PRESS RELEASE: Tasmanian ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ Film Festival
Diaries Open! Pens Ready!
Tasmania’s premier Film Festival announces 2011 dates
‘Breath of Fresh Air’ (BOFA)
Sydney – The Tasmanian ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ Film Festival, the very essence of fine film and of Tasmania, will run over Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th November, 2011 in Launceston within the fertile Tamar Valley, a region renowned for its beauty and for its fine food and wine. Building upon its launch in June 2010, Tasmania’s premier film festival (known simply as BOFA) is set to become an annual fixture on the cultural calendar of Tasmania, attracting film industry professionals, movie lovers, in-bound tourists and locals alike.
Australia’s newest and freshest film festival showcases features, shorts and documentaries, which provide a fresh perspective on and/or an innovative approach to screen-based story telling that inspires positive change. As well as a vibrant celebration of film, master-classes and industry debate, BOFA is the perfect excuse to indulge in food and wine from the region, with gala parties in ‘fresh’ places like a planetarium and local breweries.
Festival Director, Owen Tilbury, said that Tasmania was, until now, the only state in Australia without its own major film festival.
“We decided to locate the state based film festival in Launceston because it has Australia’s largest film society and our Inveresk Arts precinct has 5 screens, a major museum space, a function centre, restaurant and plenty of parking – all two blocks from the CBD. The fact that we are just 50 minutes flight from Melbourne and an hour and half from Sydney, makes it the natural place this Spring to have a short break filled with fine films, fresh ideas and fun,” said Owen Tilbury, Festival Director.
In 2011, BOFA is pleased to welcome renowned celebrity photographer and filmmaker, Bradley Patrick, to the role of Artistic Director.
“Our vision is clear; we want anyone who enjoys films to be enthralled by the fresh perspective that BOFA brings to the Australian film industry. The festival will be a melting pot of cutting edge technology, art, world-class cinema, scenic experience and screen-based storytelling,” said Bradley Patrick, Artistic Director.
Highlights planned for the 2011 program include:
• Feature length screenings on the themes of ‘food for thought’ and ‘new horizons’
• Digital SLR Short Film competition with significant prizes
• The Fusion Film competition, merging still and moving images to tell a story, in liaison with the Australian Institute for Professional Photography
• The Big Ideas Debates – on contemporary and film industry issues –in liaison with the St James Ethics Centre
• Master-classes on writing, acting, producing , acting and the business of film making
• Fun events such as opening/closing night parties and after-parties in ‘fresh’ places like a planetarium (party with the stars) and a local brewery
• A major one day ‘Festivale of Film’ with the best Tasmanian wines and gourmet cheeses, seafood and fruits being sampled whilst food-oriented features play on an outdoor 10mx10m screen
• The world famous Corrick collection of silent movies, curated by the National Film and Sound Archive
• A photographic exhibition of celebrity directors and stars
NOTES:
Owen Tilbury, Festival Director
Owen Tilbury grew up in Narrandera in country NSW. His strong connection to films began with weekly trips to the local cinema when he was young. Today, film continues to transport him to new and wonderful places. Through BOFA, he has combined this with another passion of his – the beauty of his home, Tasmania. He loves the mountains for their beauty, menace and solitude, the beaches for the unspoilt playground they provide kids and adults alike and the food and wines produced in Tasmania’s rich fertility.
Owen has joined this love for film and Tasmania with his background in business, in which he has worked for over 30 years, to create BOFA. As committee member of the Launceston Film Society since 2009, he headed the sub-committee which organised the pilot BOFA in 2010, giving the largest film society in Australia, with over 1400 members, a taste of their first film festival.
In his previous role he was General Manager of WHK Business Growth, the consulting arm of the national WHK Group (accountants and advisors). He has worked in North America, Britain, Europe, South Africa and Australia in a range of roles including line management, strategic planning, marketing, advertising/promotion, training and business consulting. In 2005 his firm won the CGU Business Excellence Award for Innovation in Business.
Owen holds a Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Education from Sydney University, studied marketing in South Africa and has the Diploma for successful completion of the Company Directors’ Course. He has achieved the highest industry association ratings of Certified Management Consultant (IMC), Certified Practicing Marketer (AIM) and Qualified Practicing Market Researcher (MRSA).
As Festival Director of BOFA, he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the administration, sponsorship, marketing and operations of the Festival. Owen is excited by the prospect of utilising one of the most difficult, complex and yet compelling media – film – to move people as a force for good.
Bradley Patrick, Artistic Director for BOFA and Photographer/Director
Bradley Patrick was born in Sydney, Australia. He loves Jazz and the 1920s. His dream shoot would be with Clint Eastwood. His favourite drink is Jameson and Dry. He knew he wanted to be a photographer the minute he stepped into a darkroom and a director the minute he watched
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. With a passion for films he decided to focus on the entertainment industry and has become best known throughout Australia for his timeless celebrity portraits.
In 2000 he formed production company, SugarLove Pictures with producer/wife, Leigh Taylor.
Together they have spent 10 years working between Australia and the US focusing on
marketing/PR stills for film studios, pr agents, magazines and advertising agencies.
Having brought his skills as a photographer to over 49 Feature Films and 32 TV Shows many producers and distribution companies have engaged Patrick’s services well beyond the stills camera. His ability to dissect a feature film visually from script to screen has contributed to many successful marketing campaigns in the areas of unit stills and specials/key art photography.
Being personally chosen as technical consultant by Nicole Kidman for her portrayal of legendary
Photographer, Diane Arbus in the US Film, FUR in 2005 was the last photographic project Patrick worked on before moving into his future directing career.
His short films include “The Warm Up”, “Room 101” and “ID”. Presently Bradley has six feature films in development – The Dress, Xmas in Bangkok, The Pathfinders, Operation Solo, In the Rough and The Cambridge Five. Bradley presently lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife, Leigh along with their two boys, Maison and Lewis.
More information on BOFA
Venue: Inveresk Precinct, Launceston, Tasmania
Dates: Wed 23 to Sun 27 November 2011
Program: Five days of feature film, digital SLR shorts, debates, competitions, master-classes and gala events which use the power of storytelling to inspire positive change.
One day “Festivale of Film”, a food and wine festival with outdoor screenings of films.
Website: http://www.bofa.com.au/
Tickets: Check website for details
Festival Director, Owen Tilbury
