One of the most vibrant and successful areas of the Australian cultural sector has been the film industry. Established as early as 1906, with the Tait brothers’ production of The Story of the Kelly Gang, the Australian film industry produces around 20 feature films per year, a significant output for a country of only 20 million people. Films made in any country enable us to see a people as they really are, their diversity and the unique features of their culture. Australian films are no exception and have brought to local and international audiences the nation’s most cherished stories, its history, tragedies, humour, politics, romances and dreams.

Over the years, Australian films have also achieved international recognition, as much for the ability of the actors who star in them as for the films’ production values. Recent Australian films such as Japanese Story have built on the earlier successes of Shine, Muriel’s Wedding, Strictly Ballroom, Crocodile Dundee and Babe and have achieved not only favourable international critical attention but also healthy box office returns. Australian film-making will continue to excite with the diversity, quality and innovativeness of its output, bringing enjoyment to audiences the world over.

Japanese Story

Sandy, a geologist, finds herself stuck on a field trip to the Pilbara desert with a Japanese man she finds inscrutable, annoying and decidedly arrogant. Hiromitsu’s view of her is not much better. Things go from bad to worse when they are stranded in one of the most remote regions on earth. Japanese Story is a journey of change and discovery for its two lead characters.

Cast: Toni Collette, Gotaro Tsunashima, Lynette Curran, Matthew Dyktynski, John Howard, Yukiko Tanaka, Kate Atkinson, Bill Young.

Awards

Cannes Film Festival 2003, Toronto International Film, Telluride IFF, Chicago IFF, Pusan International Film Festival.

9 x Australian Film Institute Awards, 5 x Australian Critics Awards, 4 x Independent filmmakers.

The Hard Word

Three brothers have found a uniquely profitable way to spend their jail time. Crime does pay and no one gets hurt, until they discover the catch. When sex and greed come between bad cops and good criminals, the consequences are fatal, for some.

Cast: Guy Pearce, Rachel Griffiths, Robert Taylor, Joel Edgerton, Damien Richardson.

Awards

2002: Filmfest Hamburg, London Australia Film Festival.

4 x Australian Screen Sound Awards.

Dirty Deeds

It’s Sydney in 1969 and the Mafia have just sent Tony and Sal, a couple of Chicago hoods, to Australia to get a cut from the profits of the illegal gambling, which is flourishing due to Yank soldiers on R&R from Veitnam.

Cast: Sam Neill, Bryan Brown, Toni Collette, John Goodman, Sam Worthington.

Awards

2002: Australian Film Institute Award for Best Costume Design.

2002: Australian Film Institute Award for Best Production.

2002: Film Critics Circle of Australian Award for Best Editing.

2002: Film Critics Circle of Australian Award for Best Actor, female, Toni Collette.

2002: Film Critics Circle of Australian Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Thunderstruck

After a near death experience, five boys, all devoted AC/DC fans, make a pact to bury whoever dies first next to their idol Bon Scott. Eleven years later these misfits have to fulfil their promise.

Cast: Damon Gameau, Stephen Curry, Callan Mulvey, Ryan Johnson, Sam Worthington.

Danny Deckchair

An ordinary bloke rockets out of his loveless relationship into a new world in which he gets the chance to stand out from the crowd and fall in love.

Cast: Rhys Ifans, Miranda Otto, Justine Clarke, Rhys Muldoon.

Awards

2003: Film Critics Circle of Australian nominated for Best Supporting Actor, female, Justine Clarke.

2004 Paris Film Festival nominated Grand Prix, Jeff Balsmeyer.

Swimming Upstream

Based on Anthony Fingelton’s book of the struggle to become an Olympic swimmer despite an overbearing, alcoholic father and his long-suffering mother.

Cast: Judy Davis, Geoffrey Rush, Jesse Spencer, Tim Draxl, Deborah Kennedy.

Awards

2003: 3 x Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards.

Year of the Dogs

The football season is about to begin. The people of Footscray are battlers and so is their football team. (Footscray is in the heart of Melbourne’s western suburbs, where the Maltese Australian Community is concentrated). The mighty bulldogs haven’t won a premiership since 1954. The hopes and aspirations of a whole tribe are resting on the broad shoulders of the “Doggies”. This documentary follows the Footscray Football Club through the football season, from the boardroom to the change room.

Awards

1997: Australian Film Institute Awards Best Documentary

For tickets and more information contact St James Cavalier, Centre of Creativity, Valletta, on 2122 3216, websites: www.sjcav.org or www.malta.embassy.gov.au