The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness film with Q&A

 

This event involves a 50-minute film viewing followed by a Q&A with author Matt Ottley and Chair, Megan Daley. Film Trailer. (3 mins)
Recommended audience is adults and students 17+

 

Cost: General admission $25, Students, Seniors, Penion card holders $20, Book Links Members $20 (add your 2023 membership discount code at the point of sale.)

 

Books will be on sale. 

 

Matt Ottley is an internationally acclaimed, multiple award-winning artist, working equally across the fields of literature, visual arts and music. Ottley has published more than thirty-five picture books and his awards include the CBCA Picture Book of the Year, the Premier’s Literary Awards of both Queensland and New South Wales and the IBBY Australia Honour Book. As a composer, Ottley is involved in an ongoing collaboration with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, the Literature Centre and Yamaha; in this multimodal project, called The Sound of Picture Books, he composes music for his picture books. In 2014, he was made an Yamaha-endorsed musician for his work as a composer.

 

The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness has been inspired by the experiences of its creator, Matt Ottley, who has lived with bipolar disorder all his life and has been hospitalised on numerous occasions in mental health facilities. Until now he has kept this aspect of his life private.

Although, throughout his years of illness he has achieved works of high literary acclaim, he is at a place in his career and life where he has chosen to create a major work of high artistic value that will contribute to the discussion about, and empathy towards, people living with psychotic mental illness.

Having personally experienced the prejudices and challenges that come from suffering a mental illness, Matt’s aim is to offer a sensory insight through literature, music and images into the experiences of those who suffer from such debilitating illnesses, particularly psychosis.

Listen to the ABC interview with Matt.

 

 

Megan Daley is passionate about children’s literature and is the author of the bestselling book 'Raising Readers', published by UQP and the upcoming title 'The Beehive', to be published by Walker Books. She is a Teacher Librarian in Brisbane and has been awarded the Queensland Teacher Librarian of the Year, as well as the national Dromkeen Librarian’s Award. A former national vice-president of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Megan is also a sought after public speaker, literary judge, creator of the popular website Children's Books Daily and co-host of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast. She also has a few more books in the pipeline. 

New Farm Cinema
701 Brunswick Street
New Farm
Qld 4005

Jenny Stubbs info@booklinks.org.au 0409 266 786