Opera is a battlefield. Angelina Jolie received a rapturous standing ovation at Venice Film Festival for her portrayal as opera singer Maria Callas.
Adelaide Film Festival Announces Encore Screenings
After a massive six days, including a sold-out Opening Night film The Correspondent with guests including Richard Roxburgh and Peter Greste, a spectacular Mexican fiesta following the Opening Weekend Gala screening of Cannes winner Emilia Pérez, Australian icon Marta Dusseldorp walking the red carpet for the World Premiere of With or Without You and Dacre Montgomery being flocked by fans at the Australian premiere of Went Up the Hill, the Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) has announced a series of encore screenings to satisfy audience demand.
With sold out screenings across the Festival, AFF will now present encore screenings from November 4 at Palace Nova Eastend of some of the Festival’s sold out favourites, including South Australia’s own Kangaroo Island, Lesbian Space Princess and Songs Inside.
Monday, November 4 @ 6pm - Maria (starring Angelina Jolie)
Maria tells the tumultuous, beautiful and tragic story of the life of the world’s greatest female opera singer, relived and reimagined during her final days in 1970s Paris. Directed by Pablo Larraín (Jackie, Spencer), Maria is the third historical biopic from the acclaimed Chilean director with a focus on iconic women grappling with fame and celebrity. Angelina Jolie delivers a transcending performance as Maria Callas, the American-born, Greek opera singer, during the final week of her life. Maria takes a closer look at the legendary soprano as the diva reckons with her identity and life. Also, as a love letter to the beauty of Paris, the film must be seen on the big screen.
Monday, November 4 @ 8.15pm – I Saw the TV Glow
From celebrated non-binary writer/director Jane Schoenbrun (We’re All Going to the World’s Fair) comes the much-hyped I Saw the TV Glow, a hallucinatory fever-dream of a film that allegorises trans-gender experiences while paying homage to 90s cult phenomena such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Tuesday, November 5 @ 6pm - My Favorite Cake
Brimming with poignant performances and sprinkled with comedy and emotional truth, My Favourite Cake has all the ingredients for a delectable, bittersweet romance. Seventy-year-old Mahin (Lili Farhadpour) lives alone in Tehran since she was widowed thirty years ago. She exists in limbo, sleeping until noon, listening to friends complain about their ailments, and wistfully remembering her country’s liberal past before morality police patrolled the streets. After she opens herself up to new romance with divorced taxi driver Faramarz (Esmaeel Mehrabi), an unexpected encounter quickly evolves into an unpredictable, unforgettable evening. Directed by
Tuesday, November 5 @ 8pm - Lesbian Space Princess
Introverted space princess Saira is devastated when she is unexpectedly dumped by her girlfriend Kiki for being needy. Saira is thrown a lifeline when Kiki is kidnapped by the Straight White Maliens. They’re holding her ransom for the one thing Saira doesn’t have: the most powerful weapon known to lesbian kind - her royal Labrys! With 24 hours on the clock, Saira sets out to save and win back Kiki. Along the way, a problematic spaceship and a gay-pop runaway join Saira’s inter-gay-lactic space quest. Lesbian Space Princess is directed by South Australian filmmakers Leela Varghese and Emma Hough Hobbs.
Wednesday, November 6 @ 6pm - Kangaroo Island
In a feature debut imbued with emotional depth and natural humour, South Australian Timothy David explores the fragile balance between the destructive and healing powers of family. Lou Wells has hit rock bottom after a promising start in Hollywood. She reluctantly returns home to the ruggedly beautiful Kangaroo Island. What begins as a reunion to foster reconciliation turns complicated when Lou and her sister learn their father’s secret. Years of tension surface, and Lou must decide whether to run away from her problems or confront the traumatic events that tore her family apart. Kangaroo Island will close the Adelaide Film Festival to a sold-out audience, before its encore.
Wednesday, November 6 @ 8.15pm - Songs Inside
Adelaide filmmaker Shalom Almond’s artistry at offering audiences unique access to a closed world shines through in her latest exceptional documentary. In Songs Inside, a group of incarcerated women sign up to learn an instrument and write their own songs, as part of a unique music program in an Australian prison, including collaboration with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO). The process opens deep scars around trauma and addiction, but can they prove that music has the universal power to heal, even in the complex world of prison? Almond’s intimate, direct style and dedication to her participants results in a journey that is both confronting and deeply moving.
