The inaugural Australia & New Zealand Festival of Literature & Arts opens tonight in central London with a conversation with celebrated Australian author Tim Winton, ahead of an action-packed weekend of talks, debates, readings, performances and screenings taking place at the Strand campus of King’s College London.
Amidst the events celebrating Antipodean literature and the broader arts landscape are a handful of sessions celebrating ANZ culture on screen, including:
The Sharp Edge: The Art of Martin Sharp
2:30pm – Friday 30 May
Pop art, swinging London, Oz magazine, Jimi Hendrix, Cream; this ABC-produced documentary celebrates the life and work of legendary (and recently departed) Australian artist/designer/genius Martin Sharp. Introduced by Nancy Durrant, commissioning arts editor for The Times.
[ More info… | Trailer ]
Musica Surfica
11:30am – Saturday 31 May
A documentary entanglement of the creative spirits of surfing and music, as world-renowned violinist (and surfer) Richard Tognetti and finless surfing journeyman Derek Hynde gather together a motley gang of classical musicians and surfers on rugged King Island, hemmed in by the ‘Roaring Forties’ of Bass Strait. Introduced by writer, artist and landlocked city surfer Daniel Crockett.
[ More info… | Trailer ]
The Excluded: After Life, After Death, After All
4pm – Saturday 31 May
Live cinema mixing, performance, audience interaction and two-way mirrors combine in artist Sally Golding and writer Edward Colless’ collaborative exploration of the culture of the ‘afterlife’.
[ More info… ]
Graphic Novels! Melbourne!
5:30pm – Saturday 31 May
Feature-length documentary presenting the work of Melbourne’s vibrant graphic novel scene, featuring numerous prominent Australian comic artists including Shuan Tan, Pat Grant, Bruce Mutard and Nicki Greenberg. Introduced by Alex Fitch, presenter of Panel Borders, the UK’s only weekly broadcast radio programme devoted to comic art.
[ More info… | Trailer ]
A Personal History of the Australian Surf
7pm – Saturday 31 May
Actor, writer and theatrical director Michael Blakemore presents a rare screening of his wry autobiographical ‘documentary’, A Personal History of the Australian Surf: Confessions of a Straight Poofter (1981). Following the screening, Blakemore will muse on life, surf and culture in a discussion with writer Kathy Lette, whose novel Puberty Blues has been adapted into a memorable film (also released in 1981) and a recent television series.
[ More info… | Clips ]
Utopia
1:30pm – Sunday 1 June
Investigative journalist, documentarian and polemicist John Pilger returns once again to the country of his birth to expose the ongoing maltreatment of Australia’s indigenous population. Pilger will take the stage for a no-doubt lively Q&A following the screening.
[ More info… | Trailer ]
Virtuosi
3pm – Sunday 1 June
Exploring the nature of virtuosity, this feature-length documentary from Sue Healy presents an intimate portrait of eight New Zealand dance artists. Introduced by Mark Baldwin, artistic director of Rambert.
[ More info… | Trailer ]
Paul Kelly: Stories of Me
3:45pm – Sunday 1 June
Burrowing beneath the skin of one of Australia’s finest songwriters, this documentary portrait charts the hits, misses, loves and losses of a truly iconic songsmith.
[ More info… | Trailer ]
The Best of Tropfest
7pm – Sunday 1 June
Despite the highlights package being absent from London screens for a few years, Australia’s premier short film festival Tropfest continues to go from strength to strength. This screening features 90 minutes of the best shorts, specially selected by the Tropfest team.
[ More info… ]
The inaugural Australia & New Zealand Festival of Literature & Arts runs 29 May – 1 June 2014 at the Strand campus of King’s College London. See the ANZ Festival website for further details, a full programme, tickets and venue information.
The Far Paradise 