THE 2ND ANNUAL BRISBANE ASIA PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL OPENS IN STYLE
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk is encouraging residents and visitors to experience cinema at its best this November following last night’s gala opening of the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival (BAPFF).
Now in its second year, the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival (BAPFF), proudly presented by Treasury Casino and Hotel and supported by founding sponsor Screen Queensland, features an international cultural program with 102 films from 42 countries and areas to be screened during the 11 day event until 29 November.
Cr Quirk said BAPFF was a perfect opportunity to highlight cinematic excellence from a region that covers one-third of the earth.
“The Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival is our city’s signature film festival and provides an exciting opportunity for locals and visitors to experience many of our region’s best films,” Cr Quirk said.
“We are key players in the Asia Pacific and Brisbane is the ideal location for the nation’s only Asia Pacific dedicated film festival.
“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.”
Cr Quirk said BAPFF would give Brisbane residents the opportunity to experience films from more than 42 diverse regions in the Asia Pacific.
“Residents will be able to attend a range of free and ticketed events over the next 11 days with a selection of films from Turkey, Hong Kong and Russia, as well as Q&A sessions with filmmakers,” Cr Quirk said.
“With more than one in four Brisbane residents born overseas, BAPFF will be particularly appealing to the city’s residents wanting a taste of their country or region of origin.”
BAPFF and APSA, which takes place at City Hall during the festival, shoulders with some of the stars and filmmakers who will be in Brisbane for the festival and the awards ceremony.
APSA/BAPFF Chairman, Michael Hawkins said BAPFF is a world-class program. “We’re screening films straight from their premieres at Locarno, Venice and Toronto Film Festivals to Brisbane audiences over the next 11 days – including 33 Australian premieres and 23 Queensland premieres”.
“This year has been an incredible year for Asia Pacific film, particularly Australian cinema, and this is an opportunity for Brisbane to see the diversity of film on offer from our region,’ he said.
Maxine Williamson, APSA/BAPFF Film Director is pleased to offer the significant international program which includes feature films, shorts and Virtual Reality works (as part of Hybrid Story Worlds in partnership with Queensland University of Technology).
“We have over 50 international guests attending the film festival to support the screenings. The Asia Pacific is the world’s fastest growing region and the BAPFF program has films from Egypt to Russia to the Pacific and includes award-winning cinema, festival gems, cult classics, restorations and masterpieces,’ said Ms Williamson.
The 2015 Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival (BAPFF) runs until 29 November across Brisbane cinemas and cultural venues including Palace Barracks Cinemas, New Farm Cinemas, The Australian Cinémathèque at the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Griffith Film School, The Cube at Queensland University of Technology and The Courier-Mail Piazza.
The full program and tickets, including special presentations and gala events, are on sale now at bapff.com.au.
