The Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF), presented by MINI, has announced its first wave of preview titles ahead of its program launch, including its Opening Night Gala event premiere.
Set to take place from October 26 to November 5 at selected Dendy, Reading and Five Star cinema locations across Brisbane, the full program will be released September 20 and promises to deliver on the momentum of the last two years.
The Red Carpet will be rolled out at Reading Newmarket for the Opening Night Gala celebrating Uproar, set to be a heartwarming cinematic experience that explores the themes of connection and finding one’s place in the world. Starring Julian Dennison (Hunt For The Wilderpeople) and Academy Award Nominee Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), Uproar is an inspirational story based on true events.
Fresh from its World Premiere at Toronto, the film takes us back to 1981 in Dunedin, New Zealand, where the rugby-obsessed nation grapples with the arrival of the South African Springboks team, sparking nationwide protests. Against the backdrop of societal pressures, seventeen-year-old Josh Waaka (Dennison) finds his voice, embraces his community, and embarks on a journey of self-discovery rooted in his Māori heritage.
BIFF 2023 promises to be a celebration of cinema that transcends borders and genres, offering a diverse array of films that will resonate with audiences of all backgrounds and interests and will also feature award winning films, including Anatomy of a Fall, gripping story that follows a woman who discovers her husband’s lifeless body at the base of their chalet, unravelling a web of mysteries and secrets.
Direct from Cannes 2023, BIFF is excited to present the Queensland Premieres of Monster and Tiger Stripes. Awarded Best Screenplay at Cannes 2023 and from acclaimed director Kore-eda Hirokazu (Shoplifters, Broker) Monster tells the tangled and intimate story of friendship and the complexities of families, whilst the Cannes award-winning horror Tiger Stripes explores the peace of a rural Malaysian town getting disrupted when a carefree 11-year-old girl begins to go through unnatural physical changes, altering everything she perceived as normal life.
The horror vibes will continue for audiences after some midnight madness with the inclusion of Late Night with the Devil. Following from sell-out sessions at both Sydney Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival, this crowd-pleaser, written and directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes, is a 70s-set horror treat with genuine satirical bite. Perfect for the Halloween season!
Capping their announcement off with a title specific to Brisbane locals, the World Premiere of The Ending Goes Forever: The Screamfeeder Story will provide a rocking step back in time as it chronicles the rise of the now-iconic band that emerged during the cultural explosion of the 1990s in Brisbane, forever changing the city’s music scene
Tickets are now on sale for these incredible films and the full program will be available September 20, 2023. For more information, head to BIFF’s official site. BIFF is run by Film Fantastic and supported by the Queensland Government through Founding and Principal Sponsor Screen Queensland, together with Screen Australia.
