Mary and Max - Friday 21st August 7.30pm

Mary and Max both have feet of clay and are in need of a friend. Max is a lonely, overweight New Yorker whose only positive relationship is his new penpal Mary Daisy Dinkle, an eight-year-old with a sad home life. The film follows twenty years of this melancholy long-distance friendship.

Mary and Max is the feature length debut for Adam Elliot, who won an Oscar for his claymation short Harvey Krumpet. Elliot's handcrafted talent and cinematic voice is utterly unique in world cinema, demonstrated when this film opened the Sundance Film Festival to a rapturous reception.

Critics have fallen in love with his obsessive detail and quirky observational humour. Could Elliot be the Gen X Leunig?

An eclectic cast of voices include Toni Colette, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Humphries and Eric Bana.

"The film is sublime," Margaret Pomeratz said. "It's funny and insightful... it was five years in the making and worth every minute."

"You really care about these characters, even though you know they're made of plasticine," said David Stratton.

 

Mary and Max screens this Friday 21st August at 7.30pm at Port Fairy Cinema in Bank Street. Memberships available at the door with free tea and coffee provided.

Short filmmaking taster courses

Got a yearning to make your own films? The Port Fairy Film Society is supporting local storytelling through film by running two low-cost filmmaking workshops in September. A four-hour course run over two weeks will commence at the Port Fairy Community House in Railway Place on 1st & 8th September. The course covers basics of putting together a home movie (scripted or created out of photos and home footage) including scriptwriting & planning, shooting and editing on readily available Movie Maker software. This course is at the beginner or the 'dabbler'. For more info contact Colin at the Community House on 5568 3187. Cost $30.

Another opportunity is being run as part of the Ex-Libris Book Fair on Saturday 5th September, a three hour 'race around the town' to create a 30 second cinema advertisement to be screened as a promotion for next year's Ex-Libris. Participants will help make the short ad with filmmaker Colleen Hughson and Film Society President Damien Becker, learning the basics of making a short video 'on-the-job'. A whirlwind learning experience. Cost $20. To book, contact Damien on 55681358. 

Friday 14th August -Special Screening -St.Kilda Short Film Festival in Port Fairy

Following on from the success of the 2008 National Tour, the St Kilda Film Festival National Tour is about to embark on its biggest tour yet visiting over 30 destinations Australian wide, covering every state and territory.
The sessions screened on the tour consist of a selection of some of the best films from the Top 100 program - award winners and audience favourites.
The ‘Best of the Fest’ sessions offer a variety of genres and includes filmmakers from each region, showcasing the very best of Australia’s emerging and established filmmaking talent.
Come and enjoy 12 diverse and amazing short films to be screened in two sessions commencing at 7.30pm.

The St Kilda Film Festival screens this Friday 14th August at 7.30pm at Port Fairy Cinema in Bank Street. Tickets $10.00. Overall film rating is 18+