WELCOME TICKETS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR'S WELCOME MAYOR'S WELCOME JURY GALA EVENTS PROSPECTORS HALL THURSDAY SCHEDULE SLOW & STEADY ANIMATION COFFEE & COMEDY EXPLORING OCEANIA DREAMERS A CHANGING WORLD FOR LOVE OPENING NIGHT ART WITH HEART FRIDAY SCHEDULE SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS EXPLORING ASIA HIGH SCHOOL SHORTS HYBRID DOCUMENTARY MASTERCLASS REAL STORIES WITH HEART OLD GOLD CHANCE ENCOUNTERS HAPPY HOUR
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IRISH SHORTS LATE NIGHT COMEDY VENUE MAP SATURDAY SCHEDULE WOMEN IN ACTION MOVING ON MASTERCLASSES AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS EXPLORING EUROPE MELTING POT GIRL ASLEEP ARTISTIC DIRECTOR'S SELECTION AWARDS NIGHT FAMILY DAY SUNDAY SCHEDULE 2016 AWARD WINNERS YOUNGER AT HEART ANIMAL WORLD FAMILY ANIMATION EXPLORING THE AMERICAS COFFEE & COMEDY (REPEAT) CLOSING NIGHT - SCREENERS' SELECTION CREDITS SPONSORS INDEX
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2016 P R O G R AM OVER 100 HANDPICKED SHORTS PLUS MASTERCLASSES, GALA SCREENINGS AND FAMILY EVENTS. HEART OF GOLD’S MISSION IS TO PROGRAM SHORT FILMS THAT ARE HEARTWARMING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND INSPIRING. COME JOIN US FOR A FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER!
6 - 9 OCTOBER 2016
2016 FESTIVAL ART In collaboration with Blue Mountains based textile designer/illustrator Edith Rewa, we wanted to create something special that marries our love of cinema with the unique location of our regional festival. Inspired by the golden age of analog film and the elegance of Australian botanicals, Edith has drawn us a collection of gorgeous blooms that grow in Gympie, tied together with a delicate ribbon of film. Just like our international array of handpicked shorts, flowers can be found in almost every corner of the globe. Though they may be ascribed different meanings by those who look upon them, they are timeless objects of beauty, universally treasured.
GYMPIE CIVIC CENTRE 28-30 MELLOR ST, GYMPIE QLD 4570 AUSTRALIA PHONE: +61 7 5482 4547 | INFO@HEARTOFGOLD.COM.AU /HEARTOFGOLDFILMFEST
@HEARTOFGOLD_ISFF
@HEARTOFGOLD_ISFF
THE 9TH HEART OF GOLD INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL IS PROUDLY PRESENTED BY
FOR BUDDING BOTANISTS, THE FEATURED BLOOMS: Acacia Fimbriata, Grevillea Golden Lyre, Leptospermum Pink Cascade, Ceratopetalum Gummiferum, Grevillea Orange Marmalade, Aotus Ericoides
Brochure design by Sean Dowling
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TICKETS SESSIONS
PASSES
ADULT $15 CONCESSION $12 CHILDREN (12 YEAR & UNDER) $6 10 TICKET PASS $100 5 TICKET PASS $55 OPENING NIGHT & PARTY $50 GOLDEN TICKET $210*
(full access to all sessions, masterclasses & events) *$20 discount if purchased before 29 Sep 2016
FESTIVAL PASS $180*
(full access to all sessions & masterclasses) *$20 discount if purchased before 29 Sep 2016
MASTERCLASSES
EACH SESSION $15
WELCOME FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
WELCOME FROM THE MAYOR OF GYMPIE
2016 is my first year at the helm of the Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival. The festival, now in its 9th year, is unique to Australia and the world with its mission to program films that are heartwarming, thoughtprovoking and hopeful. This is a festival built on the goodness of human spirit - from the filmmakers who have mined great depths to bring their stories to the screen, to the screener groups who gather each week in lounge rooms to excitedly watch submissions, to the volunteers who bring the festival to life with such attention to detail and loving care.
Although our days of real gold discovery may be over, events such as this ninth Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival are now the true cultural treasures to be unearthed and enjoyed.
I have spent the better part of the year sourcing films from the world’s top festivals - Cannes, Venice, Sundance and more - always thinking what a treasure it will be for audiences in regional Queensland to come together to watch these carefully-crafted and beautiful shorts in the cinema. This program is the bounty of that year of searching the world over. I hope you find something at our festival that expands your mind, resonates in your heart and lets you dream a little. After all, isn’t that what the cinema is for? Special thanks to our team who have dedicated themselves to the festival and through whom Heart of Gold continues to grow and evolve, and to the filmmakers who honour us with their work which is so full of heart, from so many corners of the world.
Emily Avila Artistic Director 2016
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See website for terms and conditions
Gympie Regional Council has been a supporter of the Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival since its inception, and its longevity is testament to the part that the committee, volunteers, sponsors, the community and you, the audience, have all played in bringing to life another great Heart of Gold. The Heart of Gold is just one of many arts and creative culture events that make up the RUSH Festival, which is running over the month of October. The Rush Festival celebrates everything that’s great about the Gympie region and its people. Our community, culture and heritage will be in the spotlight with a broad calendar of events including not only this one but the Gold Rush Festival, Rush Art Competition and exhibition, Widgee Bush Balladeers, and various concerts. Enjoy the films you have chosen to watch, enjoy RUSH Festival, enjoy the beautiful assets of our region and may the Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival keep beating strongly for many more years to come. Mayor Mick Curran
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JURY
GALA EVENTS
MICHAEL CATON | ACTOR
A legend of the Australian film & television industry, Michael Caton has performed in television, theatre and film both here in Australia and abroad during a career spanning over 40 years. Caton is most well known for his riveting and hilarious role as Darryl Kerrigan in the much loved (and much quoted) feature film The Castle, and for playing Uncle Harry in the Australian television series, The Sullivans. Caton has hosted his own shows including Hot Property, and starred in classic TV shows such as Stingers, Packed to the Rafters and Blue Heelers. For his performances and talent, Caton has been inducted into the Australian Film Walk of Fame and won an AACTA Award for Best Actor for his performance in the feature film Last Cab to Darwin. Michael hails from Monto in regional Queensland, and went to boarding school in Gympie, which is where his love of acting started.
MATTHEW WHITTET | ACTOR & WRITER
Matthew is an actor and writer who has worked extensively in theatre, film and television for the past 15 years. Matt’s feature film adaptation of his play Girl Asleep (supported by The Hive Production Fund) debuted at the Adelaide Film Festival and went on to open the 2016 Generation 14 Plus Program at Berlin International Film Festival. It also won The Age Critics’ Award for best film at Melbourne International Film Festival. Matt’s collaboration with Windmill Theatre has resulted in four plays with Girl Asleep being the most recent. Its predecessors are the Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Awards winning School Dance and Trilogy stable mate Big Bad Wolf.
KIKI FUNG | FILM CURATOR
Kiki Fung is Head Programmer for the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival and held the same position for the Brisbane International Film Festival. Currently, she also advises for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. She has been guest Film Curator for the Brisbane Festival and Film Program Manager for the Melbourne International Arts Festival, and has guest lectured on the poetics and aesthetics of Chinese cinema at the University of Queensland. Before moving to Australia in 2010, she worked for the Hong Kong Film Archive for seven years. She is a member of the Hong Kong Film Critics Society, has served on the FIPRESCI jury and Short Film Competition jury for the Hong Kong International Film Festival, among others, and is an active contributor for the festival.
DAVID TILEY | FILM JOURNALIST
In his long career, David Tiley has been a researcher, writer and director in documentary, community and corporate education, and a science magazine show for television, both in Australia and the UK, with a side order of script editing in fiction. He has worked for Film Victoria, the former Australian Film Commission, CSIRO, Open Channel, AFTRS and Melbourne University, though the majority of his knockabout professional life has been as a freelancer. Since 2005, he has edited Screen Hub, and crafted a distinctive mix of curiosity, humour and objectivity. He now calls himself a writer who works in screen media, and admits he is a tragic policy and finance wonk. Also, he has learnt to love short films.
HOLLY PITTMAN | FOUNDING JUROR
Holly has been a member of the Noosa Film Society since 2004 and is currently on the management committee as the research/marketing/publicity officer. She regularly attends international film festivals, both in Australia and overseas, including short film festivals such as Tropfest, the Manhattan Shorts and Flickerfest. She brings in-depth knowledge and a keen passion for film to the jury, of whom she has been a part since the inaugural Heart of Gold festival in 2006.
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OPENING NIGHT
THURSDAY 6TH OCT | 6:30PM FOR A 7:30PM SCREENING Hit the red carpet for the Heart of Gold 2016 Opening Night festivities! Join us for the lighting of the heart, a welcome from our Artistic Director and mingle with special guests before our Opening Night selection of show-stopping shorts. From the touching animated documentary The Shining Star of Losers Everywhere to the joyous comedy Spice Sisters to festival favourite Phil’s Camino, our Opening Night session is an unmissable evening of quality.
AWARDS CEREMONY & PARTY SATURDAY 8TH OCT | 7:30PM - 10PM Saturday is the night where filmmakers strike gold in the Heritage Theatre as we announce the 2016 prizewinners, including the lucky recipient of Best Short Film who’ll be taking home a bounty of $5000! Join us afterwards in the Prospectors Hall as we celebrate in true Heart of Gold style - with drinks, live music and a good old fashioned party.
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THURSDAY HERITAGE THEATRE
FOSSICKERS ROOM
9AM - 10:30AM
SLOW & STEADY
Slow and steady wins the race. The characters at the centre of this collection are strong, patient, resilient types - inspiring us to keep on keepin’ on. (pg8)
9:30AM - 11AM
ANIMATION
Lightbulb moments, celebrity encounters and changing seasons - an emotional rollercoaster of visual delights from some of the world’s brightest new animation talents. (pg9)
11:30AM - 1PM
COFFEE & COMEDY
Fitness fads, polystyrene wigs, Bruce Springsteen and bacon! Grab a complimentary cup of coffee and enjoy a mother lode of comedy. (pg10)
PROSPECTORS HALL THE CENTRAL HUB AND BEATING HEART OF THE FESTIVAL IS THE PROSPECTORS HALL. DROP IN FOR COFFEE OR A BITE TO EAT, SWAP NOTES WITH A PROGRAM GURU, LISTEN TO VISITING FILMMAKER Q&A’S OR JUST KICK BACK AND RELAX ON THE GOLDEN LOUNGE BETWEEN SESSIONS - THE PROSPECTORS HALL IS YOUR FESTIVAL HOME AWAY FROM HOME.
MERCHANDISE
Edith Rewa’s gorgeous illustration of blooms from the Gympie region will be featured across a delightful array of festival merch - tea towels, t-shirts, posters, and totes. Numbers are limited so get in quick to secure your Heart of Gold 2016 souvenir!
FILMMAKER Q&A’S FREE EVENT
Want to collect some expert filmmaking tips and connect with the talented minds behind our festival films? On Saturday 8 October we’ll be holding Q&A sessions with a selection of guest filmmakers. Pop into Prospectors Hall to have your burning questions answered by masters of the craft! 6
12PM - 1:30PM
EXPLORING OCEANIA
Expansive landscapes surrounded by boundless ocean and true blue characters with their own particular blend of humour - delve deeper in Exploring Oceania. (pg11)
2PM - 3:30PM
DREAMERS
Meet characters who burn bright, dream of a better life, get a second chance or become masters of their destiny in this selection of films dedicated to big and little dreams. (pg12)
2:30PM - 4PM
A CHANGING WORLD
2016 has brought with it many tragedies. In the face of bad news we look for reminders of courage, hope and compassion. (pg13)
4:30PM - 6PM
FOR LOVE
Love can manifest in many forms - from small sacrifices to daily rituals to grand gestures. Bear witness to these beautiful and unconventional tales of love, from the deserts of Tunisia to the outer reaches of Pluto. (pg14)
7:30PM
OPENING NIGHT FILMS
Hit the red carpet for the Heart of Gold 2016 Opening Night festivities! Join us for the lighting of the heart, a welcome from our Artistic Director and mingle with special guests before our Opening Night selection of some of the best short films in the program. (pg15)
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THURSDAY | 9:30AM | FOSSICKERS ROOM
THURSDAY | 9AM | HERITAGE THEATRE
SLOW & STEADY
ANIMATION
Slow and steady wins the race. The characters at the centre of this collection are strong, patient, resilient types - inspiring us to keep on keepin’ on.
Lightbulb moments, celebrity encounters and changing seasons - an emotional rollercoaster of visual delights from some of the world’s brightest new animation talents.
LOST PROPERTY
SWEAT
BARBARIAN PRESS
FULFILAMENT
LITTLE MOUSE
THE AUTUMN
6min, Asa Lucander, UK, Animation
10min, Rodd Rathjen, Australia, Drama
17min, Sarah Race, Canada, Documentary
7min, Rhiannon Evans, Wales, Animation
7min, Ervin B. Nagy, Hungary, Animation
3min, Xin Li, Australia, Animation
When you lose something dear to your heart, there is only one place it can be found. The Lost Property office.
As the capacity of farming increases, an ageing man continues to embrace the physicality of work.
The story of Jan and Crispin Elsted, who for over 35 years have made fine art books by letterpress.
Travel around the brain with a little lost thought and discover what it takes to make a great idea.
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Australian Premiere (Hot Docs, AFI Docs)
Australian Premiere (Edinburgh, Austin)
1986, Budapest - the future Olympic champion swimmer Krisztina Egerszegi is only 12. Her opponents are bigger and stronger, but does she have what it takes?
An autumn leaf dances in the air. He is looking for the right place to settle but the wind keeps carrying him away.
GIMPSEY
LIFE AT A SNAIL’S PACE
AFLOAT, ADRIFT
THE SPRING
POSTCARDS TO ULAY
CUERDAS (STRINGS)
12min, Sofya Gollan, Australia, Drama
23min, Alexandra Gaulupeau, UK, Documentary
16min, Jo Jo Lam, UK, Drama
5min, Nick Baker & Tristan Klein, Australia, Animation
11min, Pedro Solis Garcia, Spain, Animation
Gemma has a gimp leg. Her best friend calls her Gimpsey - a crippling in-joke wearing thin.
Marla Coppolino is on a mission to enlighten you to the plight of the lowly land snail through creative, intimate and unconventional means.
A short dramatic comedy that follows the life of Mei, a Chinese housewife stuck in her own version of a no man’s land in British suburbia.
3min, Xin Li, Australia, Animation A new life arrives in the springtime.
María’s routine at school is altered by the arrival of a very special child. Soon, they become close friends.
Australian Premiere (Hot Docs)
Australian Premiere
The Most Glorious Republic of Tajmenistan, 1962. An old man's life is thrown into disarray when his Siberian Snoofhound gets sent to Pluto.
BOB DYLAN HATES ME
THE LIFE OF DEATH
BINGO!
6min, Caveh Zahedi, USA, Animation
5min, Marsha Onderstijn, Netherlands, Animation
2min, Patrick Schoenmaker, Netherlands, Animation
Independent filmmaker Caveh Zahedi meets his childhood idol.
A story about the day Death fell in love with Life.
When the last bingo ball unexpectedly goes missing, feisty elderly Gerda embarks on a maniacal quest to retrieve the outcome of that night's game.
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
SOUP VAN MAN 3min, David Lloyd-Lewis, Australia, Documentary Every Thursday, for the past 40 years, one familiar, friendly face has been greeting people in need on the streets - Soup Van volunteer, Frank Mullins.
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Australian Premiere (Sundance, Rotterdam)
Winner of the Goya Award for Best Spanish Short Film Animation
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs, Clermont Ferrand)
World Premiere 8
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
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F01
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THURSDAY | 11:30AM | HERITAGE THEATRE
THURSDAY | 12PM | FOSSICKERS ROOM
COFFEE & COMEDY
EXPLORING OCEANIA
Fitness fads, polystyrene wigs, Bruce Springsteen and bacon! Grab a complimentary cup of coffee and enjoy a mother lode of comedy.
Expansive landscapes surrounded by boundless ocean and true blue characters with their own particular blend of humour - delve deeper in Exploring Oceania.
WALK IT OUT
BINGO!
MAKING MAUDE
SLINGSHOT
SWEAT
BOAT PEOPLE
9min, Michael Medico, USA, Comedy
2min, Patrick Schoenmaker, Netherlands, Animation
5min, Megan Kinninment, Australia, Documentary
7min, David Hansen, Australia, Comedy
10min, Rodd Rathjen, Australia, Drama
6min, Kosta Nikas, Australia, Comedy
Soul Cycle, Hot Yoga, Bar Method... all were the fitness craze du jour at one point. But nothing compares to Walk It Out.
Meet the Queen of Polystyrene, Michael Gates and his alter ego, Maude Boate, whose wigs were adapted for the movie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
Slingshot is an amusing analogy on modern love told through the eyes of one of its latest victims.
As the capacity of farming increases, an ageing man continues to embrace the physicality of work. Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs, Clermont Ferrand)
Queensland Premiere (Palm Springs, St Kilda)
Queensland Premiere (MIFF, SFF, St Kilda)
The year is 1788 and a group of Aboriginals argue whether their way of life will change if they let more British ‘Boat People’ in.
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
When the last bingo ball unexpectedly goes missing, feisty elderly Gerda embarks on a maniacal quest to retrieve the outcome of that night's game.
237 YEARS
OPT OUT
STATIONERY
HOME
THE DROVER’S BOY
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
23min, Ioana Mischie, Romania, Comedy
2min, Steve Utaski, USA, Comedy
10min, Lucy Wigmore, New Zealand, Comedy
11min, Thomas Gleeson, New Zealand, Documentary
11min, Margaret McHugh, Australia, Documentary
16min, Malcolm Bloedel, Australia, Documentary
A community of villagers, all of whom have been receiving additional financial aid for claiming to have disabilities, is close to being unmasked by a local inquiry team.
Just another crazy (as in seriously psycho) day at the office.
When Penny falls foul of the domineering new boss, it's Bernard's chance to step up and save her. But will his old-school ingenuity and her drawer full of stationery be enough to save the day?
We often think of houses as solid, strong, permanent things. In fact they can be weak, fragile and as this film shows, mobile. What is it that makes a house a home? What gives it its strength?
This hybrid documentary, based on a ballad by bush legend Ted Egan, retells the story of a forbidden love in 1920's outback Australia. Queensland Premiere (AIFF, SFF)
A film about birds and birdwatchers, Birds of a Feather follows four men into the Australian wilderness to discover where their passion comes from.
LEROY’S DREAM
FROM AUSTRALIA WITH LOV3
KILL YOUR DINNER
14min, Josh Sambono, Australia, Drama
7min, Dan Gibbs, Australia, Documentary
12min, Bryn Chainey, Australia, Comedy
Leroy, an Indigenous outcast from pre-colonial Australia, tries to prove himself as a hunter and accidentally slips into a portal to the modern day.
Street artist/earth artist Bode Klein ventures deep into Melbourne's urban expanse and the Australian wilderness to create an impactful message.
Perhaps the worst attempt at a father-son bonding experience ever.
Australian Premiere
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs, LA Shorts Fest)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Queensland Premiere (Flickerfest)
BACON & GOD’S WRATH
SPICE SISTERS
9min, Sol Friedman, Canada, Documentary)
15min, Sheila Jayadev, Australia, Comedy
A 90-year-old Jewish woman reflects on her life’s experiences as she prepares to try bacon for the first time.
Bored and restless with her life in suburbia, a former Bollywood star sets her sights on winning a place on a popular reality cooking show.
Australian Premiere (Sundance, TIFF, Palm Springs)
Queensland Premiere (SFF)
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SESSION SPONSOR
H02
Australian Premiere (Hot Docs)
F02
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Queensland Premiere (Berlinale, Palm Springs)
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THURSDAY | 2:30PM | FOSSICKERS ROOM
THURSDAY | 2PM | HERITAGE THEATRE
DREAMERS
A CHANGING WORLD
Meet characters who burn bright, dream of a better life, get a second chance or become masters of their destiny in this selection of films dedicated to big and little dreams.
2016 has brought with it many tragedies. In the face of bad news we look for reminders of courage, hope and compassion.
DREAM BABY
TUK TUK
ARI
ANOTHER KIND OF GIRL
16min, Lucy Gaffy, Australia, Drama
2min, David Lloyd-Lewis, Australia, Documentary
10min, Alex Murawski, Australia, Drama
9min, Khaldiya Jibawi, Jordan, Documentary
Trapped in a remote caravan park, little Elvis thinks up a scheme to break free, determined to make a better life for herself.
A day in the life of Mr. Oh, a hardworking tuk tuk driver from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
After a humiliating quest to become someone else, Ari finds that he and his way of being are of surprising value.
Three Syrian girls living in Jordan's Za’atari Refugee Camp document their everyday lives – how it looks, feels and sounds from the ground, at the heart of their world.
Queensland Premiere (MIFF)
World Premiere
MDUDU BOY
PUP CULTURE
20min, Ella Smith, Kenya/England, Drama
10min, Elle Marsh, Australia, Documentary
A small Kenyan street kid has a stroke of luck when, with a little help from a Premier League Footballer, a brand new football falls off the back of a van.
Pup Culture is a glimpse into the world of the dedicated dog hobbyist. Meet the Melbournians that take dog ownership to a whole new level.
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Queensland Premiere (Toronto, St Kilda)
Queensland Premiere (Sundance, SXSW, SFF)
BENEATH THE EMBERS (BAJO LAS BRASAS)
THE CHAMPION
11min, Verónica Jessamyn López Sainz, Mexico, Drama Isabel, a young woman from the sierra mountains of Guanajuato, has learned that to achieve her dreams she must sacrifice her present. Australia Premiere (Sundance)
18min, Patrick McGowan & Brett Garamella, USA, Documentary Former Iraqi boxing champion Estaifan Shilaita overcomes tremendous hardships as he builds a special bond with his family and taxi cab customers in Chicago. Australian Premiere (Palm Springs, Aspen)
SESSION SPONSOR
H03
6min, Joe D’Arcy, Australia, Animation An animation inspired by 3 million people marching for unity, peace, and freedom of expression. Queensland Premiere (Tribeca, St Kilda)
NOWHERE LINE: VOICES FROM MANUS ISLAND 15min, Lukas Schrank, Australia, Animation Narrated by two asylum-seeking men detained in Australia's Manus Island Offshore Processing Centre, recounting the dangerous journeys that brought them to the island.
ÉVA
23min, Nora Niasari, Australia, Drama
8min, Peter Hegedus, Hungary/Australia, Documentary
Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, acclaimed actor Manouchehr Farid fled Iran, turning his back on the stage. Inside an Australian detention centre, he finds new purpose.
Éva Fahidi is a 90 year old Holocaust survivor who feels compelled to share her passionate perspective on the refugee crisis sweeping across Europe.
F03
ADELE 14min, Mirene Igwabi, Australia, Drama In the face of an African family tradition imposed on her in Australia, fourteen-year-old Adele is torn between the responsibilities of high school and home. World Premiere
BOAT PEOPLE 6min, Kosta Nikas, Australia, Comedy The year is 1788 and a group of Aboriginals argue whether their way of life will change if they let more British ‘Boat People’ in.
(MIFF, Palm Springs, HRAFF)
THE PHOENIX (SIMORGH)
(MIFF, BAPFF) 12
I AM A PENCIL (JE SUIS UN CRAYON)
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
13
THURSDAY | 4:30PM | HERITAGE THEATRE
FOR LOVE Love can manifest in many forms - from small sacrifices to daily rituals to grand gestures. Bear witness to these beautiful and unconventional tales of love, from the deserts of Tunisia to the outer reaches of Pluto.
LAW OF LAMB (LA LAINE SUR LE DOS)
STRUDEL SISTERS
POSTCARDS TO ULAY
15min, Lofti Achour, Tunisia / France, Drama
12min, Peter Hegedus & Jaina Kalifa, Hungary / Australia, Documentary
5min, Nick Baker & Tristan Klein, Australia, Animation
While driving along a road in the Tunisian desert on their way to market to sell their sheep, an old man and his grandson are stopped by two policemen.
Two elderly sisters share the art of making Hungarian strudel and reveal a deeply personal story about their mother, who taught them everything they know.
Australian Premiere (Cannes - In Competition)
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda, Sydney)
GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART
HOME
THE LIFE OF DEATH
12min, Bec Peniston-Bird, Australia, Drama
10min, Thomas Gleeson, New Zealand, Documentary
5min, Marsha Onderstijn, Netherlands, Animation
When Barb embarks on a drastic course of action she must confront her feelings for an old friend. A tender, twisting and darkly comic glance at old age, love and death.
We often think of houses as solid, strong, permanent things. In fact they can be weak, fragile and as this film shows, mobile. What is it that makes a house a home? What gives it its strength?
A story about the day Death fell in love with Life.
The Most Glorious Republic of Tajmenistan, 1962. An old man's life is thrown into disarray when his Siberian Snoofhound gets sent to Pluto.
OPENING NIGHT
6:30PM - OPENING NIGHT DRINKS (PROSPECTORS HALL) 7:30PM - OPENING NIGHT FILMS (HERITAGE THEATRE) Hit the red carpet for the Heart of Gold 2016 Opening Night festivities! Join us for the lighting of the heart, a welcome from our Artistic Director and mingle with special guests before our Opening Night selection of some of the best short films in the program.
THE BATTLE
THE SPA
3min, Sophie Hexter & Poppy Walker, Australia, Documentary
8min, Will Goodfellow, Australia, Comedy
Kayah Guenther is a young artist struggling to find his place in the world. Born with trisomy 21, he narrates his story through dance. ‘The Battle’ explores themes of identity, power, passion and despair.
When retiree Don declares he no longer wants the new spa that’s just arrived at his door, Ivan the delivery man tries to uncover why.
Australian Premiere (Oberhausen)
Australian Premiere (Hot Docs)
Queensland Premiere (Palm Springs, St Kilda, SFF)
THE SHINING STAR OF LOSERS EVERYWHERE 18min, Mickey Duzyj, USA, Animation/Documentary In 2003, Japanese racehorse Haru Urara became a national icon after enduring a losing streak of epic proportions. Australian Premiere (Sundance, Hot Docs, SXSW)
I WANT TO DANCE BETTER AT PARTIES
THE DROVER’S BOY
SPICE SISTERS
PHIL’S CAMINO
27min, Matthew Bates, Australia, Documentary
11min, Margaret McHugh, Australia, Documentary, Student
15min, Sheila Jayadev, Australia, Comedy
27min, Annie O’Neill & Jessica Lewis, USA, Documentary
In need of some form of human contact, a grieving man takes up dance classes with a young instructor.
This hybrid documentary, based on a ballad by bush legend Ted Egan, retells the story of a forbidden love in 1920's outback Australia.
Bored and restless with her life in suburbia, a former Bollywood star sets her sights on winning a place on a popular reality cooking show.
Phil is a free-spirited man with Stage 4 cancer who dreams of walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Queensland Premiere (AIFF, SFF)
Queensland Premiere (SFF)
Australian Premiere (SXSW, AFI)
Queensland Premiere (SFF - Dendy Award for Best Film) 14
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ART WITH HEART In partnership with Joolie Gibbs and her wonderful team at the Gympie Regional Gallery, Art with Heart has become a well-loved Heart of Gold feature and major festival fundraiser. This initiative is an exclusive opportunity for private collectors and businesses to acquire unique pieces made by renowned local artists. Enter the draw to win an artwork of your choice by purchasing a ticket for $20 at the festival and recording your order of preferences from 1-10. With only 500 tickets up for the grabs the odds are pretty good! Tickets will be drawn on Sunday 9th Oct - good of luck!
FRIDAY HERITAGE THEATRE
FOSSICKERS ROOM
9AM - 10:30AM
SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS
Climb on up, take a deep breath and dive in - shorts that will catch you off guard with their simple beauty, immersive energy and aspirational wonder. (pg18) Justine Newport, 2.3 Metres High, Ceramic Hanging Mobile, #1
9:30AM - 11AM
EXPLORING ASIA
Jump on a tuk-tuk, set your compass to the East and feel the winds of change in Exploring Asia. (pg19)
11AM - 12:30PM
HIGH SCHOOL SHORTS + Q&A
Great job - your whole class just won the highschool-excursion lottery! A mixed bag of relatable and mind-expanding films that may even inspire the next gen of local filmmakers... (pg20)
11:30AM - 1PM
REAL STORIES WITH HEART
What Heart of Gold is all about - a truly heartwarming session full of real-life stories of people committed to making the world a better place, each in their own unique way. (pg22)
1PM - 2:30PM 2PM - 3:30PM Richard Newport, Heart Table, Wooden Stool, #2
Adrienne McVerry, Dragonfly Garden Art, Stain Glass Garden Post, #3
Don Milner, Rolling Wave, Acrylic on Canvas, #4
OLD GOLD
A stand-out collection of solid gold hits from festivals past selected by veteran Heart of Gold Screener Coordinator Helen Crowley. (pg23)
HYBRID DOCUMENTARY: FACT OR FICTION? MASTERCLASS
What is a hybrid documentary? Join this masterclass to learn more about this hotly debated genre of documentary filmmaking and explore the different ways filmmakers have used fictional storytelling techniques to tell real stories! (pg21)
4PM - 5:30PM
CHANCE ENCOUNTERS
Lisa Stamos, Laughing, Pastel, #5
Jenny Hawkes Wright, Sunrise From Prickle Farm, Watercolour #6
Pam Walpole, Misty Outcrop, Mixed Media on Canvas, #7
How well do you know the person sitting next to you? Challenge your preconceptions, open your hearts and get ready for mind games in this session devoted to unexpected twists of fate. (pg24)
7PM - 8:30PM
5:30PM - 6:30PM
HAPPY HOUR
Clock off the working week at Heart of Gold’s Happy Hour! We’ve got four Australian premieres and a free drink waiting to get you into gear for a golden weekend. (pg25)
IRISH SHORTS
Here’s to a long short and a merry one. A quick film and an easy one. A pretty scene and an honest one. A cold pint and another one! (pg26)
9PM - 10:30PM
LATE NIGHT COMEDY Barbara Hart, Autumn In My Heart, Silk Scarf, #8 16
Sherrie Rowan, Red and Gold, Watercolour #9
Peter Harris, Tribal Dance, Ceramic, #10
It’s Friday night! Stay up late with us for eight unruly tales of first love, embarrassing families and office politics. (pg27)
17
FRIDAY | 9AM | HERITAGE THEATRE
FRIDAY | 9:30AM | FOSSICKERS ROOM
SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS
EXPLORING ASIA
Climb on up, take a deep breath and dive in - shorts that will catch you off guard with their simple beauty, immersive energy and aspirational wonder.
Jump on a tuk-tuk, set your compass to the East and feel the winds of change in Exploring Asia.
TEN METER TOWER (HOPPTORNET) 16min, Axel Danielson & Maximilien Van Aertryck, Sweden, Documentary First time divers have to choose whether to jump or climb down. An entertaining study of the human in a vulnerable position.
THE LIGHTHOUSE
THE ART OF FLYING
THE LEARNING ALLIANCE
THE AUTUMN
THE SPRING
11 min, Simon Scheiber, Netherlands, Animation
7min, Jan van Ijken, Netherlands, Documentary
9min, Umar Saeed, Pakistan, Documentary
3min, Xin Li, Australia, Animation
3min, Xin Li, Australia, Animation
A lighthouse keeper’s surprising discovery pulls him out of his daily routine and takes him into uncharted territory.
A short film about “murmurations:” the mysterious flights of the Common Starling. Every night the starlings gather at dusk to perform their stunning air show.
Three brothers in Pakistan collect garbage as a means to put themselves through school. The Learning Alliance is a portrait of children with dreams and their struggle to achieve them.
An autumn leaf dances in the air. He is looking for the right place to settle but the wind keeps carrying him away.
A new life arrives in the springtime.
Australian Premiere
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Queensland Premiere (Berlinale, Palm Springs, SFF)
A GRAPE FAMILY ADVENTURE
BEACH FLAGS
SUPPORTING FILM (VOOR FILM)
6min, James Carr, Australia, Animation
14min, Sarah Saidan, France, Animation
11min, Douwe Dijkstra, Netherlands, Documentary
The Grape Family receives some exciting news that whisks them away from their dreary lives. But it may not be quite what it seems…
Vida is a young Iranian lifeguard. She is determined to participate in an international competition. But when Sareh, who is very talented, joins the team, everything changes.
This short explores the peculiar ritual of watching film. How is the medium experienced by people with sensory impairments, strong religious beliefs, or lovesickness?
Queensland Premiere (Clermont-Ferrand)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs, Clermont-Ferrand)
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Australian Premiere (DokuMA)
THE SHINING STAR OF LOSERS EVERYWHERE 18min, Mickey Duzyj, Japan/USA, Documentary In 2003, Japanese racehorse Haru Urara became a national icon after enduring a losing streak of epic proportions.
TUK TUK
TIME OF THE ASIAN CENTURY
2min, David Lloyd-Lewis, Cambodia/Australia, Documentary
3mins, Joyce Ho, Australia, Documentary
A day in the life of Mr. Oh, a hardworking tuk tuk driver from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The story of Hong Kong, from the Silk Road times, to reunification with China – all told on a plate.
World Premiere
Australian Premiere (Sundance, Hot Docs, SXSW)
MAST QALANDAR
AFLOAT, ADRIFT
THRESHOLD
15min, Divij Roopchand, India, Drama
16min, Jo Jo Lam, UK, Drama
8min, Ben Searcy, Australia, Drama
For his thirteenth birthday, a frustrated, rap-loving Sikh boy desperately wants a new hairdo; but a pair of scissors is nowhere to be found.
A short dramatic comedy that follows the life of Mei, a Chinese housewife stuck in her own version of a no man’s land in British suburbia.
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Australian Premiere
Life has trapped Alice and Fraser on each side of an Australian suburban threshold. Maybe one day, one of them can take the first step. 18
H05
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
F04
19
FRIDAY | 11AM | HERITAGE THEATRE
FRIDAY | 1PM | FOSSICKERS ROOM SCHOOL SESSION
HIGH SCHOOL SHORTS Great job - your whole class just won the high-school-excursion lottery! A mixed bag of relatable and mind-expanding films that may even inspire the next gen of local filmmakers...
THE BATTLE 3min, Sophie Hexter & Poppy Walker, Australia, Documentary Kayah Guenther is a young artist struggling to find his place in the world. Born with trisomy 21, he narrates his story through dance. ‘The Battle’ explores themes of identity, power, passion and despair. Australian Premiere (Oberhausen)
METUBE2 - AUGUST SINGS CARMINA BURANA 5min, Daniel Moshel, Austria, Experimental Elfie and her nerdy son August venture onto the street to present the biggest and boldest operatic flash mob the internet has ever witnessed! Queensland Premiere (Sundance, Busan)
CLUMSY LITTLE ACTS OF TENDERNESS 9min, Miia Tervo, Finland, Comedy A weekend father wants to show his teenage daughter his love by taking her to a carwash, but instead, they end up on a life-changing adventure in the supermarket.
THE DROVER’S BOY 10min, Margaret McHugh, Australia, Documentary, Student This hybrid documentary, based on a ballad by bush legend Ted Egan, retells the story of a forbidden love in 1920's outback Australia. Queensland Premiere (AIFF, SFF)
Australian Premiere (TIFF, Palm Springs)
THE PHOENIX (SIMORGH)
WALK IT OUT
23min, Nora Niasari, Australia, Drama
9min, Michael Medico, USA, Comedy
Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, acclaimed actor Manouchehr Farid fled Iran, turning his back on the stage. Inside an Australian detention centre, he finds new purpose.
Soul Cycle, Hot Yoga, Bar Method... all were the fitness craze du jour at one point. But nothing compares to Walk It Out. Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
(MIFF, BAPFF)
THE SHINING STAR OF LOSERS EVERYWHERE 18 min, Mickey Duzyj, USA, Animation/Documentary
SCHOOL SESSION
HYBRID DOCUMENTARY: FACT OR FICTION? MASTERCLASS What is a hybrid documentary? Join this masterclass to learn more about this hotly debated genre of documentary filmmaking and explore the different ways filmmakers have used fictional storytelling techniques to tell real stories! Margaret McHugh is an award winning documentary filmmaker based in Sydney. Margaret has a degree in Video Art from the Australian National University School of Art and studied documentary directing at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Her films have screened at many festivals including Sydney Film Festival, Adelaide Film Festival, St Kilda Film Festival and Worldfest-Houston International Film and Video Festival. Margaret has also worked for the Sydney Film Festival and Antenna Documentary Film Festival in programming and marketing. She is currently doing her Master of Research (Hybrid Documentary) at Macquarie University, which is a research-training pathway to a PhD. Margaret looks forward to continuing to explore the boundary between video art and documentary filmmaking in her creative practice.
In 2003, Japanese racehorse Haru Urara became a national icon after enduring a losing streak of epic proportions. Australian Premiere (Sundance, Hot Docs, SXSW) 20
H06
F06
21
FRIDAY | 2PM | HERITAGE THEATRE
FRIDAY | 11:30AM | FOSSICKERS ROOM
REAL STORIES WITH HEART
OLD GOLD
What Heart of Gold is all about - a truly heartwarming session full of real-life stories of people committed to making the world a better place, each in their own unique way.
A stand-out collection of solid gold hits from festivals past selected by veteran Heart of Gold Screener Coordinator Helen Crowley
MALA’S CELLO
FROM AUSTRALIA WITH LOV3
THE LEARNING ALLIANCE
SNAKE BITE
LILA
FULL DISCLOSURE
6min, Kelly Stoner, Australia, Documentary
7min, Dan Gibb, Australia, Documentary
9min, Umar Saeed, Pakistan, Documentary
9min, Matt Pinder, Scotland, Drama, Heart of Gold 2007
9min, Carlos Lascano, Spain, Fantasy, Heart of Gold 2015
17min, Douglas Horn, USA, Comedy, Heart of Gold 2006
A film capturing the generosity and grace of the human spirit, through the gift of a handmade cello, and the joy and possibility it brings.
A meditation on life, love and artistic expression as street artist/ earth artist Bode Klein uses found objects to create an impactful message.
7-year-old Sammy Gillanders mistakenly thinks he’s been bitten by a poisonous snake. For the rest of the afternoon he considers his slow and painful demise.
Lila is a dreamy girl who can't resign herself to accepting that reality is as flat as she perceives it, so she uses her imagination and her skills to modify it.
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Three brothers in Pakistan collect garbage as a means to put themselves through school. The Learning Alliance is a portrait of children with dreams and their struggle to achieve them.
Everett reveals every terrible habit, attitude, and hang-up on the first date. Shockingly, women don't react as he'd hoped...until he meets Brinn, who's willing to play his game and try for Full Disclosure.
MUSEDAY TUESDAY
LOVE IS LOVE
WITH LITTLE HOPE
MEND AND MAKE DO
TELEGRAM MAN
MULTIPLE CHOICE
7min, Tasha Lawton, Australia, Documentary
11min, Logan Mucha, Australia, Documentary
14min, Hew Sandison, Australia, Drama
11min, Bexie Bush, UK, Animation, Heart of Gold 2015
14min, James Francis Khehtie, Australia, Drama, Heart of Gold 2013
5min, Michael Goode, Australia, Comedy, Heart of Gold 2010
Museday Theatre is a group of inspirational people who delight and inspire, reminding you anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
An intimate look into the lives and homes of four LGBTI families across Melbourne.
A young woman fights perception to prove that she's more than just her physical disability. Written by Louise Ellery, an Australian Paralympic athlete and Commonwealth Games gold medalist.
World Premiere
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Australian Premiere (DokuMA)
Cup of tea? Come and take a seat in Lyn's cosy front room, hear her story of wartime love and watch as her belongings come alive with the hope, fear and humour of one spirited lady.
The Telegram Man explores the impact of World War II on a closeknit Australian farming community
A desperate lie spirals out of control for three hapless engineering students as they try to outwit their lecturer.
World Premiere
COMPERS
THE HEART FOLLOWERS
9min, Eliza Cox, Australia, Documentary
10min, Tord Theodor Olsen, Norway, Documentary
A glimpse into the lives of two ordinary Australians reveals what it takes to succeed in the world of online competitions.
Inside a glass dome in Northern Norway, lives a family of five. In the inhospitable Arctic climate they have found their unique way of life.
SECOND HAND
IF THE CUCKOO DON’T CROW
15min, Benjamin O’Donnell & Ashleigh Hanley, Australia, Drama, Heart of Gold 2015
2min, Steve Kirby, UK, Animation, Heart of Gold 2015
A tender nudge by a friend ultimately reminds Harvey that the world is still revolving, with or without him.
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda) 22
F05
H07
“If the cuckoo don’t crow, then you know there’s wind coming…” Brian from Melton recounts how his mother, Doris, was the woman who predicted the October 1987 hurricane and famously phoned the BBC, but was told not to be so daft. 23
FRIDAY | 5:30PM | FOSSICKERS ROOM
FRIDAY | 4PM | HER ITAGE THEATRE
HAPPY HOUR
CHANCE ENCOUNTERS How well do you know the person sitting next to you? Challenge your preconceptions, open your hearts and get ready for mind games in this session devoted to unexpected twists of fate.
Clock off the working week at Heart of Gold’s Happy Hour! We’ve got four Australian premieres and a free drink waiting to get you into gear for a golden weekend.
NULLA NULLA
STUFFED
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
FULFILAMENT
THE CHAMPION
ERNIE
5min, Dylan River, Australia, Comedy
22min, Warwick Young, Australia, Comedy
16min, Malcolm Bloedel, Australia, Documentary
7min, Rhiannon Evans, Wales, Animation
18min, Patrick McGowan & Brett Garamella, USA, Documentary
17min, Hadley Hillel, USA, Drama
Fresh out of the academy, White Cop experiences his first taste of Aboriginal Community life as Black Cop puts him to the test.
Taxidermist Peter Murphy loves his mother. When she dies and he can’t bear to live without her - Peter does all that he can to keep his mum around.
A film about birds and birdwatchers, Birds of a Feather follows four men into the Australian wilderness to discover where their passion comes from.
Travel around the brain with a little lost thought and discover what it takes to make a great idea.
Former Iraqi boxing champion Estaifan Shilaita overcomes tremendous hardships as he builds a special bond with his family and taxi cab customers in Chicago.
When Ernie's suicide attempt rips a hole in the floor of the apartment above, he begins to form a friendship with the young boy who lives there.
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda, SFF)
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs, Aspen)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
ERNIE
STATIONERY
36 QUESTIONS
17min, Hadley Hillel, USA, Drama
10min, Lucy Wigmore, New Zealand, Comedy
7min, Giancarlo Fiorentini & Jonathan Grimm, USA, Comedy
When Ernie's suicide attempt rips a hole in the floor of the apartment above, he begins to form a friendship with the young boy who lives there.
When Penny falls foul of the domineering new boss, it's Bernard's chance to step up and save her. But will his old-school ingenuity and her drawer full of stationery be enough to save the day?
Two strangers participate in an experiment designed to make them fall in love by asking each other 36 increasingly personal questions.
AAACTA Award for Best Short Fiction Film 2015
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
24
Australian Premiere
Australian Premiere (Edinburgh, Austin)
237 YEARS 23min, Ioana Mischie, Romania, Comedy A community of villagers, all of whom have been receiving additional financial aid for claiming to have disabilities, is close to being unmasked by a local inquiry team.
HAPPY HOUR
Show your ticket at the bar for a FREE DRINK then hit the cinema for 60 minutes of great shorts.
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Queensland Premiere (Flickerfest)
H08
F07
Heart of Gold International Film Festival practices the responsible service of alcohol.
25
FRIDAY | 7PM | HERITAGE THEATRE
FRIDAY | 9PM | HERITAGE THEATRE
IRISH SHORTS
LATE NIGHT COMEDY
Here’s to a long short and a merry one. A quick film and an easy one. A pretty scene and an honest one. A cold pint and another one!
It’s Friday night! Stay up late with us for eight unruly tales of first love, embarrassing families and office politics.
LOVE IS A STING
STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT
VIOLET
KILL YOUR DINNER
19min, Vincent Gallagher, Ireland, Drama
12min, Conor McMahon, Ireland, Drama
8min, Maurice Joyce, Ireland, Animation
12min, Bryn Chainey, Australia, Comedy
Struggling children’s book writer Harold Finch gains an unexpected house guest in the form of an ageing, hyper-intelligent mosquito named Anabel.
Two lonely people find the love that they were searching for. Well, one lonely person and one banshee.
'Violet' is the haunting, cautionary tale of a young girl who despises her reflection.
A single father’s plan to reconnect with his son by killing a cow together leads to more chaos than either of them could have imagined.
AGRICULTURE REPORT
ANYWHERE BUT HERE
DON’T FORGET THE BREAD
2min, Melina Sydney Padua, Ireland, Animation (Heart of Gold 2004)
21min, John Hayes, Ireland, Drama
3min, Gary Gill, Ireland, Animation
When you’re fifteen, falling in love changes everything. James’ only friend is a crab called Bernard until electric city kid Stacey arrives and turns his whole world upside down.
The story of four children who are sent out on an errand on Easter Monday and get more than they bargained for…
A cow is listening to the radio when she hears about a new strain of disease that could be dangerous to livestock.
HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT IN 4 EASY STEPS 7min, Ben Berman, USA, Comedy Step 1: No beer. Step 2: Portion Control. Step 3: Have your heart broken. Not just broken - shattered.
CLUMSY LITTLE ACTS OF TENDERNESS
SLINGSHOT
DRAWCARD
7min, David Hansen, Australia, Comedy
7min, Antonio Oreña Barlin, Australia, Comedy)
10-year-old Frankie is on summer vacation at a trailer park. When a girl his age shows a romantic interest, Frankie’s holiday becomes a whole lot more complicated.
When a lighthearted office prank goes a little pear shaped, Ed is left to pick up the pieces and try to save not only his job but his dignity.
9min, Mia Tervo, Finland, Comedy A weekend father’s plan to show his daughter his love ends up taking them on a life-changing adventure in a particularly exciting supermarket.
DEATH IN BLOOM
36 QUESTIONS
16min, Daniel O’Hara, Ireland, Comedy (Heart of Gold 2004)
12min, Dael Oates, Australia, Comedy
7min, Giancarlo Fiorentini & Jonathan Grimm, USA, Comedy
When Murph wakes up one day mysteriously speaking perfect Irish and having forgotten to speak English, he looks for help wherever he can get it.
A dark comedy about a doorto-door ‘death salesman’ who struggles to close a deal with a fabulously difficult customer.
Two strangers participate in an experiment designed to make them fall in love by asking each other 36 increasingly personal questions.
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Australian Premiere
26
H09
Taxidermist Peter Murphy loves his mother. When she dies and he can’t bear to live without her - Peter does all that he can to keep his mum around.
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
SESSION SPONSOR
22min, Warwick Young, Australia, Comedy
Australian Premiere (Berlinale, Palm Springs)
Queensland Premiere (MIFF, SFF, St Kilda, Flickerfest)
FLUENT DYSPHASIA
STUFFED
H10
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda, SFF)
Queensland Premiere (Tropfest)
SESSION SPONSOR
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VENUE MAP
SATURDAY HERITAGE THEATRE
FOSSICKERS ROOM
PROSPECTORS HALL
9AM - 11AM
WOMEN IN ACTION
A selection of films made by and about women. Powerful, vulnerable, fierce and fragile— watch as these women fill the screen and drive the story. (pg30)
9:30AM - 11AM
MOVING ON
In the company of strangers, in the face of adversity, in spite of themselves - a collection of stories about happiness, healing and moving on. (pg31)
11AM - 12:30PM
AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
HERITAGE THEATRE
PROSPECTORS HALL
Devoted to our finest filmic exports, sink into a session of homegrown festival highlights from filmmakers who have taken their shorts from Down Under all over the world. (pg34)
11:30AM - 1PM
HYBRID DOCUMENTARY: FACT OR FICTION? MASTERCLASS
Some of the finest shorts from the world’s top festivals - Cannes, Venice, Sundance and more compiled into an unmissable session for Heart of Gold cinephiles. (pg35)
ENTRY
FOYER
FOYER LIFT BAR FOSSICKERS ROOM
SENIOR CITIZENS CENTRE
FILMMAKER Q&A 1:30PM - 3PM
Selected visiting filmmakers in conversation
EXPLORING EUROPE
Where would cinema be without the Europeans? We traverse the continent from a village in Romania with a well-kept secret, to a life-changing experience in a supermarket in Sweden. (pg36)
3PM - 3:30PM
FILMMAKER Q&A
Selected visiting filmmakers in conversation
GIRL ASLEEP + Q&A
3:30PM - 5PM
MELTING POT
Can’t decide? Try a little bit of everything - a dash of doco, a cup of comedy and a pinch of drama, all stirred into the Melting Pot. (pg37)
5:30PM - 7PM
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CHOICE
A quality-controlled selection of stunning shorts from Sweden to Spain to Scotland - handpicked by Heart of Gold’s very own artistic director Emily Avila. (pg40)
7:30PM - 8:15PM
8:15PM
(pg41)
(pg41)
AWARDS CEREMONY 28
Selected visiting filmmakers in conversation
1PM - 1:30PM
3PM - 4:30PM
Our 2016 feature film GIRL ASLEEP is a journey into the absurd, scary and beautiful heart of the teenage mind. Screenwriter Matthew Whittet is a guest of the festival and will be in conversation with Emily Avila, artistic director, after the screening. (pg39)
FILMMAKER Q&A
(pg32)
1PM - 2:30PM
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
11AM - 11:30AM
AWARDS NIGHT PARTY 29
SATURDAY | 9AM | HERITAGE THEATRE
SATURDAY | 9:30M | FOSSICKERS ROOM
WOMEN IN ACTION
MOVING ON
A selection of films made by and about women. Powerful, vulnerable, fierce and fragile—watch as these women fill the screen and drive the story.
In the company of strangers, in the face of adversity, in spite of themselves - a collection of stories about happiness, healing and moving on.
SHAN AND KATE
AFLOAT, ADRIFT
GIMPSEY
17min, Zoë Rae, Australia, Comedy
16min, Jo Jo Lam, UK, Drama
12min, Sofya Gollan, Australia, Drama
BENEATH THE EMBERS (BAJO LAS BRASAS)
It's 1996 and Shan and Kate are just trying to make it to their first high school party without getting stressdiarrhoea. Pray for them.
A short dramatic comedy that follows the life of Mei, a Chinese housewife stuck in her own version of a no man’s land in British suburbia.
Gemma has a gimp leg. Her best friend calls her Gimpsey - a crippling in-joke wearing thin.
Queensland Premiere (Palm Springs)
LOST PROPERTY
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Australian Premiere
ADELE
Isabel, a young woman from the sierra mountains of Guanajuato, has learned that to achieve her dreams she must sacrifice her present.
10min, Ben Proudfoot, USA, Documentary
When a courier delivers a package to an old friend from primary school, the pair grapple with unexpected grief whilst reminiscing about their first kiss.
A portrait of master woodworker and Vietnam veteran Eric Hollenbeck. Australian Premiere
HIRANI
WITH LITTLE HOPE
[OUT OF FRA]ME
ARI
14min, Hew Sandison, Australia, Drama
18min, Sophie Linnenbaum, Germany, Drama
10min, Alex Murawski, Australia, Drama
A young woman fights perception to prove that she's more than just her physical disability. Written by Louise Ellery, an Australian Paralympic athlete and Commonwealth Games gold medalist.
Paul, who since childhood has always existed just out of frame, joins a support group for people afflicted by cinematic maladies. There he meets a girl who might be the solution to his problem.
After a humiliating quest to become someone else, Ari finds that he and his way of being are of surprising value.
World Premiere
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
14min, Mirene Igwabi, Australia, Drama
12min, Suga Sappiah, Australia, Drama
When you lose something dear to your heart, there is only one place it can be found. The Lost Property office.
In the face of an African family tradition imposed on her in Australia, fourteen-year-old Adele is torn between the responsibilities of high school and home.
A migrant girl starting school is faced with the choice between making friends and being true to her identity. World Premiere
LITTLE KINGDOM
PHIL’S CAMINO
14min, Rachel Maxine Anderson, Australia, Drama
27min, Annie O’Neill & Jessica Lewis, USA, Documentary
A young deaf boy meets a girl in his neighbourhood who helps him understand the power and importance of friendship.
Phil is a free-spirited man with Stage 4 cancer who dreams of walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Queensland Premiere
Australian Premiere (SXSW, AFI)
30
THE OX
8min, Kacie Anning, Australia, Drama
Australia Premiere (Sundance)
6min, Asa Lucander, UK, Animation
World Premiere
11min, Verónica Jessamyn López Sainz, Mexico, Drama
FIRST & SECOND
H11
F08
Queensland Premiere (Toronto, St Kilda)
31
SATURDAY | 11:30AM - 1PM | FOSSICKERS ROOM
HYBRID DOCUMENTARY MASTERCLASS: FACT OR FICTION?
What is a hybrid documentary? Join this Master Class to learn more about this hotly debated genre of documentary filmmaking and explore the different ways filmmakers have used fictional storytelling techniques to tell real stories. This Master Class, presented by filmmaker Margaret McHugh, will also examine her creative process through a case study of her latest award winning hybrid documentary The Drover’s Boy. McHugh will also touch on festival submission strategies and the basics in marketing a short film.
SATURDAY | 9AM & 1PM | SENIOR CITIZENS CENTRE
COMEDY FILM MASTERCLASS TEENAGERS - SATURDAY - 9AM - 11:30AM (SENIOR CITIZEN’S CENTRE) Why does a film make you laugh? What does the filmmaker do that makes their film so funny? You'll work on short scenes, and use techniques you learn to make them extra funny, and hopefully have the rest of the class in stitches at the end when you perform them!
ADULTS - SATURDAY - 1PM - 3:30PM (SENIOR CITIZEN’S CENTRE)
SCHOOL SESSION - FRIDAY - 1PM - 2:30PM (FOSSICKERS ROOM) ALL AGES - SATURDAY - 11:30AM - 1PM (FOSSICKERS ROOM)
In this masterclass for adults, we'll look at the specifics of writing and directing a comedy film. Using examples from some of the greatest comedy films, we'll delve into the specific techniques used to bring out the humour in a script. Then, with a short scripted scene, we'll apply our learned techniques to add comedy and humour. The class will conclude with a live script reading of our new comedy scenes (and hopefully a decent amount of laughter).
MARGARET MCHUGH
TIM MARSHALL
Margaret McHugh is an award winning documentary filmmaker based in Sydney. Margaret has a degree in Video Art from the Australian National University School of Art and studied documentary directing at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Her films have screened at many festivals including Sydney Film Festival, Adelaide Film Festival, St Kilda Film Festival and Worldfest-Houston International Film and Video Festival. Margaret has also worked for the Sydney Film Festival and Antenna Documentary Film Festival in programming and marketing. She is currently doing her Master of Research (Hybrid Documentary) at Macquarie University, which is a research-training pathway to a PhD. Margaret looks forward to continuing to explore the boundary between video art and documentary filmmaking in her creative practice.
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Tim Marshall is an award-winning Australian writer/director with an asymmetrical curiosity and a passion for exploring our misbalanced lives, from the joy to the pain. His short films have screened at numerous notable film festivals the world over, including Sundance, SXSW, Palm Springs, Frameline and Outfest. In 2013, his short film ‘Gorilla’ won the Iris Prize in the UK, awarding him £25K to make his next short film. The outcome of this, ‘Followers’, is a short version of his feature screenplay of the same name. The feature screenplay earned him a place in the 2014 Outfest Screenwriting Lab and made it to the semi-finals round of the 2014 Academy Nicholl Fellowship. 'Followers' the feature film has been developed through Screen Queensland, and will be filmed in Tim's hometown of Brisbane, Australia. ‘Followers’, the short film, had its world premiere in competition at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival followed by a screening in competition at SXSW 2015, and as part of the Accelerator program at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
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SATURDAY | 11AM | HERITAGE THEATRE
SATURDAY | 1PM | HERITAGE THEATRE
AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
Devoted to our finest filmic exports, sink into a session of homegrown festival highlights from filmmakers who have taken their shorts from Down Under all over the world.
Some of the finest shorts from the world’s top festivals - Cannes, Venice, Sundance and more - compiled into an unmissable session for Heart of Gold cinephiles.
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
THE BATTLE
KILL YOUR DINNER
ÉVA
BEACH FLAGS
BELLADONNA
MINING POEMS OR ODES
3min, Sophie Hexter & Poppy Walker, Australia, Documentary
12min, Bryn Chainey, Australia, Comedy
8min, Peter Hegedus, Hungary/ Australia, Documentary
14min, Sarah Saidan, France, Animation
17min, Dubravka Turic, Croatia, Drama
11min, Callum Rice, Scotland, Documentary
Kayah Guenther is a young artist struggling to find his place in the world. Born with trisomy 21, he narrates his story through dance. ‘The Battle’ explores themes of identity, power, passion and despair.
A single father’s plan to reconnect with his son by killing a cow together leads to more chaos than either of them could have imagined.
Éva Fahidi is a 90 year old Holocaust survivor who feels compelled to share her passionate perspective on the refugee crisis sweeping across Europe.
Vida is a young Iranian lifeguard. She is determined to participate in an international competition. But when Sareh, who is very talented, joins the team, everything changes.
Belladonna is a film about (not) seeing, about our superficial perception of each other and the prejudices that result from it.
Robert, an ex-shipyard welder from Govan in Glasgow, reflects on how his experience’s have influenced his new found compulsion to write.
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Queensland Premiere (Clermont-Ferrand)
Queensland Premiere (Venice - Orrizonti Award for Best Short Film, Sundance)
Australian Premiere (Sundance, Edinburgh, Hot Docs)
LAW OF LAMB (LA LAINE SUR LE DOS)
THUNDER ROAD
BACON & GOD’S WRATH
12min, Jim Cummings, USA, Comedy)c
9min, Sol Friedman, Canada, Documentary
Officer Arnaud loved his Mom.
A 90-year-old Jewish woman reflects on her life’s experiences as she prepares to try bacon for the first time.
Australian Premiere (Oberhausen)
Australian Premiere (Berlinale, Palm Springs)
DREAM BABY
THE SPA
DEATH IN BLOOM
16min, Lucy Gaffy, Australia, Drama
8min, Will Goodfellow, Australia, Comedy
12min, Dael Oates, Australia, Black Comedy
Trapped in a remote Caravan Park, little Elvis thinks up a scheme to break free, determined to make a better life for herself.
When retiree Don declares he no longer wants the new spa that’s just arrived at his door, Ivan the delivery man tries to uncover why.
Queensland Premiere (MIFF)
Queensland Premiere (Palm Springs, St Kilda, SFF)
A ‘Death Salesman’ (Ewen Leslie) struggles to close a deal with a fabulously picky customer, (Robyn Nevin) who decides to negotiate for the perfect demise. Queensland Premiere (Palm Springs, MIFF)
15min, Lofti Achour, Tunisia / France, Drama While driving along a road in the Tunisian desert on their way to market to sell their sheep, an old man and his grandson are stopped by two policemen.
Queensland Premiere (Sundance - Short Film Grand Jury Prize)
Australian Premiere (Sundance, TIFF, Palm Springs)
Australian Premiere (Cannes - In Competition)
SESSION SPONSOR
SPICE SISTERS 15min, Sheila Jayadev, Australia, Comedy Bored and restless with her life in suburbia, a former Bollywood star sets her sights on winning a place on a popular reality cooking show. Queensland Premiere (SFF) 34
H12
H13
35
SATURDAY | 1:30PM | FOSSICKERS ROOM
SATURDAY | 3:30PM | FOSSICKERS ROOM
EXPLORING EUROPE
MELTING POT
Where would cinema be without the Europeans? We traverse the continent from a village in Romania with a well-kept secret, to a life-changing experience in a supermarket in Sweden.
Can’t decide? Try a little bit of everything - a dash of doco, a cup of comedy and a pinch of drama, all stirred into the Melting Pot.
THE HEART FOLLOWERS
ÉVA
237 YEARS
DRAWCARD
HORRIE
STRUDEL SISTERS
10min, Tord Theodor Olsen, Norway, Documentary
8min, Peter Hegedus, Hungary/Australia, Documentary
23min, Ioana Mischie, Romania, Comedy
7min, Antonio Oreña Barlin, Australia, Comedy
9min, Lucas Li, Australia, Documentary
Inside a glass dome in Northern Norway, lives a family of five. In the inhospitable Arctic climate they have found their unique way of life.
Éva Fahidi is a 90 year old Holocaust survivor who feels compelled to share her passionate perspective on the refugee crisis sweeping across Europe.
A community of villagers, all of whom have been receiving additional financial aid for claiming to have disabilities, is close to being unmasked by a local inquiry team.
When a lighthearted office prank goes a little pear shaped, Ed is left to pick up the pieces and try to save not only his job but his dignity.
From stray pup to war hero to quarantine hazard, Horrie is the amazing true story of Australia’s most beloved war dog and his lifelong companion, Private Jim Moody.
12min, Peter Hegedus & Jaina Kalifa, Hungary / Australia, Documentary
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
FIGURA (FIGURE)
BAITS AND HOOKS
BONIEK AND PLATINI
9min, Katarzyna Gondek, Poland / Belgium, Documentary
10min, Luka Popadic, Serbia, Black Comedy
23min, Jérémie Laurent, France, Drama
It's white and windy all around. A gigantic figure emerges from behind the snow curtain and hits the road. FIGURE is a surreal tale about creating myths, about religious kitsch, and about the desire for greatness.
A black comedy about two workers of an old factory facing the transition from socialism to capitalism.
A beautifully executed and delightful tale of adult bullies lording it over two boys whose passion for soccer puts them in harm’s way.
Australian Premiere
Australian Premiere (Sundance, Uppsala)
SUPPORTING FILM (VOOR FILM) 11min, Douwe Dijkstra, Netherlands, Documentary This short explores the peculiar ritual of watching film. How is the medium experienced by people with sensory impairments, strong religious beliefs, or lovesickness? A story about moving images and their audience. Australian Premiere (Palm Springs, Clermont-Ferrand) 36
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Queensland Premiere (Tropfest)
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda, Sydney)
GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART
TIME OF THE ASIAN CENTURY
CENTRAL TEXAS BARBECUE
12min, Bec Peniston-Bird, Australia, Drama
3mins, Joyce Ho, Australia, Documentary
13min, Matthew Salleh, USA/Australia, Documentary
When Barb embarks on a drastic course of action she must confront her feelings for an old friend. A tender, twisting and darkly comic glance at old age, love and death.
The story of Hong Kong, from the Silk Road times, to reunification with China – all told on a plate.
In Central Texas, barbecue is more than a way to cook meat – it’s a way of life.
CLUMSY LITTLE ACTS OF TENDERNESS
[OUT OF FRA]ME
9min, Miia Tervo, Finland, Comedy
18min, Sophie Linnenbaum, Germany, Drama
A weekend father wants to show his teenage daughter his love by taking her to a carwash, but instead, they end up on a life-changing adventure in the supermarket.
Queensland Premiere (Flickerfest, CILECT)
Two elderly sisters share the art of making Hungarian strudel and reveal a deeply personal story about their mother, who taught them everything they know.
Paul, who since childhood has always existed just out of frame, joins a support group for people afflicted by cinematic maladies. There he meets a girl who might be the solution to his problem.
Australian Premiere (TIFF, Palm Springs)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs) F10
F11
37
GIRL ASLEEP + SCREENWRITER Q&A SATURDAY | 3 PM | HERITAGE THEATRE Fifteen is going to turn a corner. It has to. The world is closing in on Greta Driscoll. On the cusp of turning fifteen she can’t bear to leave her childhood, it contains all the things that give her comfort in this incomprehensible new world. She floats in a bubble of loserdom with her only friend Elliott, until her parents throw her a surprise 15th birthday party and she’s flung into a parallel place; a world that’s weirdly erotic, a little bit violent and thoroughly ludicrous – only there can she find herself. Based on the critically acclaimed production by Windmill Theatre, GIRL ASLEEP is a journey into the absurd, scary and beautiful heart of the teenage mind. GIRL ASLEEP made its international premiere as the official opener of the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival’s Generation 14plus program on in February 2016. “Wide awake to the wonder, terror and giddy confusion of being a 14-year-old adolescent in 1970s Australia — or anywhere at any time, for that matter — Rosemary Myers’ “Girl Asleep” is a strange, savvy, big-hearted teen adventure that feels perfectly pitched to its target audience as well as those of all ages in search of something unquestionably unique.” - VARIETY MAGAZINE 77 min, Drama, Australia Director - Rosemary Myers Writer - Matthew Whittet Producer - Jo Dyer RATED M
H14
STICK AROUND FOLLOWING THE SCREENING FOR A SPECIAL Q&A WITH MATTHEW WHITTET, THE WRITER OF GIRL ASLEEP, IN CONVERSATION WITH EMILY AVILA, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF HEART OF GOLD 2016.
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SATURDAY | 5:30PM | HERITAGE THEATRE
SATURDAY | 7:30PM | HERITAGE THEATRE
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CHOICE
AWARDS NIGHT
A quality-controlled selection of stunning shorts from Sweden to Spain to Scotland - handpicked by Heart of Gold’s very own artistic director Emily Avila. Followed by the 2016 Award Ceremony and Party in Prospectors, this is one session not to be missed!
Saturday is the night where filmmakers strike gold in the Heritage Theatre as we announce the 2016 prize category winners, including $5000 for Best Short! Join us afterwards in the Prospectors Hall, for a good old-fashioned party.
TEN METER TOWER (HOPPTORNET)
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
16min, Axel Danielson & Maximilien Van Aertryck, Sweden, Documentary First time divers have to choose whether to jump or climb down. An entertaining study of the human in a vulnerable position.
CUERDAS (STRINGS)
MINING POEMS OR ODES
11min, Pedro Solis Garcia, Spain, Animation
11min, Callum Rice, Scotland, Documentary
María’s routine at school is altered by the arrival of a very special child. Soon, they become close friends.
Robert, an ex-shipyard welder from Govan in Glasgow, reflects on how his experience’s have influenced his new found compulsion to write.
Winner of the Goya Award for Best Spanish Short Film Animation
Australian Premiere (Sundance, Edinburgh, Hot Docs)
Queensland Premiere (Berlinale, Palm Springs, SFF)
NULLA NULLA
I WANT TO DANCE BETTER AT PARTIES
5min, Dylan River, Australia, Comedy
27 min, Matthew Bates, Australia, Documentary
Fresh out of the academy, White Cop experiences his first taste of Aboriginal Community life as Black Cop puts him to the test.
In need of some form of human contact, a grieving man takes up dance classes with a young instructor.
AAACTA Award for Best Short Fiction Film 2015
Queensland Premiere (SFF - Dendy Award for Best Film)
40
SESSION SPONSOR
AWARDS
PRIZE
SPONSOR
BEST SHORT FILM BEST AUSTRALIAN SHORT FILM BEST STUDENT FILM SCREENER’S CHOICE AWARD GYMPIE GOLD AWARD BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY BEST SCRIPT YOUNG(ER) AT HEART
$5,000 $1,000 $1000 $500 $500 $500 $500 GO-PRO
SCHUH GROUP AGENTS2GO SADDLESAFE COOLOOLA SELF STORAGE GR - MAYOR PRESENTS MURRAY VIEWS MEERKAT MUFFLERS HARVEY NORMAN
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SUNDAY HERITAGE THEATRE
FOSSICKERS ROOM
PROSPECTORS HALL
9AM - 10:30AM
YOUNG(ER) AT HEART
Screening entries from this year’s Younger At Heart High School Film Competition - this session is a showcase of well-crafted shorts from our industry’s youngest creative minds. (pg44)
9:30AM - 11AM
ANIMAL WORLD
Cheer for a racehorse that never wins, come birding in the bush and watch dogs dance with their owners - this is Animal World. (pg45)
11AM - 12:30PM
FAMILY ANIMATION
Kids - this one’s for you! Meet your new best friend Maria, go on holidays with a family of grapes and hear fables from the tale teller in this dedicated session of children’s animations. (pg46)
FAMILY DAY SUNDAY IS A TREAT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD AT OUR ‘DOODLES’ WORKSHOP, BE INSPIRED BY SUBMISSIONS FROM OUR COUNTRY’S NEXT GEN OF BUDDING FILMMAKERS AND SKIP YOUR WAY THROUGH A FEW SESSIONS OF LIGHT-HEARTED FILMS FIT FOR EVERYONE’S INNER CHILD.
ABC ME DOODLES DROP-IN
Bring your drawings to life in this hands-on animation session from the creators of ABC Me's Doodles! Watch animator Benjamin Zaugg and composer Joff Bush do their thing, chill out while you watch Doodles Season 1 and draw characters til your heart’s content.
YOUNGER AT HEART
Screening entries from this year’s Younger At Heart High School Film Competition - this session is a showcase of well-crafted shorts from our industry’s youngest creative minds. 42
11:30AM - 1PM
ON THE BRINK
Playground politics, newfound friendships and the spirit of youth - join a few younger heroes as they discover their place in the world. (pg47)
10AM - 3PM
DOODLES DROP-IN
Bring your drawings to life in this hands-on animation session from the creators of ABC3’s Doodles! Watch animator Benjamin Zaugg and composer Joff Bush do their thing, chill out while you watch Doodles Season 1 and draw characters til your heart’s content. (pg42)
1PM - 2:30PM
2016 AWARD WINNERS
The jury’s verdict is in! Time to sit back, relax and enjoy a carefully curated selection of the festival’s best - every short in this session is a guaranteed winner. (pg44)
2PM - 3:30PM
EXPLORING THE AMERICAS
Smokey barbecue, wood chips and sierra mountain ranges Exploring the Americas is a feast of films to tickle your funny bone and leave you hungry for more. (pg48)
3:30PM - 5PM
COFFEE & COMEDY (REPEAT)
In case you missed it the first time! Grab a complimentary cup of coffee and enjoy a mother lode of comedy. (pg49)
5:30PM - 7:30PM
CLOSING NIGHT - SCREENER’S SELECTION
Heart of Gold’s programming team of local screener groups are what makes the festival so unique. Each week, 40 volunteers gather in lounge rooms around town to judge submissions. Enjoy a few screener group favourites at our Closing Night session! (pg50)
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SUNDAY | 1PM | HERITAGE THEATRE
SUNDAY | 9:30AM | FOSSICKERS ROOM
ANIMAL WORLD
2016 AWARD WINNERS SUNDAY | 1PM | HERITAGE THEATRE
SESSION SPONSOR
The jury’s verdict is in! Time to sit back, relax and enjoy a carefully-curated selection of the festival’s best - every short in this session is a guaranteed winner.
YOUNGER AT HEART
Cheer for a racehorse that never wins, come birding in the bush and watch dogs dance with their owners - this is Animal World.
THE ART OF FLYING
PUP CULTURE
LOVE IS A STING
7min, Jan van Ijken, Netherlands, Documentary
10min, Elle Marsh, Australia, Documentary
18min, Vincent Gallagher, Ireland, Comedy
A short film about “murmurations:” the mysterious flights of the Common Starling. Every night the starlings gather at dusk to perform their stunning air show.
Pup Culture is a glimpse into the world of dedicated the dog hobbyist. Meet the Melbournians that take dog ownership to a whole new level.
Struggling children's book writer Harold Finch gains an unexpected house guest in the form of an ageing, hyper-intelligent mosquito named Anabel.
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Australian Premiere (Cork FF)
LIFE AT A SNAIL’S PACE
HORRIE
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
23min, Alexandra Gaulupeau, UK, Documentary
9min, Lucas Li, Australia, Documentary
16min, Malcolm Bloedel, Australia, Documentary
Marla Coppolino is on a mission to enlighten you to the plight of the lowly land snail through creative, intimate and unconventional means.
From stray pup to war hero to quarantine hazard, Horrie is the amazing true story of Australia’s most beloved war dog and his lifelong companion, Private Jim Moody.
A film about birds and birdwatchers, Birds of a Feather follows four men into the Australian wilderness to discover where their passion comes from.
Queensland Premiere (Flickerfest, CILECT)
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Australian Premiere (Hot Docs)
SUNDAY | 9AM | HERITAGE THEATRE
THE SHINING STAR OF LOSERS EVERYWHERE
After receiving a brilliant and diverse array of submissions in 2015, this year Heart of Gold has relaunched the Younger at Heart film competition for high school students.
18min, Mickey Duzyj, USA, Documentary
This session is a heartwarming showcase of our 2016 entries, giving budding filmmakers a golden opportunity to see their creative efforts up on the big screen. Prepare to be impressed and inspired by some of our industry’s youngest minds!
In 2003, Japanese racehorse Haru Urara became a national icon after enduring a losing streak of epic proportions. Australian Premiere (Sundance, Hot Docs, SXSW)
44
H16
F12
45
SUNDAY | 11:30AM | FOSSICKERS ROOM
SUNDAY | 11AM | HERITAGE THEATRE
FAMILY ANIMATION
ON THE BRINK
Kids - this one’s for you! Meet your new best friend Maria, go on holidays with a family of grapes and hear fables from the tale teller in this dedicated session of children’s animations.
Playground politics, newfound friendships and the spirit of youth - join a few younger heroes as they discover their place in the world.
DAISY CHAIN
A GRAPE FAMILY ADVENTURE
CUERDAS (STRINGS)
LITTLE KINGDOM
MAST QALANDAR
BONIEK AND PLATINI
5min, Galvin Scott Davis, Australia, Animation
6min, James Carr, Australia, Animation
11min, Pedro Solis Garcia, Spain, Animation
14min, Rachel Maxine Anderson, Australia, Drama
15min, Divij Roopchand, India, Drama
23min, Jérémie Laurent, France/Poland, Drama
A bullied little girl, Buttercup Bree, discovers that her love of Daisy Chains unlocks a power that brings life to the darkness of the playground. Narrated by Kate Winslet.
The Grape Family receives some exciting news that whisks them away from their dreary lives. But it may not be quite what it seems…
María’s routine at school is altered by the arrival of a very special child. Soon, they become close friends.
A young deaf boy meets a girl in his neighbourhood who helps him understand the power and importance of friendship. Queensland Premiere
For his thirteenth birthday, a frustrated, rap-loving Sikh boy desperately wants a new hairdo; but a pair of scissors is nowhere to be found.
A beautifully executed and delightful tale of adult bullies lording it over two boys whose passion for soccer puts them in harm’s way.
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Queensland Premiere (St Kilda)
Winner of the Goya Award for Best Spanish Short Film Animation
THE LIGHTHOUSE
THE TALE TELLER
STICK MAN
THE BATTLE
ANOTHER KIND OF GIRL
MDUDU BOY
11 min, Simon Scheiber, Netherlands, Animation
9min, Josiah Brooks, Australia, Animation
27min, Jeroen Jaspaert & Daniel Snaddon, UK, Animation
3min, Sophie Hexter & Poppy Walker, Australia, Documentary
9min, Khaldiya Jibawi, Jordan, Documentary
20min, Ella Smith, Kenya/England, Drama
A lighthouse keeper’s surprising discovery pulls him out of his daily routine and takes him into uncharted territory.
An old travelling storyteller enters a city with nothing to his name but the stories he has spent his life gathering, which he wishes to pass on before he dies.
Stick Man leaves the family tree and sets out on an adventure across the seasons in hopes of being back in time for Christmas. From the makers of ‘The Gruffalo’.
Kayah Guenther is a young artist struggling to find his place in the world. Born with trisomy 21, he narrates his story through dance. ‘The Battle’ explores themes of identity, power, passion and despair.
17-year-old Khaldiya meditates on how the refugee camp has opened up new horizons and given her a sense of courage that she lacked in Syria.
A small Kenyan street kid has a stroke of luck when, with a little help from a Premier League Footballer, a brand new football falls off the back of a van.
Queensland Premiere (Sundance, SXSW, SFF)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Australian Premiere
Australian Premiere (Oberhausen)
SESSION SPONSOR
46
H17
F13
47
SUNDAY | 2PM | FOSSICKERS ROOM
SUNDAY | 3:30PM | HERITAGE THEATRE
EXPLORING THE AMERICAS
COFFEE & COMEDY
Smokey barbecue, wood chips and sierra mountain ranges - Exploring the Americas is a feast of films to tickle your funny bone and leave you hungry for more.
In case you missed it the first time! Grab a complimentary cup of coffee and enjoy a mother lode of comedy.
CENTRAL TEXAS BARBECUE
BOB DYLAN HATES ME
WALK IT OUT
BINGO!
MAKING MAUDE
6min, Caveh Zahedi, USA, Animation
9min, Michael Medico, USA, Comedy
2min, Patrick Schoenmaker, Netherlands, Animation
5min, Australia, Documentary
Independent filmmaker Caveh Zahedi meets his childhood idol.
Soul Cycle, Hot Yoga, Bar Method... all were the fitness craze du jour at one point. But nothing compares to Walk It Out. Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
When the last bingo ball unexpectedly goes missing, feisty elderly Gerda embarks on a maniacal quest to retrieve the outcome of that night's game.
Meet the Queen of Polystyrene, Michael Gates and his alter ego, Maude Boate, whose wigs were adapted for the movie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs, Clermont Ferrand)
Queensland Premiere (Palm Springs, St Kilda)
13min, Matthew Salleh, USA/Australia, Documentary In Central Texas, barbecue is more than a way to cook meat – it’s a way of life.
BENEATH THE EMBERS (BAJO LAS BRASAS) 11min, Verónica Jessamyn López Sainz, Mexico, Drama Isabel, a young woman from the sierra mountains of Guanajuato, has learned that to achieve her dreams she must sacrifice her present.
Australian Premiere (Sundance, Rotterdam)
Australia Premiere (Sundance)
THE OX
BACON & GOD’S WRATH
THUNDER ROAD
237 YEARS
OPT OUT
STATIONERY
10min, Ben Proudfoot, USA, Documentary
9min, Sol Friedman, Canada, Documentary
12min, Jim Cummings, USA, Comedy
23min Ioana Mischie, Romania, Comedy
2min, Steve Utaski, USA, Comedy
10min, Lucy Wigmore, New Zealand, Comedy
A portrait of master woodworker and Vietnam veteran Eric Hollenbeck.
A 90-year-old Jewish woman reflects on her life’s experiences as she prepares to try bacon for the first time.
Officer Arnaud loved his Mom.
A community of villagers, all of whom have been receiving additional financial aid for claiming to have disabilities, is close to being unmasked by a local inquiry team.
Just another crazy (as in seriously psycho) day at the office.
When Penny falls foul of the domineering new boss, it's Bernard's chance to step up and save her. But will his old-school ingenuity and her drawer full of stationery be enough to save the day?
Australian Premiere
Australian Premiere (Sundance, TIFF, Palm Springs)
Queensland Premiere (Sundance - Short Film Grand Jury Prize)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs, LA Shorts Fest)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Queensland Premiere (Flickerfest)
BARBARIAN PRESS
WALK IT OUT
BACON & GOD’S WRATH
SPICE SISTERS
17min, Sarah Race, Canada, Documentary
9min, Michael Medico, USA, Comedy
9min, Sol Friedman, Canada, Documentary)
14min, Sheila Jayadev, Australia, Comedy
The story of Jan and Crispin Elsted, who for over 35 years have made fine art books by letterpress.
Soul Cycle, Hot Yoga, Bar Method... all were the fitness craze du jour at one point. But nothing compares to Walk It Out.
A 90-year-old Jewish woman reflects on her life’s experiences as she prepares to try bacon for the first time.
Bored and restless with her life in suburbia, a former Bollywood star sets her sights on winning a place on a popular reality cooking show.
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Australian Premiere (Sundance, TIFF, Palm Springs)
Queensland Premiere (SFF)
Australian Premiere (Hot Docs, AFI Docs)
48
F14
H19
49
SUNDAY | 5:30PM | HERITAGE THEATRE
CREDITS CLOSING NIGHT
Robyn Bowman, Jan Forbes, Claudia Granshaw, Jeanette Wilson & Emily Avila
Artistic Director - Emily Avila Audience Engagement Manager - Bronwen Noakes Program Manager - Jackson Scott Event Coordinator - Rhiannon Cooper Festival Intern - Jamie Brown
Heart of Gold’s programming team of local screener groups are what makes the festival so unique. Each week, 40 volunteers gather in lounge rooms around town to judge submissions. Enjoy a few screener group favourites at our Closing Night session!
MDUDU BOY
THE CHAMPION
20min, Ella Smith, Kenya/England, Drama
18min, Patrick McGowan & Brett Garamella, USA, Documentary
A small Kenyan street kid has a stroke of luck when, with a little help from a Premier League Footballer, a brand new football falls off the back of a van.
Former Iraqi boxing champion Estaifan Shilaita overcomes tremendous hardships as he builds a special bond with his family and taxi cab customers in Chicago.
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs)
Australian Premiere (Palm Springs, Aspen)
LEROY’S DREAM
THE OX
SOUP VAN MAN
13min, Josh Sambono, Australia, Drama
10min, Ben Proudfoot, USA, Documentary
3min, David Lloyd-Lewis, Australia, Documentary
Leroy, an Indigenous outcast from pre-colonial Australia, tries to prove himself as a hunter and accidentally slips into a portal to the modern day.
A portrait of master woodworker and Vietnam veteran Eric Hollenbeck.
Every Thursday, for the past 40 years, one familiar, friendly face has been greeting people in need on the streets - Soup Van volunteer, Frank Mullins.
Australian Premiere
SPONSORSHIP & GRANTS
Claudia Granshaw (Chair) Greg Jones (Treasurer) Julie Calvert (Secretary) Elaine Thomson Scott Sturgess Jeanette Wilson Gay Lohse (retired in May)
FESTIVAL TEAM
SCREENERS’ SELECTION
Australian Premiere
MANAGEMENT BOARD
I AM A PENCIL (JE SUIS UN CRAYON) 5min, Joe D’Arcy, Australia, Animation An animation inspired by 3 million people marching for unity, peace, and freedom of expression. Queensland Premiere (Tribeca, St Kilda)
Graphic Designer - Sean Dowling Key Art - Edith Rewa Promo Trailer - Whistling Wolf Additional Graphics - Robyn Bowman & Jan Forbes Volunteer Coordinator - Michael Rank Usher Coordinators - Sheila Kath & Sandra Naidoo Session Presenters Coordinator - Helen Crowley Ticketing Coordinator - Paul Ryan Ticketing Support - Chris Kath & Phil Frayne Masterclass & Education Coordinators - Liz Lewis & Jeanette Wilson Technical Director - Michael Mader Stage Manager - Coralie Tapper Venue Fit-out - Michaela Banks Merchandise Designer / Venue Stylist - Arundhati Madan Art with Heart Coordinator - Joolie Gibbs Merchandise Coordinator - Jenny Oakley
World Premiere
Venue - Gympie Civic Centre Festival Bar - Scott Sturgess & Gympie Cooloola Rotary Club Festival Cafe - Little Haven Palliative Care Hospitality Coordinator - Cynthia Hayes IT Support / Database / Website - Greg Jones Office Administration - Julie Calvert Accounting Support - Ann O’Brien Office Provider - Shahid Khan CPA & Skill Centred Queensland Catering - Jackie Manson, Good Food Dude
BINGO! 2min, Patrick Schoenmaker, Netherlands, Animation When the last bingo ball unexpectedly goes missing, feisty elderly Gerda embarks
FILM CLASSIFICATION Robyn Bowman, Sandra Naidoo, Paul Ryan, Helen Crowley & Sheila Kath
SCREENER GROUPS Coordinator - Helen Crowley & Sheila Kath Hosts and Score Collectors - Sandra Naidoo, Denise & Stephen Kolera, Therese Phillips, Claire McGrath, Jim & June Primrose and Paul Ryan
ACCOMMODATION Great Eastern Motor Inn, Rossmount Rural Retreat, Amamoor Lodge
SATELLITE EVENT FACILITATORS Michaela Banks (Adelaide), Lorraine Duffy (Maleny Film Society), Holly Pittman (Noosa Film Society), Robyn Bowman/Sheila Kath (Gympie Mary Street), Sandra Naidoo Special thanks to all the volunteers who donate countless hours of their time to ensure this festival and your visit to Gympie is a truly wonderful experience. HOGISFF is a not for profit incorporated association overseen by a volunteer Management Board.
FOR MEMBERSHIP AND GENERAL ENQUIRIES info@heartofgold.com.au 07 54824547 PO Box 726 Gympie Qld 4570 232 Mary Street, Gympie Qld 4570 www.heartofgold.com.au
SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook – facebook.com/heartofgoldfilmfest Twitter – twitter.com/heartofgold_iff Instagram – instagram.com/heartofgoldfilmfestival eNews -heartofgold.com.au/#news
on a maniacal quest to retrieve the outcome of that night's game. Australian Premiere (Palm Springs, Clermont Ferrand) 50
H20
51
PRESENTING SPONSOR
BRONZE HEARTS
SESSION & PRIZE SPONSORS MAJOR SPONSOR
PLATINUM HEARTS
SHAHID KHAN CPA
HELPING HEARTS
GRANTS
GOLD HEARTS
FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL
LILLIAN SHELTON
CON & JENNY WALSH
GEORGE & KIM SPRINGHILL
NORTH BURNETT
MEDIA PARTNERS SILVER HEARTS
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H
FILM INDEX 237 YEARS
10, 25, 36, 49
DAISY CHAIN
FILM INDEX 46
11, 50
SECOND HAND
LIFE AT A SNAIL’S PACE
8, 45
SHAN AND KATE
THE LIFE OF DEATH
9, 14
THE SHINING STAR OF LOSERS EVERYWHERE
36 QUESTIONS
24, 27
DEATH IN BLOOM
A GRAPE FAMILY ADVENTURE
18, 46
DON’T FORGET THE BREAD
13, 30
DRAWCARD
27, 37
THE LIGHTHOUSE
DREAM BABY
12, 34
LILA
ADELE AFLOAT, ADRIFT
8, 19, 30
AGRICULTURE REPORT
26
ANOTHER KIND OF GIRL
13, 47
ANYWHERE BUT HERE
ERNIE
11, 15, 20 24, 25
LITTLE KINGDOM LITTLE MOUSE
30 15, 19, 20, 45
18, 46
SLINGSHOT
27
23
SNAKE BITE
23
30, 47 9
SOUP VAN MAN THE SPA
13, 34, 36
LOST PROPERTY
8, 30
FIGURA
36
LOVE IS A STING
26, 45
THE SPRING
9, 19
THE ART OF FLYING
18, 45
FIRST AND SECOND
31
LOVE IS LOVE
22
STATIONERY
10, 24, 49
9, 19
FLUENT DYSPHASIA
26
MAKING MAUDE
10
STICK MAN
22
STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT
BAITS AND HOOKS BARBARIAN PRESS THE BATTLE
10, 35, 48, 49 36 8, 48 15, 20, 34, 47
BEACH FLAGS
18, 35
BELLADONNA
35
BENEATH THE EMBERS (BAJO LAS BRASAS) BINGO! BIRDS OF A FEATHER BOAT PEOPLE BOB DYLAN HATES ME BONIEK & PLATINI CENTRAL TEXAS BARBECUE
12, 31, 48 9, 10, 49, 50 11, 24, 45 11, 13 9, 48
FROM AUSTRALIA WITH LOV3 FULFILAMENT FULL DISCLOSURE GIMPSEY GIRL ASLEEP
39
MAST QUALANDAR MDUDU BOY MEND AND MAKE DO METUBE2 - AUGUST SINGS CARMINA BURANA
19, 47 12, 47, 50
46 26 14, 38
STUFFED
24, 27
23
SUPPORTING FILM
18, 36
20
SWEAT
THE HEART FOLLOWERS
22, 36
MUESDAY TUESDAY
22
TELEGRAM MAN
30
MULTIPLE CHOICE
23
TEN METER TOWER (HOPPTORNET)
13
THRESHOLD
HIRANI
10, 15, 34, 49
STRUDEL SISTERS
MINING POEMS OR ODES
35, 40
THE TALE TELLER
8, 11 46 23 18, 40
HOME
11, 14
NOWHERE LINE: VOICES FROM MANUS ISLAND
HORRIE
38, 45
NULLA NULLA
24, 40
THUNDER ROAD
35, 48
HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT IN 4 EASY STEPS
OPT OUT
10, 49
TIME OF THE ASIAN CENTURY
19, 38
I AM A PENCIL (JE SUIS UN CRAYON)
13, 50
[OUT OF FRA]ME
31, 37
TUK TUK
12, 19
37, 48
I WANT TO DANCE BETTER AT PARTIES
14, 40
THE OX
CLUMSY LITTLE ACTS OF TENDERNESS
20, 27, 36
KILL YOUR DINNER
22 9, 40, 46
27
18
36, 47
IF THE CUCKOO DON’T CROW
60
23 8, 30
MALA’S CELLO
14, 37
13, 25, 50
CUERDAS (STRINGS)
9, 25
GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART
THE CHAMPION COMPERS
11, 22
SPICE SISTERS
8, 50 15, 34
12, 31
BACON & GOD’S WRATH
EVA
26
23
ARI THE AUTUMN
26
THE DROVER’S BOY
27, 34
LEROY’S DREAM
23 11, 27, 34
31, 48, 50
VIOLET
PHIL’S CAMINO
15, 31
WALK IT OUT
THE PHEONIX (SIMORGH)
13, 20
WITH LITTLE HOPE
LAW OF LAMB
14, 35
POSTCARDS TO ULAY
THE LEARNING ALLIANCE
19, 22
PUP CULTURE
26 10, 20, 48, 49 22, 31
9, 14 12, 45
61
62
H