Digi Vodule entries will be accepted to 31st October.

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17th WOW Film Festival 2011
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

LAUNCHED ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, 8TH MARCH 2011 AND CONTINUES FOR 3 DAYS WITH SCREENINGS, PREMIERES, PARTIES AND AWARDS

'Seeing the world through the eyes of women'

March 8th-10th 2011 • 17th WOW Film Festival Winners

17th WOW FILM FESTIVAL 2011 FILM TRAILER

17th WOW Film Festival Program 2011

Screening 44 films featuring 9 World premieres,
11 Australian premieres and 9 Sydney premieres.

FEATURED GUESTS INCLUDE:

Minister for Women, Hon Jodie McKay MP, WOW patron,
Claire McCarthy, director of "The Waiting City”,
Actor, writer, director Matilda Brown ('Underbelly', 'Rake', 'Offspring'),
Actor, writer, director Zoe Carides 'Packed to the Rafters', 'All Saints')
Actor, Anna Lise Phillips, ('Animal Kingdom', 'McLeod’s Daughters', 'All Saints')

Sydney - siders in need of a cool, affordable yet satisfying indie film fix will be happy to hear that the WORLD OF WOMEN (WOW) FILM FESTIVAL will be celebrating 17 years of women’s short film excellence.

WOW has announced an exciting, diverse showcase of contemporary short films with key creative input by women … fiction, documentary, animation and experimental. Experience a different storytelling and a unique perspective … “seeing the world through the eyes of women”. This prestigious festival is presented by Women in Film and Television (WIFT) NSW and screens from March 8th -10th in Sydney at Dendy Opera Quays and Parliament House Theatre with the Awards Night on 10th March at Dendy Opera Quays commencing with drinks at 6.15pm. Check out and vote in WOW’s online competitions, the Digi-vodule competition on Youtube, http://www.youtube.com/user/TheWOWfilmfestival and IndieFlix sponsored WOW’s FestivalOnline, www.wiftnsw.org.au/wow

The WOW Film Festival will then travel to various locations throughout Australia and overseas.

Celebrate the 100 years anniversary of International Women’s Day, Tuesday March 8th 2011 with the launch of the 17th World of Women Film Festival. at the City of Sydney Library, Customs House at Circular Quay from 12.15pm to 1pm.. The Library Session will screen a diverse selection of short films by women filmmakers and feature an exclusive Q&A session with WOW Film Festival Director, Sil-Nyin Cameron.

Opening Night at the Dendy Opera Quays Cinema will begin at 6.15pm with drinks and live music by “Entangled Note” followed by the screening of an imaginative selection of Australian Shorts at 7pm. The official WOW Festival Opening After Party will be held at Opera Bar, Lower Concourse Opera House where guests will enjoy drinks, live music and spectacular, uninterrupted views of Sydney Harbour.

Opera Bar - The Official Bar of the WOW Film Festival 2011. Join us at Opera Bar for 15% off drinks & food post screening each night of the Festival. Opera Bar offers live music every night from 8.30pm and the best view in Sydney.

WOW Film Festival 2011 features the WOW Digi-vodule competition which is accessed on Youtube.
See the stimulating and exciting finalists selection and vote for your favourites at www.youtube.com/user/TheWOWfilmfestival. WOW goes international with WOW’s FestivalOnline sponsored by IndieFlix. View the WOW on-line short film selection from 22 February and vote for your favourite to win the IndieFlix award. Check our website for details.

Australian film director, Claire McCarthy, is 2011 WOW Film Festival patron and says,
'I’m honoured to be this year's patron of the World of Women - WOW Film Festival. Audiences both in Australia and internationally will be treated to the complexity and eloquence of women’s voices, both as auteurs with unique visions as well as accomplished artists across all aspects of the filmmaking process. Presented here are a diverse selection of contemporary and vibrant films, all uniquely seeing the world through the eyes of women'

Claire Mc Carthy’s most recent feature film 'The Waiting City' premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (2009) . 'The Waiting City' stars Rhada Mitchell ( 'Finding Neverland') and Isabel Lucas ( 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen', 'Daybreakers') and Joel Edgerton ('Starwars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith', 'Animal Kingdom'). Claire McCarthy has been making internationally acclaimed short films and documentaries and her second feature film is in preproduction.

WOW 2011 aims to be a festival of discovery, celebration, debate, and entertainment.
WOW Festival Director Sil-Nyin Cameron comments, 'Our festival recognizes the diversity of independent filmmaking by women in an industry that’s male dominated and presents the unique vision of seeing the world through the eyes of women. So join us to enjoy our contemporary exciting best selection of short drama, comedy, animation and documentaries presented by Women in Film & Television NSW (WIFT) NSW to celebrate the 100 years anniversary of International Women’s Day'.

The complete film festival schedule will be available in February, visit www.wift.org/wow Confirmed premieres and talent attending will be forthcoming. Media credentials can be obtained by emailing a request to wowfilmfestival@wiftnsw.org.au no later than February 28th 2011. For all interview and review requests, please contact Renata Bialkowska , wowpublicity@wiftnsw.org.au phone & text: 0449 831241

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Moshtix. At venues on the day.

FILM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

'Emilia Eckle' directed by Alyssa McClelland Sydney Premiere

Featured at St Kilda Film Festival 2010, Dungog Film Festival 2009, Palm Springs International Shortsfest 2009, Adelaide Shorts Film Festival 2009

A romance comedy. Young Emilia (Alyssa McClelland, "The Bet", "Surviving Georgia") finds bookish Tom, (David Lyons, "Sea Patrol","ER") to be charming and delightful. If he keeps his glasses on, he feels the same about her. Their first date is a hit, it does seem to be true love… at least that is, until the awkward moment after the good-night kiss.

*screening Tuesday 8th March at 7pm

'How God Works' directed by Matilda Brown

A Tropfest finalist. Matilda Brown (“Underbelly”,“Rake”,”Offspring”), has inherited the talents of her famous parents Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown where she directs and acts in this amusing story of two opposites who both love the strange ways that God works.

*screening Tuesday 8th March at 7pm

'Franswa Sharl' directed by Hannah Hilliard

Award-winning comedy: Crystal Bear Award at Berlin Film Festival, IF Media Award for most popular film at Flickerfest, Best Australian Short at Melbourne International Film Festival.

Twelve year old Greg has inherited his father’s competitive streak. On a family holiday to Fiji they have different ideas about where Greg should focus his talents. When his creative pursuits fail to amuse his father Greg goes to bizarre lengths to win him back. Based on a true story.

*screening Tuesday 8th March at 7pm

'Shiny Thing' directed by Lisa Gloufchis

Starring Melbourne comedian and Triple J breakfast radio host, Tom Ballard, Louise Siversen (“Rush”, “City Homicide”, “All Saints”) and Felicity Soper ( “Rush”, “City Homicide”, “Neighbours”). A heart warming comedy/drama. 17 year old boy Lochlan feels underappreciated by his dazzling attention grabbing mother, but this time Lochlan is not going to let her steal the show.

*screening Wednesday 9th March at Parliament House Theatre at 12.30pm. Morning tea at 12 noon.

'Not Even a Mouse' directed by Zoe Carides

Actor Zoe Carides (“Death in Brunswick”, “Packed to the Rafters”, “All Saints,” “Brilliant Lies”, ‘Grassroots”) directs this moving drama starring Anna Lise Phillips ( “Animal Kingdom”, “The Boys”), Dan Wyllie (“ Chopper”, “Muriel’s Wedding”, “Romper Stomper”)

A family drama where a prodigal son returns to an excited family, but, trouble looms when anther estranged member of the family turns up on the doorstep.

*screening Wednesday 9th March at Parliament House Theatre at 12.30pm. Morning tea at 12 noon

'Silence = Death' Australian Premiere

A diverse collection of short French films, dramas and documentaries, written and directed by ten talented French female directors, from the testimony of women who are HIV positive. Created for the twentieth anniversary of ACT UP Paris. Responds to the almost total absence of images on the subject of women and HIV, their fight against the disease and their militant struggle.

*screening Wednesday 9th March at 6.30pm

'Fish' directed by Asa Johannisson Australian Premiere

A quirky comedy from Sweden. Can a girl who is focussed on caring for a fish find interest in a man? “Fish” is a tribute to all of us who have ever felt that we don’t fit in.

*screening Wednesday 9th March at 6.30pm

'Mad' directed by Meryl Tankard World Premiere

Short documentary directed by acclaimed choreographer, Meryl Tankard. Focuses on madness and schizophrenia, explored by poet and writer, Sandy Jeffs, who has lived with schizophrenia and all its moods for 34 years. Sandy featured at the Melbourne Writers Festival 2010 and has 5 books of poetry published.

*screening Wednesday 9th March at 8.30pm

'The Love Song of Iskra Prufrock' directed by Lucy Gaffy

Iskra (Victoria Haralabidou, "Home and Away", "All Saints", "East West 101") a Croatian refugee, works as a radiologist in an inner-city surgery. In an effort to recover from her violent past, Iskra has made her life one of ritual. But she finds that her new life is a lonely until she meets Leo (Luke Elliot, "Noise" "Rush", "Satisfaction"). However it would seem for Iskra that even love was not meant to be easy. AFI Award Screenings 2010 nominated Best Short Film, Australian Directors Guild Awards nominated Best Student Film 2010

*screening Wednesday 9th March at 8.30pm

'Red Water Red' directed by Qing Xie Sydney Premiere

Blisteringly sensual, an eerie feeling of unease fills every meticulously composed frame." STOCKHOLM International Film Festival (XX Short Film Competition) 2009 *Awards* WINNER - Film Victoria Award BEST FILM (VCA Premiere Awards 08) // WINNER - GOLD AWARD, Australian Cinematographers Society 2009 // NOMINEE - Kodak-Award NEW DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR 2009

Sadomasochism, the spectre of a dead mother and an elaborate and grotesque fantasy all play a part as a young Chinese girl draws her father into a sexual relationship, and a forbidden feast. “Red Water Red” is an uneasy story about the bonds of family, the bounds of intimacy, and the returns of love.

*screening Thursday 10th March at 8.30pm

'An Unfinished Romance' directed by Alison Heather Sydney Premiere

Starring Zoe Ventoura (“Packed to the Rafters”, “Kick”, “Footloose”) and Matt Rossner (“Wolf Lullaby”, “Corpus Christi”), Danika Armytage (“Death and the Maiden”, “ Persephones Wolf”)

About two strangers, two hookers, two paper boats and a whole raft of assumptions. A gentle romantic comedy looking at the assumptions we make about other people, which in the end can make or break our sense of enchantment, the essence of romance.

*screening Thursday 10th March at 8.30pm

'This is How You’ll Make Your Bed in Prison' directed by Katie Mitchell Sydney Premiere

"The system had me from two years old, it probably had me before then because it had my mother...it could never let me go." Follows the story of Vickie Lee Roach, an Indigenous woman who took the Howard Government to the High Court of Australia in a landmark civil rights case.

*screening Thursday 10th March at 8.30pm

'Pushbike' directed by Mairi Cameron Multi-award winning

Stars Karmen Raspovic (“Being John Malkovich”,”Stark”, “Boys from the Bush”, “Blue Heelers”),. Michelle swims lap after lap after lap at the local pool, trying to escape the humdrum of her domestic life. When her clothes are stolen from the change room one night, she must brave a nude ride home on her old push bike, where something even more thrilling and illicit awaits her in the dark.

*screening Thursday 10th March at 8.30pm
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17th WOW Film Festival Program 2011 available

Confirmed premieres and talent attending will be forthcoming. Media credentials can be obtained by emailing a request to wowfilmfestival@wiftnsw.org.au no later than February 28th 2011. For all interview and review requests, please contact Renata Bialkowska , wowpublicity@wiftnsw.org.au phone & text: 0449 831241

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Moshtix. At venues on the day.

Festival Season Pass $60/55/50, Opening Night $30/25/20, Evening Pass $20/16/12/ $15 group (10+), Single Session $12/9/7 $9 group (10+), NSW Parliament House session $10/7/5 $6 group (10+)

Official Sponsors for 2011 festival include: Screen Australia, Arts NSW, Office for Women’s Policy, Department of Premier & Cabinet, City of Sydney, Dendy Opera Quays, Opera Bar, Panavision, Spectrum Films, Tresscox Lawyers, AFTRS, Metro Screen, Wacom, ARRI Australia, Miller Camera Support, Art Resistance, Videocraft, IndieFlix, Icon Film, Dendy, Village Roadshow, Hopscotch, Corban & Blair, Millie Loves Min, The Photo Studio, JAM Directions, Inside Film, Australian Directors Guild, Australian Cinematographers Society, Australian Composers Guild, Australian Editors Guild, Aurora Community Channel, SBS Television.

JAM Directions our sponsor for Creative Direction of WOW image, trailers and print.

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WOW DIGI-VODULE COMPETITION
WOW Film Festival 2011, screening in Sydney at Dendy Opera Quays from 8th-10th March, goes on-line and features the WOW Digi-vodule competition which is accessed on Youtube. See the stimulating and exciting finalists selection and vote for your favourites at www.youtube.com/user/TheWOWfilmfestival

Youtube message inviting entries to the WOW Digi-Vodule Competition
From Leisle Grant – Digi-Vodule competition, WIFT Marketing Director & MMW Forum co-ordinator

WOW film festival Kodak Digi Vodules Comp 09 WINNER!