The ANUFG’s inaugural Best Foreign Language Film Festival kicks off tonight! Every Friday between June 2 and July 14, we will be showcasing seven official submissions from seven different countries to the Best Foreign Language Film Oscars category, which this year celebrates its 60th anniversary.
• Fri 2 June, 7:30 PM: TONI ERDMANN (Germany)
Heralded by many as the best film of 2016, this unconventional and highly acclaimed Germany comedy follows an eccentric father who creates an alter ego as a life coach to reconnect with his estranged, busy daughter.
• Fri 9 June, 7:30 PM: CHEVALIER (Greece)
The multi-award-winning Greek comedy follows six men stranded on a yacht in the Aegean Sea who decided to play an increasingly absurd game of one-upmanship to prove their masculinity.
• Fri 16 June, 7:30 PM: STEFAN ZWEIG: FAREWELL TO EUROPE (Austria)
This Austrian drama about the power of the written word chronicles the years in exile of the titular Jewish-Austrian author – one of the most-read authors of the 20th century – as he searches for a new home amidst political turmoil in Europe.
• Fri 23 June, 7:30 PM – THE AGE OF SHADOWS (South Korea)
South Korea’s stylish spy thriller from cult director Kim Jee-woon is a cat-and-mouse game that unfolds between a group of Korean resistance fighters and Japanese agents in 1930s Japanese-occupied Seoul.
• Fri 30 June, 7:30 PM – MOTHER (Estonia) [AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE]
This darkly comic crime mystery about motherhood and attempted murder in small-town Eastern Estonia has been likened to a Coen Brothers film, and screens for the very first time in its Australian premiere at the ANU Film Group.
• Fri 7 July, 7:30 PM – THE SALESMAN (Iran)
Winner of the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2017 is Iran’s entry, which follows a husband attempting to determine who assaulted his wife, as they both rehearse to perform in a staging of Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman.
• Fri 14 July, 7:30 PM – JULIETA (Spain)
Pedro Almodóvar directs his 20th film, which sees a middle-aged woman decide to confront her mistakes and reconcile with her adult daughter after years apart.
This screening will be introduced by Professor Alfredo Martínez-Expósito, an expert in Spanish Film and Head of School of Languages and Linguistics at the University of Melbourne, and will be followed by a closing night event sponsored by the Embassy of Spain, with light refreshments provided for everyone in attendance.
We hope you will come along and join us for this seven-week festival of foreign films. And don’t forget – memberships for the rest of 2017 are just $50, so if you know anyone that loves movies and a good deal, be sure to let them know!
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WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
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The opening film of our Best Foreign Language Film Festival – and soon-to-be recipient of a Hollywood remake starring Jack Nicholson – kicks off the week. Plus, the year’s highest-grossing film at the worldwide box office to date, and an inspirational chess drama!
Please also note that, due to the running time of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on Saturday 3 June, the night’s second film – QUEEN OF KATWE – will only begin at 7:30 PM and not 7 PM as initially advertised.
• Fri 2 June @ 7:30 PM: TONI ERDMANN
In the opening night film of our inaugural Best Foreign Language Film Festival, an eccentric father decides to reconnect with his estranged and hard-working adult daughter by adopting an alter ego and posing as a life coach.
• Sat 3 June @ **5 PM**: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (2017)
In Disney’s hit live-action remake of their beloved animated film, a young woman (Emma Watson) is taken prisoner by a Beast in his castle in exchange for the freedom of her father. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s exterior to recognise the human within.
• Sat 3 June @ **7:30 PM**: QUEEN OF KATWE
In this inspirational drama, a young girl selling corn on the streets of Uganda finds her world changed forever when she is introduced to the game of chess and goes on to pursues her dream of becoming an international chess champion. Starring David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong'o.
** Presented in partnership with the High Commission of the Republic of Uganda **
** ‘NO GUESTS’ SCREENINGS THIS WEEK: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST **
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FILM SUGGESTIONS FOR SEMESTER TWO CLOSE ON SATURDAY
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Have you suggested films that you’d like to see on our programme for Semester Two yet? If not, be sure to do so before they close on Saturday 3 June at 11:59 PM!
Submit your suggestions for new or old films to screen next semester by going to www.anufg.org.au/suggestions. Printed forms are also available on request from the Duty Manager at screenings.