Late Bloomers: A Very Special Invitation

PLEASE NOTE: THIS SCREENING IS NOW FULL.

To celebrate Valentine's Day, the Young at Heart team is thrilled to invite you to a very special FREE screening of LATE BLOOMERS (PG). It'll be an opportunity for us to thank you for your ongoing support of Sydney's Seniors Film Festival, and to give you an early bird preview of the 2012 program.

In writer/director Julie Gavras' delightfully warm and wise romantic comedy, the inestimable Isabella Rossellini and Academy Award-winner William Hurt play a couple whose 30-year marriage is starting to run into trouble. 

Hurt is Adam, a London-based architect horrified to find himself the recipient of awards that suggest he's reached the end of his career, while wife Mary (Rossellini), taken aback by an unexpected health scare, sets a course of radical action in league with her vivacious best friend (Joanna Lumley). As Adam & Mary respond to these challenges in completely opposite and unpredictable ways (successfully infuriating each other in the process), their 3 adult children plot to find ways to keep them together... 

With luminous supporting performances from a mix of established and upcoming British acting talent, Late Bloomers is an elegant and engaging portrait of marriage, and the joys & realities of getting on.

WHEN: 10am, Tuesday 14th February 2012
WHERE: Dendy Opera Quays, 9/2 East Circular Quay, Sydney (on the promenade between Circular Quay & the Sydney Opera House

To reserve your DOUBLE PASS, simply email Tim with your full name & postal address (subject: LATE BLOOMERS).

The first 125 to respond will receive a confirmation email and win 2 tickets to the screening. Only winners will be notified.

Young at Heart 2012 is on its way!

We're thrilled to reveal that Young at Heart is returning for the 7th time in 2012, not just at Dendy Opera Quays in Sydney, but at our new venue, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre!

Come see the amazing films, guests and special events on offer during NSW Seniors Week. The Festival runs March 22 to 25 and if you email Karina or call her on 02 9281 5608, she will send you a free program guide in the post.

In the meantime, we reveal a sneak peak at some of the highlights on our program page. Have a look!

Young at Heart 2011 it's a wrap!

The festival was a great success, with a fantastic audience attending our program of films, Q&A sessions and parties.

Thank you all for making this event so woderful and SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

Winners announced: Young at Heart Short Film Awards

Producer Donna Lyon, actor Chris Haywood, director Oliver Waghorn

March 24th we celebrated the 5th annual Young At Heart Short Film Awards with Sydney’s filmmaking community heading out in force to the event at Dendy Opera Quays.

Taking place as part of the Young At Heart Film Festival, The Young At Heart Short Film Awards showcase the best new Australian short films starring seniors, selected from a national call for submissions.

Finalists competed for two $1,000 cash awards.

The NSW Seniors Week Talent Award for exceptional acting from a person over the age of 60, as judged by the esteemed panel of jurors: actress Robina Beard, Bondi Short Film Festival director Francis Coady, and actress & filmmaker Tara Morice. The Audience Award for Best Film, meanwhile, was voted for by the audience.

Jury members Robina Beard & Tara Morice

Selected from a pool of six finalists, the winners are as follows:

NSW Seniors Week Talent Award for exceptional acting from a person over the age of 60
Colette Mann, JUST DESSERTS
(A film by Nigel Karikari/ 2009) 
Starring: Wendy Hughes, Colette Mann, Stephen Leeder

Special mention: Jack Thompson, THE TELEGRAM MAN
(A film by James Khetie)

Viron Papadopoulos introduces "Bad Language"

The Audience Award for Best Film 
BAD LANGUAGE
(A film by Viron Papadopoulos/ 2010)
Starring: Chris Asimos

Guests that day included Bruce Beresford and actors Barry Otto, Miranda Otto, Chris Haywood.

Barry Otto & Susan Hills at the Young at Heart Short Film Awards

Special guest: Bruce Beresford

 

In 1981 he was nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar for BREAKER MORANT. A few years later he was nominated again, as the director of TENDER MERCIES. A few years after that his DRIVING MISS DAISY won four Oscars, including Best Picture.

Bruce Beresford - considered one of Australia's New Wave directors - is still one of the country's best and most successful filmmakers. As recently as last year, he had a huge hit with critics and audiences with MAO'S LAST DANCER.

Tomorrow he will be a special guest of the Young at Heart Film Festival, taking part in a Q&A following the special screening of BREAKER MORANT at 3pm. This is a rare chance to meet one of our leading creatives, equally at home with small-scale dramas and big Hollywood productions. We will also be screening THE FRINGE DWELLERS at 12:30pm. Tickets are now on sale from Dendy Opera Quays, just $6 if you're over 60.