresolved history"David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
"Materials from 2013-15 paint a damning portrait of Australian society"
Sarah Ward, Screen Daily
FROM THE FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING TEAM
"I saw THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM at last year's BFI London Film Festival, shortly after we screened THE FINAL QUARTER. That evening had been so successful, I was curious to see if was worth us also screening this one, and oh my god, the two films sit together perfectly. Where THE FINAL QUARTER took archive footage to contextualise the events, THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM is very much contemporary, and helps us understand where Australia now sits with both Adam Goodes (who talks freely about his journey since leaving the AFL) and the wider community. The film's writer and producer, Stan Grant, a prominent journalist and Indigenous leader, rounds out the film with his eloquent, powerful insights. Just like THE FINAL QUARTER, this is one not to be missed!"
THE PANELISTS
Michael Walling, Border Crossing
Michael is the founder of Border Crossings, which has created intercultural theatre to defend peace, justice, freedom of expression, gender equality and human rights since 1995. Their work affects real transformations in people’s lives. They tackle difficult issues, challenging prejudices by providing engagement and education opportunities to communities who have been marginalised. Their professional theatre and community engagement work go hand in hand: the professional productions give exposure to stories that are rarely told, and their long lasting relationships with grass roots communities steer, inform and feed their artistic vision, which pushes for change and equality for all.
This work has three key strands:
1. Intercultural Theatre Productions
2. Community Engagement, Participation and Learning
3. Festivals
They curate and produce the biennial ORIGINS Festival - a gathering of indigenous artists from around the world in London.
Michael also directs and teaches regularly at Rose Bruford College, where he is Visiting Professor in the Research Centre for Multicultural and Intercultural Performance, and at Central School of Speech and Drama.
Dr Siobhan Martin, Monash Fellow and European HR Director, Aegon Asset Management
We are thrilled to welcome back Siobhan, who chaired our wonderful panel for the sell-out screening of THE FINAL QUARTER back in October 2019.
Siobhan has been at the forefront of driving positive change in the workplace for more than 25 years, enabling everyone to truly bring their full talents to life. Siobhan is currently leading the European HR function for a major Asset Management firm, and previously was a Partner and Board member of Mercer, also holding global change management roles for Ernst & Young and KPMG. She has been based in London and Edinburgh since 2005. Siobhan took her PhD in Forensic Psychology from Monash University where she is also a Fellow, and Chair of the UK branch of the Global Leaders’ Network.
Siobhan is a member of the Market Development Board of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, the Stonewall Market Development Board, and the Parochial Church Council of All Hallows by the Tower (the oldest Church in the City of London) and has been recognised as one of the top 10 global LGBT executives by the Financial Times. Siobhan has previously held Board positions with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation, as a School Governor, and as an Advisory Board Member for the global Professional Women’s Network. Siobhan is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Chartered Member of the Australian Psychological Society. She’s also the mother of two wonderful young people and Nüdel & Scully, their miniature dachshunds. Of her flaws, depending on where you stand, being a Collingwood supporter ranks highest!
PARTNERS and SPONSORS
Heartfelt thanks to the Chris and Francesca Beale Foundation for their generous support of the short film part of our Australia Day event for the third year running.
Special thanks also go to the generous donations to our BUSHFIRE RAFFLE PRIZES.
Special thanks also go to the generous donations to our BUSHFIRE RAFFLE PRIZES.
INCLUDED IN THE TICKET
Regent Street Cinema
307 Regent St
London
W1B 2HW