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QPIX STUDENTS ARE TROPFEST FINALISTS
Graduates of QPIX’s 2011 Diploma of Production course have won their way into the finals of TROPFEST, the world’s largest short film festival, with their student production PHOTOBOOTH. Set in the Afghanistan conflict, PHOTOBOOTH is one of a sequence of...
'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu' Out February 10
(Nationwide)
Over The Fence Comedy Film Deadline
(Nationwide)
Rottofest 2012: Call For Entries Now Open!
(Nationwide)
latest news
Geoffrey Rush Joins Tropfest
The acclaimed actor and newly-crowned Australian of the Year, Geoffrey Rush, will be a key player in 2012’s Tropfest activities.
Naomi Watts To Play Princess Diana
The Aussie actress is set to play the people’s princess in an upcoming film that chronicles the final two years of Diana’s life.
Sullivan Stapleton Signs On To ‘300’ Prequel
The Aussie actor has beat out the competition to land a role in the upcoming blockbuster.
James Cameron Loses Long Time Australian Collaborators
Producer Andrew Wight and cinematographer Mike deGruy lose their lives in a helicopter crash.
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Red carpet, great food and a bit of a song...
FILMINK was lucky enough to attend the Australia premiere. This is what we saw...
Last night, about three and a half thousand people were lucky enough to go along to the premiere of Baz Luhrmann's hotly anticipated film Australia. We were treated to red carpet glamour, champagne and lamingtons. Not to mention the film...
I won't go into detail about the film (check out our review, which is online now), but it well and truly delivers on every spectacular promise that Baz and the gang had made.
Instead I will give you a bit of an insight into the most exciting premiere of the year. For the first time in ages, George Street, the main drag in Sydney's CBD, had been shut down to make room for live broadcast vans, hundreds of excited fans, and a red carpet that went for miles. There were barriers set up around the red carpet to cordon off the fans, TV crews and snap-happy paparazzi from all around the world.
A host of television, film and sporting stars attended to catch the first glimpse of the film, as well as press, crew and a huge assortment of industry personnel. For the crew that worked on the film, the night offered a catharsis: an opportunity to finally sit down and breathe, knowing that it was just up to the punters now to reward them for their efforts. That was the general feeling on the night: that it was a time of celebration for the efforts of the cast and crew, not to mention a celebration of the Australian film industry itself.
After the film, everyone was herded into waiting coaches and taken to Ivy for the after party. And it was quite the after party. Champagne flowed, nay, gushed around the room, as everyone discussed the film with a sense of relief. Food came pouring out of the kitchens (including steak sandwiches, perhaps an unfortunate choice since some of the stars of the film was a herd of cattle) and the music was turned up a notch. One of the highlights of the evening, however, was an impromptu performance by the Man from Oz, Hugh Jackman. In front of a crowd that was counting their lucky stars, Hugh got up on stage and, after thanking all the cast and crew for their efforts, belted out a rousing rendition of "I Still Call Australia Home". Never have I felt the patriotism ooze out of a room as I did when we all joined in and sang along, rejoicing in the atmosphere and the wine. Never before, as far as I know, has the star of the film jumped up at an after party and roused the crowd with a show tune. Lucky John Foreman was handy to provide the perfect musical accompaniment.
After all the dancing, wine and ice-cream-on-sticks, it was time to hang up the heels and head home. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been present at this spectacular event, knowing that it would go down in the history books as one of the most amazing premieres held in Sydney. And as for the film, well, with a leading man that can sing like that straight off the cuff, I don't think Baz has anything to be worried about...