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BASS Coast Shorts returns to Wonthaggi for a second year with wonderfully diverse story telling from local, national and international creators of short films across four screenings.
With high quality and thought-provoking films, animations and music videos from Ireland, Iran, Turkey, Ukraine and Australia – including three local filmmakers, there is something for everyone.
John Frohlich, Film Festival Director has curated the screenings and believes the line-up of films is strong and compelling.
“You will laugh. You will cry. You will be challenged to think about things in a different way. You'll feel a lot because a lot of these films have got strong emotional payloads. They're beautiful films about people and they really make you feel your humanity and our common humanity.”
John commented that the films show an outstanding range of styles and genres, including some great comedies, interesting animations, entertaining music videos, visually stunning underwater documentaries, and thought-provoking dramas.
“The quality of the films this year really is really high and really pleasing and I don't think anyone who comes won't enjoy it.”
There are some great Australian films, one called Mister Animal is a serious drama and has won a lot of awards and there are beautiful cinematic compostions from students from Tasmania and northern NSW.
“There's a film which was made by a 14-year-old, he's 16 now; he used to go down to the beach on a daily basis and he made friends with an octopus and there's this Netflix series called Octopus Teacher and its better than that, it's much more organic and authentic,” John said.
There are animations from Taiwan and Mexico and one from Belgium based on AI which is like animation meets Black Mirror.
There are stories about people, including good First Nations stories and stories about people with disabilities. There are also a great array of music videos, including a couple from Bass Coast itself.
Three of our local film makers will be showcased at the festival, Steve Dunn, Andrea Lemons and Maureen Alford.
Steve Dunn is an underwater diver, and he takes his cameras down with him and he's made two films, including one about Inverloch.
While Andrea Lemons has made two films about primary school kids in the Phillip Island area talking about their COVID experiences and the lockdown.
John said the festival is a boon both for aspiring film makers and for the cultural and creative reflections they generate in a regional town.
“Festivals provide an opportunity for independent film makers to have their film screened in a commercial environment, on a big screen with an audience. “
“A regional area town like Wonthaggi really knows that it's arrived in terms of being a sophisticated community when it has these sorts of things. A film festival is a signature of a community that values the arts.”
Along with the screenings, a filmmaking forum, Q&A sessions, and a networking event will also be held.
Tickets, including festival passes, are available for purchase at WUCAC and the festival will be held August 4-6 at the Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre.
