Preview: Sydney Underground Film Festival

Sydney Underground Film Festival (SUFF) 9-11^th September

SUFF is back for its fourth year with political, provocative and perverse films. Exploring themes and landscapes where other films have feared to tread, SUFF’s program is made up of independent and experimental features and shorts from around the world. Offering Sydney audiences a chance to escape from the mainstream and tuck into some completely different.

Located at The Factory Theatre in Marrickville, SUFF promises to screen “independent films that transgress the status quo and challenge the conservative conventions of filmmaking”. Never one to shy away from controversy and always providing exciting programming this year’s festival runs over the weekend of the 9^th-11^th September with 10 feature films and 79 shorts, including plenty of Australian premieres.

Here are a few highlights….

Opening Night film- South of the Border (Oliver Stone, 2009, USA) 9th September, 6pm

This is the Australian premiere of controversy-courting filmmaker Oliver Stone’s latest film. Shot as a documentary road trip his film explores the social and political movements of five South American countries; Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. The film also looks at the way the mainstream media in the West misrepresents and misunderstands these movements and their leaders and the impact of the US’ attempts to influence these countries. Interviewing the countries’ Presidents including Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, Cristina Kirchner, Stone takes the audience into previously unseen areas, offering unprecedented access to this political figures, giving them an opportunity to represent themselves in their own words.

The screening is part of the Opening Night Extravaganza including short film screenings and After Party with music, food and booze.

Reality Bites Shorts- 10th September, 6-7:30pm

Programmed session of captivating short films showing real-life narratives includes;

Lafranchi’s Memorial Discotheque

(Richard Bacon, 2010, Australia)

A look at the last 60 days of the Lanfranchi’s Memorial Discotheque, which was for 5 years one of Sydney’s favourite artist-run spaces- doubling as a residence and unauthorised performance venue. Closed in 2007, this short records the impending eviction, the final days of partying and the inevitable police intervention, showing the loss of one of Sydney’s underground artist communities.

Recycled Cinema- 11th September, 2:00-3:30pm

Celebrating film young and old, this session of shorts sees old footage rediscovered and reused. These shorts use both public historic footage and personal home films to create new narratives.

Included in this section is;

After the Rainbow (Soda Jerk, 2010, Australia)

A re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz (1939), where a young Judy Garland encounters her future adult self.

American: The Bill Hicks Story (Matt Harlock & Paul Thomas, 2009, UK)- 11th September, 6pm

This documentary explores the life and comedy of the late comedian Bill Hicks, as told by the ten people who knew him best. Family and close friends of the iconic performer share their memories and recollections building up a picture of the man and his drive for honesty. More than 15 years after his death, Hicks’ comedy is more popular than ever. His observational style of comedy included discussions of the essence of religion, government power and modern society’s double standards, which still resonate today. Harlock and Thomas’ documentary combines live action with innovative new animation techniques to celebrate the comedian using interviews, performance footage (some rare and unseen) and photographs.

Closing Night -Red, White and Blue (Simon Rumley, 2010, USA)

11th September, 10pm

Set in Austin, Texas the lives of three young people; emotional scarred and sexually promiscious Erica (Amanda Fuller), wannabe rock star Franki (Marc Senter) and mysterious Iraq war vet Nate (Noah Taylor) interlock with violent and tragic consequences. Promising plenty of surprises in the plot, the less you know about this film before seeing it the better. Written and directed by British filmmaker, Simon Rumley (who scored a cult hit with The Living and The Dead, 2006) this film has been described as part revenge thriller, part horror slasher and according to SUFF is both ‘unforgettable and intense’. You’ve been warned!