Film & Arts Mackay Inc presents the 13th Mackay International Film Festival with an exciting program of 6 films from France, Austria, Latvia and Australia.

FRIDAY, 1ST AUGUST - 7PM - Opening Night GALA Event

HOLY COW

Director: Louise Courvoisier2024 | France | 1 hr 32 mins | M | Drama | French with English subtitles

Totone, 18 years old, spends most of his time drinking beers and partying with his friends in the Jura region in eastern France. But reality catches up with him: he has to take care of his 7-year-old sister and find a way to make a living. He then sets out to make the best Comté cheese (made from unpasteurized cow's milk) in the region, the one that would win him the gold medal at the agricultural competition, and 30,000 euros. Contains coarse language and sexual references.

JOIN US FOR REFRESHMENTS AFTER THE SCREENING

SATURDAY, 2ND AUGUST - 1.30PM

ROAD TO THE NORTH

Director: Jason English / Writer: Fergus Gregg

2024 / Australia / 1hr 30 mins / Documentary / English and Japanese with English subtitles

ROAD TO THE NORTH follows Mackay-based journalist Fergus Gregg as he journeys through northern Japan, retracing the historic paths of poet Matsuo Basho, the master of Haiku. This unique celebration of northern culture sees Fergus marching alongside locals in a vibrant display of heritage and community.Join Fergus after the screening to chat about the film and his experiences living in Japan.

SATURDAY, 3RD AUGUST - 4PM

PEACOCKDirector: Bernhard Wenger2024 | Austria | 1 hr 43 mins | M | Drama | German with English subtitles

A master of his profession, Matthias is the perfect chameleon, impeccably at ease in any social situation, wearing any costume, in any character’s skin, be it “cultured boyfriend”, “perfect son” or someone to argue with. Yet, whilst he excels in all of these roles, those around him have lost track of who he actually is. And so has Matthias...

PEACOCK is a superb black comedy that lays bare the darker - and sometimes ridiculous - essence of social contracts. Contains coarse language, nudity and sex scenes.

Screens with short film NIM AND THE BUTTERFLYDirector: Sarah Hope

2023 | Australia |14 mins | Documentary | Unclassified 15+ | English

Mackay-born director Sarah Hope presents a beautiful short documentary about a Transgender woman who moved from Thailand to Darwin when she was a teenager. It follows her story of strengthening her relationship with her mother and finding love.SATURDAY, 3RD AUGUST - 6.30PM

I’M STILL HERE

Director: Walter Salles

2024 | Brazil | 2 hrs 17 mins | M | Drama | Portuguese with English subtitles

Multiple award winner (including the Oscar for Best International Feature Film) I’M STILL HERE is a gripping historical drama set against the backdrop of Brazil’s oppressive military dictatorship in the 1970s.

Based on a true story, the film follows Eunice Paiva, a mother of five whose life is shattered when her husband is forcibly taken from their home by the military police, disappearing into the brutal machinery of the dictatorship. 

SUNDAY, 3RD AUGUST - 3PM

FLOW

Director: Gints Zilbalodis

2024 | Latvia | 1 hr 25 mins | G | Adventure | No dialogue

Winner of the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, FLOW is a thrilling animation and mesmerising meditation on the fragility of the environment, and the enduring spirit of friendship and community. .

Cat is a solitary animal, but as his home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog Despite their differences, they have to team up rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. Some scenes may scare very young children.

SUNDAY, 3RD AUGUST - 5PM

STRANGE CREATURES

Director: Henry Boffin

2024 / Australia / 1hr 27 mins / Drama / English language

Nate Taylor hasn't spoken a word to his brother, Ged, in over four years. But when their mother passes away suddenly, the brothers must set aside their differences in order to fulfill their mother's dying wish: to have her ashes scattered at the old family home in the country town of Narrabri.

Setting out across Australia in the only vehicle available to them - a black hearse - the boys soon realize that the trip will be anything but plain sailing. 

Join Director Henry Boffin after the screening for a Q&A

More information at:
https://filmartsmackay.weebly.com/