BOFA Film Festival Reveals 2011 Program

Opening film – Norwegian comedy Happy Happy

Today the MyState BOFA Film Festival announced its 2011 program of over 40 international and Australian features and
documentaries that reflect the festival’s fresh approach to filmmaking and contemporary issues with films that inspire
positive change.

MyState Financial has partnered with BOFA to conduct the first major annual film festival to be held in Tasmania,
running over 5 days (23 – 27 November) in Launceston’s Tamar Valley.

This year the films selected will either incorporate themes about “New Horizons” (such as new technology, social and
third world issues) or “Food for Thought” (films exploring and celebrating food and food technology and the treatment
of animals).

MyState BOFA Film Festival Founder and Director Owen Tilbury said he is very excited about the program theme of films
and documentaries to screen at this year’s festival.

“The festival aims to provide a fresh perspective and/or an innovative approach to screen-based story telling by
screening films that inspire positive change,” said Mr Tilbury.

Opening the festival is Norwegian comedy Happy Happy. A story about characters behaving badly and the winner of this
year’s Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Feature.

Festival visitors can also look forward to a preview of one of the biggest television events for 2012 with Producer John
Edwards (best known for his series Love My Way, The Secret Life of Us, Offspring) talking about his shows and revealing
excerpts of mining tragedy Beaconsfield , which is scheduled to screen in 2012, for the first time.

Australian premieres include such features as Jeffie Was Here and the documentary Burning in the Sun.

US comedy Jeffie Was Here directed by Todd Edwards (Hoodwinked!) tells the story of a tightly wound professor who
faced with an emergency cross-country trip, shares the costs with Jeffie, a student who fancies himself a scholar and a
poet. Amidst infidelity, blackmail, run-ins with the law, and a painfully bad demo tape, the ride with Jeffie is
unpredictable at every turn and by journey’s end no one is left unchanged.

African/US documentary Burning in the Sun follows the story of a young man who decides to return home to Mali and
start a business building solar panels, providing power to rural communities (99 per-cent which live without power). The
film takes controversial stances on climate change, poverty, and African self-sufficiency, exploring what it means to
grow up as a man, and what it takes to prosper as a nation.

Optimistic Polish/Japanese feature Tomorrow Will Be Better follows three boys drifting across a wintry Russian
landscape towards Poland. Winner of the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival – Generation Kplus Award Tomorrow
Will Be Better will close the festival.

As well as a vibrant celebration of film, master-classes and industry debate, MyState BOFA will also host red carpet gala
events, indulgent Awards dinner, live music at The MyState Balcony, free outdoor cinema and BOFA@BOAGS After
Party in the James Boags brewery.

Situated in the heart of the beautiful Tamar Valley, Launceston, a region renowned for its fine food and wine the festival
is set to become an annual fixture on the cultural calendar of Tasmania and attract film industry professionals, movie
lovers, in-bound tourists and locals alike.

For a full list of the festival offerings please visit the website www.bofa.com.au

FESTIVAL DATES:

Venue: Inveresk Precinct, Launceston, Tasmania
Dates: Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 November 2011
Program: Five days of feature film, digital SLR shorts, debates, competitions, master-classes and gala events,
featuring the best produce from the region
Website: http://www.bofa.com.au/
Tickets: Check website for details

ABOUT BOFA
The MyState Tasmanian ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ (BOFA) Film Festival is a celebration of fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to
screen-based story telling that inspire positive change. Set against the stunning backdrop of one of Australia’s most beautiful cities,
Launceston – within the fertile Tamar Valley, in 2011 BOFA will run from Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 November in the Inveresk
Precinct. BOFA will showcase features and documentaries and two short film competitions around the themes ‘food for thought’
and ‘fresh horizons’. This year’s program also features the Corrick Collection of silent films; Bradley Patrick’s Hollywood celebrity
portraits exhibited at the Queen Victoria Museum; the Big Ideas Series of debates in conjunction with St James Ethic Centre; and
industry master classes, all celebrated with gala parties in ‘fresh’ places like the famous James Boags brewery.

Supported by the Premier’s Arts Partnership Fund
Breath of Fresh Air