Lord Mayor Graham Quirk is encouraging residents and visitors to engage in the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival (BAPFF), a 16-day film festival kicking off today, marking Australia’s first dedicated celebration of Asia Pacific filmmaking.
The Lord Mayor said the inaugural BAPFF would feature more than 80 films in 33 languages (Subtitled in English) across a range of venues throughout the city and a series of free outdoor screenings.
“Free public screenings and ticketed events will be held from Saturday 29 November to Sunday 14 December including themed programs, a special showcase of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) nominated films, filmmaker introductions and Q&A sessions,” Cr Quirk said.
“BAPFF will be an exciting opportunity for locals and visitors to experience many of our region’s best films and perhaps rub shoulders with some of the stars and filmmakers who will be in Brisbane for the awards.
“I am sure it will open our minds and hearts to the rich and diverse offerings on our doorstep and – with more than one in four residents born overseas – it will be particularly appealing to Brisbane’s multicultural community.”
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said with Brisbane enjoying global recognition as a result of the G20 World Leaders Summit, BAPFF was a perfect opportunity to highlight cinematic excellence from a region that covers one-third of the earth.
“We are key players in the Asia Pacific and that includes 70 countries spreading from Australia and New Zealand, to China, Korea and Japan, through to the Middle East and Russia,” Cr Quirk said.
“To be able to highlight the best of the region’s films provides opportunities not only for entertainment and cultural understanding but engagement and knowledge sharing. Brisbane is the perfect host for that because of our rich multicultural diversity.
“BAPFF is set to become a must-attend event on the Brisbane calendar because it brings incredible works of cinematic art to an audience that may not otherwise have an opportunity to see them.”
BAPFF Executive Chairman Michael Hawkins said the program champions diversity and discovery and includes a world première, 37 Australian premières and 32 Queensland first-screenings throughout the 16-day festival period.
“BAPFF starts with the Australian première of The Crow’s Egg, an upbeat story direct from the Toronto International Film Festival,” Mr Hawkins said.
“It’s a great movie with rousing music and humour that sets the scene for the stimulating array of Asia Pacific cinema to come.”
The full line-up includes award winners such as Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or recipient Winter Sleep from Turkey, Berlin International Film Festival double winner Black Coal, Thin Ice from China, and TriBeCa Film Festival best narrative feature Zero Motivation from Israel.
From Australia, artist William Yang returns to Queensland with William Yang: Blood Links. Brisbane audiences will be the first in the world to see the renowned photographer’s documentary version of his iconic slideshow.
For the first time, BAPFF also highlights films competing in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA). Twenty nominated features are screening as part of the festival’s program leading up to the spectacular APSA ceremony at Brisbane City Hall on 11 December.
Woven throughout the program is a series of special events, galas, retrospectives and filmmaker appearances including a retrospective of internationally renowned Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, an APSA and Academy Award winner and President of the 2014 APSA International Jury.
BAPFF screens at Palace Barracks Cinemas, The Australian Cinémathèque at Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Sunnybank Hoyts Cinemas, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, The Courier-Mail Piazza and the State Library of Queensland.
BAPFF is funded by founding sponsor Screen Queensland, proudly presented by Treasury Casino and Hotel and supported by major government partner Screen Australia. Brisbane
Marketing is delivering BAPFF on behalf of the City of Brisbane, Australia’s New World City. Tickets are on sale now. For more details, visit bapff.com.au
VIDEOS: To view the BAPFF Trailer visit; https://brisbaneasiapacificfilmfestival.com/bapff-sneak-peek/
CONTACT:
Darrin Davies, Senior Advisor Marketing and Communications – BAPFF/APSA
0490 047 166
