By KATH GANNAWAY
ACCLAIMED Australian film director, Rolf de Heer has confirmed he will be in town for the Healesville Mini Film Festival on Sunday, 7 February.
Following last year’s inaugural ‘trilogy’ festival, the Yarra Ranges Film Society has brought together three intrinsically Australian films – Ten Canoes, The Tracker and Charlie’s Country.
De Heer and iconic Indigenous actor, David Gulpilil come together in the films which YRFS President, Keith Wade, were earmarked by the Healesville committee of the society as a ‘must have’ trilogy.
“I think the Indigenous theme has quite a bit of resonance here because of Coranderrk and all the problems and history back in the early days,” Mr Wade said.
“There are themes that are very relevant to the history of Healesville.”
It is undoubtedly a coup to have De Heer accept their invitation to attend the festival.
He has directed each of the multi award-winning films, starting with The Tracker in 2002 starting David Gulpilil, Ten Canoes in 2006 in which Gulpilil’s son, Jamie, acts and he is storyteller, and Charlie’s Country made in 2014 with Gulpilil once more in the lead role.
Ten Canoes and Charlie’s Country have both premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and all have won great acclaim in the Australian industry and overseas.
Mr Wade said there had been a great collaboration between De Heer and Gulpilil, and a great respect also, which is reflected in the films.
De Heer will introduce and stay on for a Q&A after each film.
Mr Wade said the Society is grateful to Yarra Ranges Council and the Healesville Community Bank (Bendigo) for their support of the two festivals.
“The bank’s sponsorship has gone a large way to getting a high-quality promotional brochure produced for the festival, which we would have been struggling to do if not for their contribution,” he said.
Bank director and community investment committee member, Jenny MacKinnon said the bank was thrilled to once again be part of such a great community event as part of their aim of promoting a thriving community.
“Strengthening the community’s involvement in cultural life always results in better mental health and better social cohesion,” she said.
“And, it’s fun for a great range of people,” she added.
Tickets are $14.50 per film, or $30 for the three films.
They can be purchased online at www.culturetracks.info or at The Memo in Healesville and The Arts Centre in Warburton.
