BY MELANIE SJOBERG
Short films, documentaries, experimental and animation pieces, all made by women, as well as digital and interactive artwork by women, are but some of the planned highlights of the 10th annual international film festival, presented by Women In Film and Television.
The festival, from November 2-5, will be held at the Chauvel Cinema, in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Paddington.
Two documentaries by Mandy King will be shown on November 4 from 11am and will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. The first, An Evergreen Island, traces the nine-year struggle by the people of central Bougainville to survive, following the closure of the copper mine that had been destroying their land.
The second film, Starting from Zero, offers an insight into the lives of Ines Almeida, Lola dos Reis and Jacinto Tinocu. All were exiled from East Timor during their youth and are now trying to reconstruct their country in the wake of the Indonesian occupation and devastation.
The theme of inspirational personal stories is continued with My Khmer Heart, about the life of Geraldine Cox and her efforts to keep open an orphanage in Cambodia. The Australian premiere screens at 7pm on November 3. The Australian premier of Envy, a "gripping exploration of sexuality, power and revenge", is also worth checking out at 7.15pm on November 4.
The selection of shorts, music and dance, humour and revived classics suggests there is a session for most tastes. Ticket prices average $13/10 per session and festival passes are available, along with the full program, from WIFT.
For more information, phone 9332 2408, email <wiftnsw@zed.org>, or drop in to the Chauvel, Oxford Street, Paddington.