BIFF 2019 ANNOUNCES MEDIA PERSONALITY, DAMIEN ANTHONY ROSSI, AS THEIR INAUGURAL FESTIVAL AMBASSADOR.
The Socials Editor for The Sunday Mail’s iconic social pages and a Presenter on Channel 7’s popular lifestyle program The Great Day Out, Damien will be waving the flag for BIFF 2019’s exciting program of more than 100 feature films, shorts and documentaries as the iconic film festival’s first-ever Ambassador.
Damien’s been a huge ‘BIFF Buff’ for 25 years having attended just about every opening night since the first one he attended in 1994, which had real significance for him as the opening night film was the world premiere of Muriel’s Wedding, which was the very first movie Damien’s ever worked on (having moved over to Brisbane from LA in 1993). He was a Production Runner on the film for the scenes that were shot in Queensland. That memorable night at BIFF was very special to Damien as it was the first time he’d ever seen his name on the silver screen (in the end credits). Damien’s a massive film fan to begin with (no surprise given he was raised in a show business family in Los Angeles with an actor/director father) and ever since that 1994 BIFF opening night the charismatic Queensland media personality known as ‘Mr Hollywood in Oz’ has been a huge fan of BIFF and looks forward to it each year.
Damien adds “Given my history with BIFF and my love of film and this iconic festival, it is an absolute honour to be named BIFF’s first-ever Ambassador. I have been attending the festival for 25 years, with my introduction to BIFF being the opening night in 1994 when the opening night film was the world premiere of a quirky little film called Muriel’s Wedding which also happened to be the first movie I ever worked on. I’ll never forget how excited I was walking the red carpet that evening (right behind Kylie Minogue I might add!) and if the evening wasn’t already exciting enough with all the celebrities and movie industry luminaries in attendance, it was also the first time I saw my name on the big screen. One of the most memorable nights of my life. I even got to dance at the after-party with Muriel herself, Toni Collette.”
“I am so looking forward to this year’s festival and what a coup the BIFF team has pulled off wrangling the likes of filmmaking legends Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin as the 2019 BIFF Patrons. Their films count as some of my all-time favourites. The BIFF Team at GOMA is absolutely fantastic. It is the ideal home for the festival and I feel so fortunate to be able to work with them. Festival Director Amanda Slack-Smith has done a brilliant job with the 2019 program and it is a veritable smorgasbord of some of the world’s best films, short films and documentaries. No doubt I’ll be white as a sheet by the time this festival ends, having spent 11 days in darkened cinemas soaking up all the amazing offerings.”
“The 2019 program boasts such diversity there is truly something, if not many things, for everyone. BIFF opening nights are legendary and this year we will be raising the bar on the glitz, glamour and fun with the sublime opening night film of Judy & Punch and a cracking opening night bash. I’m looking forward to hosting the screening and opening night party and welcoming fellow BIFF Buffs on the red carpet for what will be a spectacular event as well as enjoying an amazing program of cinematic offerings with them over the course of the festival.”
DAR’S PICKS FOR BIFF 2019:
SPECIAL EVENTS:
OCT 3 – BIFF Opening Night Film & Party (Judy & Punch)
OCT 4 – The Grim Game starring Harry Houdini (with organist David Bailey)
Oct 4 – Measure for Measure (In Conversation + Film event)
OCT 10 – Honeyland (Food + Film event)
OCT 13 – Closing Night Film & Party (Sibel)
BAZ LUHRMAN & CATHERINE MARTIN FILMS:
OCT 8 – The Great Gatsby
OCT 9 – Strictly Ballroom
OCT 12 – Moulin Rouge
OCT 13 – Romeo + Juliet
BAZ LUHRMAN SELECTS:
Oct 4 – Apocalypse Now: Final Cut
OCT 12 – 8 1/2
FEATURE FILMS:
OCT 4 – Hearts & Bones
OCT 4 & 12 – Mathias and Maxime
DOCUMENTARIES:
OCT 6 & 13 – Marianne & Leonard
OCT 7 – LILI (featuring a post-screening discussion with Brisbane filmmaker Peter Hegedus)
OCT 12 – Quilty: Painting the Shadows (featuring a post-screening discussion with Catherine Hunter)
