YOUNG AT HEART SHORT FILM AWARDS | Thu 22 March | 10am
THE ILLUSIONIST | Thu 22 March | 12:30pm
I’M NOT DEAD YET | Thu 22 March | 3pm
THE CONVERSATION | Fri 23 March | 10am
THE RED SHOES | Fri 23 March | 12:30pm 

Premiere
YOUNG AT HEART SHORT FILM AWARDS ^TBC
Casula Powerhouse  – Thursday 22 March – 10:00am

Watch and vote for your favourite Australian short films with seniors in starring roles.

Discover new talent and meet guest filmmakers as we screen the finalists in our annual short film competition. We’ve compiled a selection of the best new Australian short films starring actors over 60. It’s your chance to take part in a prestigious event and celebrate Australia’s up and coming acting talent, both young and old! You’ll also get the chance to vote for the Audience Award for Best Film.

Filmmakers in attendance! 

Premiere
THE ILLUSIONIST ^PG
Casula Powerhouse – Thursday 22 March – 12:30pm

Dir: Sylvain Chomet, France, 2010, 80 mins
Cast: Jean-Claude Donda, Eilidh Rankin

A hand-drawn gem, this pan-European story of friendship is deep, clever and utterly enchanting.

The illusionist is one of a dying breed of stage entertainers. With rock’n’roll stars taking centre stage in the late 1950s, he is forced to play increasingly obscure venues. One day he meets Alice, a young girl fascinated by magic. Alice stows away on his departing ship and follows him to Edinburgh, changing the illusionist’s life forever. From the director of Triplets of Belleville comes a masterful animated tribute to legendary French comic Jacques Tati; a remarkable film about letting go of one’s illusions and picking up a little wisdom along the way.

“Exquisite images, poignant humour, echoes of cinema history and a sense of having watched genuine magic.” - The Wall Street Journal

Best Animated Feature nominee, Oscars 2011

Screens with open captions for the hard of hearing

Premiere
I’M NOT DEAD YET ^M
Casula Powerhouse – Thursday 22 March – 3:00pm

Dir: Janine Hosking, Australia, 2011, 95 mins
Cast: Chad Morgan, Tex Perkins, John Williamson

At 83, this national treasure is still putting out hits and performing around the country.

This engaging road movie documentary follows country music legend Chad Morgan and his wife Joanie as they perform throughout regional Australia. Affectionately narrated by rock musician Tex Perkins, this is an intimate portrait of an artist as an old man, 60 years after he first appeared on radio show Australia’s Amateur Hour in 1952. Don’t miss this gorgeous film about growing older, love, laughter and coming to terms with the past.

“An endearing portrait of a funny ol’ fella, and it’s hard not to smile along with it.” - Crikey.com

Official Selection Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane Film Festivals 2011                   

Join us afterwards for a Q&A with the filmmaker!

Classic
THE CONVERSATION ^M
Casula Powerhouse – Friday 23 March – 10:00am

Dir: Francis Ford Coppola, USA, 1974, 109 mins
Cast: Gene Hackman, Teri Garr, Harrison Ford

A gripping thriller that cemented Coppola’s reputation as a master storyteller.

Surveillance expert Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is hired to track a couple, taping their conversation as they walk through San Francisco's crowded Union Square. Harry is a cautious loner who keeps to himself, but he finds himself getting dangerously involved when the conversation he records reveals a plot to murder the young couple. A brilliant, prescient thriller for the Watergate era, Coppola’s Oscar-nominated film is now widely seen as a high watermark of American cinema.

“Coppola's cerebral classic of paranoia and surveillance still looks outstanding, and more relevant than ever.”– The Guardian

Palme D’Or, Cannes Film Festival 1974 

Classic
THE RED SHOES ^G
Casula Powerhouse – Friday 23 March – 12:30pm

Dir: Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, UK, 1948, 133 mins
Cast: Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Moira Shearer

Hans Christian Andersen's tale of a ballerina caught between art and love comes alive in this classic masterpiece.

A young ballerina falls in love with the composer of the ballet that makes her an over-night star. The jealous ballet company director, however, demands loyalty and total commitment. Dark melodrama, virtuoso dancing and heightened passion are brought to a fever pitch in one of the most glorious, influential Technicolor films ever made. Featuring outstanding performances and breathtaking cinematography by the legendary Jack Cardiff, The Red Shoes is a sensory cinematic experience unlike any other.

“You will not just be seeing an old film made new; you will have your vision restored.” – The New Yorker

Nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture