I’ve long admired and respected Bill Mousoulis, one of the most vocal and important voices out there supporting Australian cinema. If you’re not up to date on his exceptional website Pure Shit, then you definitely need to get on board with it. His examination of the output of Australian cinema in the 2010s is a must read.
Now, I’m not one to be envious, but Bill and his co-curator Chris Luscri have both crafted a run of film screenings that truly makes me wish I was on the East coast of Australia. Unknown Pleasures kicked off in 2019 with an exceptional line-up of underground Aussie films, including the hilarious Throbbin’ 84, Donna McRae’s excellent Johnny Ghost, and the film that the site takes its name from, Pure Shit. I personally love being able to expose readers and followers to a world of Australian films that they didn’t know existed, but Pure Shit manages to rip the lid off a world that many may not know exists. This is vital and important work happening right here.
The 2020 lineup for the Unknown Pleasures festival has another exceptional catalogue of films. Check it out below.
“Unknown Pleasures: Australian independent cinema” is a series of semi-regular screenings curated and presented by Chris Luscri & Bill Mousoulis, featuring the best of Australian indie cinema, both new and old, narrative and non-narrative, with discussions with most of the film-makers, presented in the boutique venue Long Play Cinema in Melbourne. It is an attempt to throw some light on under-represented films and film-makers, and also an attempt to foster a sense of community, to create a movement toward a more intimate, local model with film-makers closely and passionately engaged with their audiences.Â
PROGRAM FOR Feb-July 2020 is now released, we are pleased to present a huge variety of films:
Sun Feb 16 – John Flaus in his first major role, in Dave Jones‘ wacky Yackety Yack (1974, 78 mins). Q&A with Flaus.
Sun Mar 8 – Legendary experimental filmmaker Dirk de Bruyn will present his personal work Conversations with my Mother (1990, 100 mins).
Sun Apr 26 – A selection of short films by the quirky and edgy filmmakers Mischa Baka & Siobhan Jackson.
Sun May 17 – Two films by director John Ruane, his student film Queensland (1976, 52 mins) and the indie film Feathers (1987, 60 mins).
Sun June 21 – Margot Nash flies in from Sydney to present her great narrative feature Vacant Possession (1995, 96 mins).
Sun July 19 – Versatile producer/director Fiona Cochrane presents her gripping feature Four of a Kind (2009, 115 mins).
For more info on the films, see the Press Release attached, or visit the web page –
http://www.pureshitauscinema.com/unknown_pleasures.html
Facebook page:Â Â https://www.facebook.com/Unknown-Pleasures-Australian-independent-cinema-106333090934102
With tickets being ridiculously cheap and a guaranteed night of great cinema, you definitely want to head along to check out the best of underground Australian cinema.
