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Indie Gems Film Festival

Indie Gems Film Festival

The fourth annual Indie Gems Film Festival has announced its 2013 program, showcasing both local and international independent cinema from 12th to 14th September at the Riverside Theatre, Parramatta.

Opening night of the Festival will feature the powerful documentary PHARAOH Vs THE EGYPTIANS, directed by well-known Australian comedian, Akmal Saleh. Egyptian-born, Akmal returns to Egypt to explore how the people risked their lives in order to protest against decades of oppression and overthrow a dictator in rule for over 30 years.

Other highlights of the Festival program include the Cambodian short documentary by Academy Award® winning filmmaker Cynthia Wade, BORN SWEET, and the multiple award-winning documentary I AM ELEVEN by Australian filmmaker Genevieve Bailey who travelled the world for six years talking with 11-year-olds to compose an insightful and funny portrait of childhood.

The program also includes the Australian premiere of Indian family film DEKH INDIAN CIRCUS, the Thai murder-mystery MINDFULNESS AND MURDER which sees a former homicide detective turned monk investigate a murder in the Buddhist monastery, and the Australian documentary 11ELEVEN PROJECT which asked people all over the world to capture parts of their day on November 11, 2011.

Closing night of the Festival will feature GOSSIP NATION, the first Nollywood (Nigerian cinema) film produced in Australia, which follows the conflicts and dramas of a community of African immigrants and refugees that have settled in Blacktown.

Rounding out the Festival’s program will be a number of networking events, Q&A sessions with directors, a student film competition and a panel discussion on the future of the film industry.

Indie Gems Film Festival has been supported by Parramatta City Council’s Community Grants Program.

WHAT: The fourth annual Indie Gems Film Festival
WHEN: 12th to 14th September 2013
WHERE: Riverside Theatre – Corner Church and Market Streets, Parramatta

INDIE GEMS – 2013 PROGRAM

Thursday 12th September

7.30pm – PHARAOH Vs. THE EGYPTIANS (opening night film)

Director: Akmal Saleh

A powerful and revealing documentary by Australian comedian Akmal Saleh. Born in Egypt, Akmal returns to the country to explore how the people were able to overthrow a dictator in rule for over 30 years.

  • Introduction by the Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Councillor John Chedid
  • Q&A session with Akmal Saleh at the conclusion of the film
  • Followed by an after party and networking event

Friday 13th September

7:00pm – DEKH INDIAN CIRCUS (Australian premiere)

Director / writer: Mangash Hadawale

Dekh Indian Circus is a small film with a large heart. After a small seed begins to grow in the heart of a young girl who is enchanted by the notion of a circus character, a sweet and profound struggle for the simple act of watching the circus ensues. How far will a poor family go to take their two little children to the circus? With drama and pit stops at every turn, we are taken on a comedy of errors and triumphs.

‘2011 Audience Choice Award’ – 16th Busan International Film Festival

9:00pm – MINDFULNESS AND MURDER (Australian premiere)

Director: Tom Waller

When a homeless boy living at the youth shelter run by a Buddhist monastery turns up dead, the Abbot recruits Father Ananda, a former policeman, to find out why. He discovers that all is not well at this urban monastery in the heart of Bangkok. Together with his dogged assistant, an orphaned boy named Jak, Father Ananda uncovers a startling series of clues that eventually exposes the motivation behind the crime and leads him to the murderer. Based on the novel “Mindfulness And Murder” by Nick Wilgus.

  • Q&A session with Tom Waller at the conclusion of the film

Saturday 14th September

10:00am – Panel Discussion: SO WHAT’S NEXT?

Creators of content today are facing an ever-changing landscape. What is the future of the film industry? Discover and learn what you can do to give your film the best possible chance in the market place.

Moderated by Indie Gems Film Festival Director, John L. Simpson. Panelists include Ahmed Salama (marketing director of THE TUNNEL and THE COMBINATION), film critic Peter Castaldi and more to be announced.

12:00pm

11ELEVEN PROJECT

Director / writer / producer: Danielle Lauren

On November 11, 2011, the date read 11/11/11, a once in 100 year occurrence. On this one day people from over 179 countries captured their lives using film, photography, music, sound and text. The result is a community-made global film that shows the diversity of human experience.

BORN SWEET

Director / producer: Cynthia Wade

15 year old Vinh lives in a remote Cambodian village and has accepted his destiny – to be sick for the rest of his life with incurable arsenic poisoning. He dreams of becoming a karaoke star, winning the affections of adoring fans. But his body is scarred by illness and there is a good chance the arsenic will soon take his life, like the girl who once lived across the road. A chance to star in a karaoke video about the dangers of arsenic allows Vinh to wonder if he truly knows his destiny.

2:00pm – STUDENT FILM COMPETITION       

A screening of the finalist films in the inaugural Indie Gems Student Film Competition followed by an announcement of the winners, each vying for a share in a fantastic prize pool. The Student Film Competition invites budding filmmakers from Western Sydney to create and submit a film with the theme ‘kindness’.

4:00pm – I AM ELEVEN     

Director / producer: Genevieve Bailey

Do you remember when you were 11? Australian filmmaker Genevieve Bailey travelled the world for six years talking with 11-year-olds to compose this insightful, funny and moving documentary portrait of childhood. From an orphanage in India, to a single-parent household in inner-city Melbourne, to bathing with elephants in Thailand, I AM ELEVEN explores the lives and thoughts of children from 15 countries.

  • Q&A with Genevieve Bailey at the conclusion of the film
  • 2012 Audience Award for Best Documentary Film – Sao Paulo International Film Festival, 2012 Outstanding Documentary – Newport Beach Film Festival, 2011 Best Documentary – IF Awards, 2011 Audience Award – Melbourne International Film Festival

6:00pm – PHARAOH Vs. THE EGYPTIANS

Director: Akmal Saleh

A powerful and revealing documentary by Australian comedian Akmal Saleh. Born in Egypt, Akmal returns to the country to explore how the people were able to overthrow a dictator in rule for over 30 years.

  • Q&A session with Akmal Saleh at the conclusion of the film

8:00pm – GOSSIP NATION (closing night film)

Director: Mike Kang

GOSSIP NATION follows the conflicts and dramas of a community of African immigrants and refugees that have settled in Blacktown, Sydney. Among them is Kemi, an unemployed Nigerian teen girl who loves to gossip. But when her gossip starts to weave its way through the community, Kemi learns that a few words can wreak havoc and turn her friends and family against each other forever.

  • Q&A with director Mike Kang and producer Daniel Okoduwa
  • Followed by an after party

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