Warburton Film Festival

With the hosting of the Olympic Games approaching in 1956, the elegant city of Melbourne was felt, by some, to be too old-fashioned to be presented on the world stage. So began a demolition blitz that destroyed many heritage buildings from the previous century. Featuring rare archival footage, Gus Berger’s fascinating documentary shows what was lost.

Special Guest: director Gus Berger

Australia 2022 | Documentary | 80m | G

A gripping historical drama based on Jeon-Philippe Daguerre’s multi-Moliere Award-winning play. In occupied Paris, 1941, jeweller Joseph Haffmann (Daniel Auteuil) arranges for his family to flee the city, giving an employee the chance to run the store. When Haffmann’s escape attempts are thwarted, he is forced to seek his assistant’s protection. Directed by Fred Cavayé.

France 2022 | Drama/History | 115m | M

A withdrawn, neglected girl is sent away from her dysfunctional family to live with foster parents for the summer. She blossoms in their care. Colin Bairead’s simple, deeply moving film features an outstanding central performance from newcomer, Catherine Clinch, in the central role.

Academy Awards 2023 – nominated for Best International Feature Film

Ireland 2022 | Drama | 95m | M

While trying to finance her curmudgeonly partner’s dream of recording an album, Liebe (Maggie Blinco) reignites a long-forgotten passion for her dressmaking craft. She moves in with best friend Christine (Rebecca Giblin) and unsuspecting husband Justin (John Gregg) to reclaim her life and find out where she belongs. Written and directed by Sasha Hadden.

Winner: 2022 AACTA Award for Best Indie Film

Special Guest: Maggie Blinco (lead actress)

Australia 2022 | Drama | 98m | M

While in Istanbul attending a conference, academic Dr Althea Binnie (Tilda Swinton) encounters a Djinn (Idris Elba) who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. Her doubt that he is real, and her knowledge of cautionary tales of wishes gone wrong make her reluctant to enter the bargain. She is eventually beguiled by the fantastical stories he tells. George Miller (Mad Max) directs.

Australia/USA 2022 | Fantasy/Romance | 108m | M

In 1995, Aida (Jasna Djuricic) is a translator for the UN in the small town of Srebrenca. When the Serbian army takes over the town, thousands of citizens, including her own family, seek shelter in the UN camp. A restrained, yet powerful and heartbreaking recreation of a terrible event from recent history, directed by Jasmila Zbanic.

Academy Awards 2021 – nominated for Best International Feature Film

Bosnia & Herzegovia 2020 | Drama/History/War | 101m | M

Taking the form of a documentary, this one-of-a-kind, stop-motion animation film features the titular character, a seashell with one eye (yes, and wearing shoes), voiced by Jenny Slate. Marcel’s outlook on life is funny, but also surprisingly endearing and heartwarming.

Dean Fleisher Camp’s film is a feature-length expansion of several shorts that gained him world-wide attention online.

BAFTA Awards 2023 – nominated for Best Animated Feature Film.

USA 2021 | Animation/Comedy | 90m | PG

As Fares (Sami Bouajila) and Meriem (Najla Ben Abdallah) drive home from southern Tunisia, their car is hit by a stray bullet during an armed group ambush. The bullet critically injures 11-year-old Aziz (Youssef Khemri) puncturing his liver. In the frantic search for a transplant donor, deeply buried secrets emerge and old grudges resurface. This is Mehdi Baraoui’s directoral debut.

Winner: 2019 Hamburg Film Festival’s Young Talent Award for Best Feature Film

Tunisia 2019 | Drama | 95m | M