Tasmanian Breath of Fresh Air (BOFA) Film Festival audiences will marvel at how Under the Cover of Cloud, the 2019 BOFA opening night film, is both strangely familiar yet quite unlike any Australian movie they’ve seen. The gentle comedy by Hobart writer/director Ted Wilson, signals the opening of the Tasmanian Breath of Fresh Air (BOFA) Film Festival in Hobart from 10-12th May.
Lord Mayor, Alderman Anna Reynolds, explained to the program launch function at the Hobart Lord Mayor’s Courtroom on Wednesday, that BOFA and the Faculty of Law at the University of Tasmania have partnered to bring the best of the best films from the wider festival program to Hobart.
“Hobartians have always accounted for 10% of the Launceston-based festival’s audience in the last 10 years, but it was felt that having Hobart specific screenings would make the festival more accessible to the wider Hobart audience,” she said last night.
The Hobart program includes 10 films in seven themed categories, ranging from Stories of Us, to Eat/Drink/Live and Strong Women. The Launceston BOFA film festival program runs the following week, 16-19 May with 32 films and other activities such as a food and wine festival.
Program Director, Helen Tilbury, said that there is something for every film lover and festival goer at the Hobart BOFA.
“We’ve found films from Australia to the Arctic, showcasing films that don’t normally hit Tasmanian cinemas,” she said.
“In the context of #metoo and the fact that there were no female directors nominated at the Oscars, BOFA is proud to have over 50% of films directed by or focussing on women this year.
We will be showing films that are thought provoking and challenging and there will be a chance to tease out issues with post-film Q&A’s and longer discussions in Action Sessions.”
Festival highlights include Ferrante Fever which explores the amazing success of this reclusive author, Defend-Conserve-Protect which follows The Sea Shepherd’s battles in the Southern Ocean, The Seen and Unseen, a haunting feature rooted in Balinese life and culture, and Aga, set in the Arctic where climate change and mining are changing the traditional way of life.
“The festival grew by 15% in 2018 and we think that the move to Hobart will mean that this year’s BOFA will be the best yet,” she said.
“This inclusive and friendly festival is uniquely Tasmanian but also very international in its outlook. It’s fun, it’s challenging and, now in its ninth year, it’s a community-run event that all Tasmanians can be very proud of.” she said.
Full program and details available from the BOFA website: www.breath-of-fresh-air.com.au
