By Travis Johnson
What’s the Heart of Gold story? Tell us about the history of the festival.
The festival was started by a local film lover, Toni Powell, who wanted to bring quality international shorts to the community. She chose the Heart of Gold theme to differentiate the festival and give audiences films that were guaranteed to make them laugh, cry and think. The festival was very well-received by the community and began to grow in scale and reputation. It’s one of the only festivals in the world with a theme of positivity – I think that has helped turn it into one of Australia’s largest and most well-loved short film festivals.
What sets Heart of Gold apart from other festivals?
The mission to program heartwarming, uplifting and hopeful short films from all over the world. The films are put through their paces with a two-part curatorial process – they must be approved by me, and also by the screener groups who watch submissions on a weekly basis in lounge rooms around Gympie.
How do you program the festival? What ethos drives your choices?
I’m looking for films which really move me on an emotional level. It takes a certain sort of alchemy to create a film that resonates. That magical quality can be present in a film that might not have a high production value. It can exist between two characters in a single room, or in a documentary from the most remote part of the earth. I want to feel a human connection to the story. If I catch myself laughing or with a lump in my throat, I know there’s something special there. Aside from that, I look at what the world’s top festivals are programming and try to bring the best films in the world here to Queensland. We have 40 Australia premieres in this year’s festival, which is the direct result of that effort.
What are some of the special events people should make time for this year?
Opening Night is definitely unmissable – I’ve programmed six of our best films into the session and there’s always a brilliant atmosphere. Aside from that, there are the Hybrid Documentary and Directing Comedy masterclasses… Friday night is always a hit with Happy Hour, Irish Shorts and Late Night Comedy sessions. On Saturday, it’s all the blue-chip sessions – Australian & International Festival Highlights, our special feature – the award-winning Girl Asleep (with a Q&A with actor/writer Matthew Whittet). Sunday is our family day. We’ve got the ABC Me Doodles team animating children’s drawings live in the Prospectors Hall (free drop-in session from 10am – 3pm), as well as a Family Animation session. There’s so much happening! The program is full to the brim with carefully-curated sessions all through the four days – definitely something for everyone.
Tell me about this year’s Jury.
We are lucky enough to have Australian film & TV legend Michael Caton heading up this year’s jury! He actually discovered his love of acting in Gympie whilst at boarding school. We also have Matthew Whittet, who wrote and acted in Girl Asleep; Kiki Fung, the head programmer of the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival; David Tiley, who is the editor at ScreenHub; and Holly Pittman, one of the founding members of the Heart of Gold jury and member of the Noosa Film Society.
What are some of the must-see films this year?
My top ten picks:
- Phil’s Camino (Annie O’Neill & Jessica Lewis, USA, Documentary) – the unmissable Australian premiere of this festival favourite. An extraordinary true story of free spirit Phil, a man living with Stage 4 Cancer and dreaming of walking the 500 mile spiritual pilgrimage Camino de Santiago across Spain. Unable to make the trip, he does the next best thing: he builds a camino in the forest behind his house. When I first watched Phil’s Camino, I laughed, I cried and I immediately emailed the filmmakers to get it into the program. Pure Heart of Gold material.
- Ten Meter Tower( Axel Danielson & Maximilien van Aertryck, Sweden, Documentary) – an observational documentary that takes place at the top of the highest diving tower at a local Swedish swimming pool. This film has a quiet charm that catches you off guard as you start to recognise patterns in the way people react in a vulnerable situation, and you find yourself willing the subjects to take the plunge and jump!
- Mining Poems or Odes (Callum Rice, Scotland, Documentary)- So thrilled to present the Australian premiere of a beautifully crafted documentary with an unlikely subject. Robert is an ex-shipyard welder who has embarked on a second career – as a poet. Filmmaker Callum Rice is from Scotland and I spotted the film in the Sundance program.
- The Drover’s Boy (Margaret McHugh, Australia, Documentary) – Australian documentary filmmaker Margaret McHugh is a revelation. Her hybrid documentary style infuses the story with emotional resonance. Margaret is a special guest of Heart of Gold and will be holding a ‘Hybrid Doco: Fact or Fiction?’ masterclass on Friday and Saturday.
- Bingo! (Patrick Schoenmaker, Netherlands, Animation) – Two minutes of sheer joy set in a retirement home and following a feisty retiree who is determined to put things right and find last night’s missing bingo ball.
- Slingshot (David Hansen, Australia, Comedy) – School holidays at a caravan park and lots of familiar characters, this Aussie comedy is an amusing analogy of modern love told through the eyes of one of its victims.
- Dream Baby (Lucy Gaffy, Australia, Drama) – Heart of Gold alumni Lucy Gaffy returns to the festival with her latest short, Dream Baby. Featuring a powerful performance by Darcey Wilson, this is the story of Elvis – a little girl with a dream to escape her remote caravan park.
- Clumsy Little Acts of Tenderness (Miia Tervo, Finland, Comedy) – A sweet and offbeat coming-of-age story about a dad and daughter whose weekend takes an unexpected and embarrassing turn.
- Ernie (Hadley Hillel, USA, Drama) – American filmmaking wunderkid, Hadley Hillel, was just 17 years old when he began making Ernie and it is incredible what he’s been able to achieve. Unofficial nominee for best production design!
- I Want to Dance Better at Parties (Matthew Bates, Australia, Documentary) – An incredibly heartwarming documentary about finding your way through grief. After his wife passes away, a man takes up dance classes as a way to distract himself. A screener favourite and an absolute gem.
Anything else to add?
Special mention of the poster design this year, which was hand drawn by Blue Mountains-based artist Edith Rewa. It features a range of Australian botanical flowers which grow in Gympie, woven together with analogue film to create a really special design. We’ll be selling tote bags, tea towels and posters with the design on it as well.
Head to the official site for tickets and session info.
