Possible Worlds: Canadian Film Festival 2012

Overview

The Festivalists have seen a cracker few years with their boutique festivals increasing in number, from the long-running Young at Heart and Access All Areas to the recent Jurassic Lounge and Sydney Film Festival Hub events. Now in its seventh edition, Possible Worlds is one of the foundational projects for the Festivalists, and you can feel the passion in artistic director Matt Ravier's selection for this festival's seven days.

Take for example the bookend choice for opening and closing nights. Starbuck, directed by Ken Scott, is a comedy that follows an inept kidult who after years of irresponsibility is facing a lawsuit that'll unmask his identity as the father of 533 IVF children. At the opposite end of the calendar and the spectrum is War Witch, directed by Kim Nguyen and winner of Best Film and Best Actress at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. This heavy drama is the confession of a 14-year-old girl to her unborn baby, detailing her actions as a member of a child militia in an unnamed sub-Saharan country. Two very different films, and yet both are borne from two individuals coming to grips with the question of legacy and responsibility to a future generation.

It is not only amongst the films that such strands are drawn. Inspired perhaps by their live performance events, the Festivalists are also pairing select films up with live experiences for punters. A night out to see Indie Game: The Movie will leave you wanting to play and design games for the rest of your life — what better way to start, then, than with the chance to play games at the venue right after the film? Similarly, prepare to dress in disco fetish for the spoof comedy Roller Town, and limber up to dance it off in the glamorous musical Leave It on the Floor.

Created with intelligence and love, and balancing an internationally aware program with a lot of fun ideas, this seventh Possible Worlds is set to be a very special week. Definitely try to see more than one film.

Concrete Playground has three double passes to the Possible Worlds Closing Night Gala. To win, just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email [email protected]

Films are screening at Dendy Opera Quays, Dendy Newtown and St Stephen's Church Hall, Newtown. Please see specific film listings for their venue. Image from Leave It on the Floor.