7th Australian Filmfest in Manila, Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - Six critically-acclaimed films from Australia are showing in select cinemas in Manila and Cebu until Nov. 14, presented by the Australian Embassy in its 7th Australian Film Festival. It opened yesterday with the 2008 award-winning film The Black Balloon directed by Elissa Down who is here for a visit.

According to Ambassador Rod Smith, Down will conduct master classes at the University of the Philippines Film Institute and Mowelfund Institute.

“Ms. Down’s visit will further strengthen ties between the Australian and Filipino film industries which have developed through the film festival and Cinemanila during the past few years, including through workshops for student film producers and directors conducted by visiting Australian actors and directors,” Ambassador Smith said.

Also featured in this year’s festival are Unfinished Sky, a romantic drama about the nature of loss and the language of love; The Bank, a political thriller set in the world of high finance; the romantic comedy Danny Deckchair; Garage Days, a story about a teenager’s dream to be a rock star; and The Hard Word starring Guy Pearce (Memento, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, LA Confidential) and Golden Globe winner Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under, Brothers and Sisters).

The Australian film industry is known for its innovation and quality, and for producing unique films with an Australian flavor that have global appeal. One of the oldest in the world, it holds the distinction of producing the world’s first full length feature film, The Story of the Kelly Gang, in 1906. Today, actors such as Nicole Kidman, Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Eric Bana, Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pearce, Naomi Watts and Cate Blanchett have amassed a significant body of award-winning work.

The festival, showing at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3 until Nov. 8 and Ayala Center Cebu Cinema 4 from Nov. 9 to 14, is presented by the Australian Embassy, Screen Australia, and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in cooperation with the Ayala Malls Cinemas, Greenbelt and Ayala Center Cebu. Partners include The Peninsula Manila, the Arts Council of Cebu, the University of the Philippines Film Institute, ETC, 2nd Avenue, and ClickTheCity.com.

(Note: For information on the film screenings and master classes, visit www.philippines.embassy.gov.au.)