Film Countries Archives: Australia

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CineYouth Program

Far From Home

  Australia, Bahrain, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States     6 shorts | 71 minutes

Screenings & Events

Virtual Screening

Available to stream Mon, April 28 @ 12:00pm CT through Sun, May 4 @ 11:59pm CT for a 48-hour watch window.

Synopsis

Offered as a tribute to our roots, these sentimental and tender shorts lovingly consider identity and belonging. Containing stories of migration, disconnection from ancestry, and striving to fit in, this program addresses what it takes to feel at home in a complicated world.

Films in this program contain themes, images, and language that may not be suitable for all ages.

Films

A young Mexican man stands on a balcony surrounded by green fireworks

Don Chingón

Carlos Lerma | Chicago, Illinois | Age 22

A young Mexican immigrant searches his new city for a culinary cure to homesickness.

A teenage black girl stands in the back of a group of white dancers

The Spectacular Quiet

Sierra Buah | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Age 17

In this documentary, a young girl explores the complexity of her bi-racial identity through dance. Facing questions of belonging, self-acceptance, and identity, Sierra navigates growing up as one of few mixed-race people in her predominantly white community.

A married couple lay in bed next to each other not making eye contact

Mixed Signals

Zaid Sater | United Arab Emirates; Bahrain; Saudi Arabia; New York, New York | Age 22

A cross-cultural conversation around Western ideas of dating and love occurs when a married Arab immigrant ventures out on his first online date.

A barber holds a razor blade trimming his clients beard

Moroccan Haircut

Malik Terrab | Arlington, Virginia | Age 22

What do culture and hair have in common? They both have roots. In this clever essay film, a young man visits a barber shop hoping to reconnect with his heritage.

A mother and daughter sit across from each other at their kitchen table with folded hands

Housekeepers

Kaede Miyamura | Australia | Age 22

Translating is a difficult job; translating bad news to your mother is even harder. A daughter of a Japanese Immigrant finds herself in a tight spot in this melancholy film.

A Mexican teenager stands in front of a supermarket smiling

Volador

Miguel Angel Hernandez & Tessa Elizabeth Osborne | Mexico; Grand Rapids, Michigan | Age 19

Eighteen-year-old aspiring photographer Mateo begins to doubt his choice to immigrate to Michigan from Morella as he struggles to establish himself professionally. This charming and humorous narrative follows Mateo and a cast of lovable characters as he seeks guidance from his friends and reflects on the highs and low of following a dream.

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CineYouth Program

Between Me and You

  Australia, Canada, China, United Kingdom, United States     7 shorts | 69 minutes

Screenings & Events

Virtual Screening

Available to stream Mon, April 28 @ 12:00pm CT through Sun, May 4 @ 11:59pm CT for a 48-hour watch window.

Synopsis

Captivating visuals and unconventional storytelling illuminate a wide range of relations between parents and children, best of friends, and bitter enemies. These seven shorts explore how the different people we encounter in our lives can have a lasting effect on us for better or for worse.

Note: Films in this program contain themes, images, and language that may not be suitable for all ages, including guns and violence.

Films

Two Korean guys fighting with one guy holding a steel plate upward and the other guy using a broom to hit the plate

Check Please

Shane Chung | Chicago, Illinois | Age 22

In this comedy action film, a Korean and a Korean-American fight over their pride, honor, and who gets to pick up the tab.

A woman reads Karl Marx while another woman lies on her stomach looking through binoculars.

Bi-Nocular Panic

Anouk Witkowska Hiffler | United Kingdom | Ages 22

Two young girls spend an afternoon in the park spying on boys when one of them discovers something new about themself.

A man and a boy look at a large "One Child Policy" poster.

Until He’s Born

Qingxuan Wang | China | Age 18

Years after the death of his unborn brother, a teenager comes face to face with his guilt and grief in this beautiful rumination on tradition and family set during China’s one-child policy.

Close up of a man's smiling face on the right side of screen.

Loose Lace

Emma Snyder | Chicago, Illinois | Age 20

Lighten up with this lighthearted film, which unites two of our favorite things – skating and pizza – to subtly depict humans being human.

A woman in the middle of the foreground with two other people in the background, looking straight forward

Desync

Minerva Marie Navasca | Canada | Age 22

Confronting the past, a young Filipina filmmaker re-lives a painful conversation with her mother to produce the perfect movie scene of a mother and daughter cooking. Sophisticated camera work shifts the scene between the present-day movie set and her memory exploring the complexity of the mother-daughter dynamic.

A young man wearing headphones moves expressively while other young people sitting at tables in the background look at something unseen.

Just. Drop. Dead.

Yael Green | Australia | Age 22

Two inept hitmen struggle to complete their latest job. Their target? A man with dance moves so rhythmic that he seems to dodge death at every turn.

Three people sitting on the beach with their backs to the camera.

The New Raymond

Joe Blaugrund | Chicago, Illinois | Age 22

After an attempted break-in goes wrong, a burglar is held captive by the homeowners–a grieving couple with a sinister plan for bringing their son back.

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Better Man

  Michael Gracey

  Australia     134 minutes

Synopsis

Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.

  

 English 

Screenings & Events

Film Credits

  •   Paul Currie, Michael Gracey, Coco Xiaolu Ma, Craig McMahon, Jules Daly
  •   Simon Gleeson, Oliver Cole, Michael Gracey
  •   Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Damon Herriman, Raechelle Banno, Alison Steadman, Kate Mulvany, Frazer Hadfield, Tom Budge, Anthony Hayes

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In a futuristic lobby, a purple robot with matching pigtails offers a wave.

Alone [short film]

  Alex Weight

  Australia     7 minutes

Synopsis

In this futuristic short, a cleaning robot is lonely on a long trip across space. So it constructs a companion. The pair grow close, but with only a single source of power, the question arises if both will be able to survive.

This film screens as part of the Family Animated Shorts: Me and Magical You program.

 No Dialogue 

Film Credits

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Animated Family Shorts: Me and Magical You

  Various

  Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Lithuania, South Korea     59 minutes

Synopsis

Audiences of all ages will enjoy these stories about companionship between characters navigating wild worlds. From fantastical to familial, this collection offers a colorful look into the push and pull of close camaraderie. Featuring works by Justine Aubert, Cassandra Bouton, Grégoire Callies, Maud Chesneau, Anna Danton, Loic Girault, Gatien Peyrude, Justine Raux, Sera Mun, Malin Neuman, Alex Weight, Shiqi Xiao, Ignas Meilūnas, Ruihan Zhang, Wenzi Shan, Xingyi Chen, Laurine Bocquet, Ilona Caucal, Inès Fechner, Jahnice Laurent, Sarah Robert, Emma Roussel, Kevin Vandenbeuck, and Clara Chan.

Without any dialogue, Shellfish (Coquille) (France) shows how a loss can lead to a gain when a hermit crab makes a new friend after losing his shell. Bouncing from one reality to the next, Hana undergoes a kaleidoscopic and kinetic adventure in This World Is a Soda Can We Are Shaking It (South Korea) after an explosion interrupts a music festival. A brave child and her loyal otter friend embark on a mission to save the girl’s hometown from a water crisis in the calm and inspiring (Germany). Venturing into the heart of true friendship, Alone (Australia) follows a lonesome robot facing a tough decision after creating a companion for itself. In the spirit realm of Reunion (China), little Yuan Yuan falls into the hands of a powerful deity who offers to grant her greatest desire. When two friends spend a winter day ice skating on a lake, they encounter a surprise that teaches them to overcome their fears in the delightful Hoofs on Skates (Lithuania). When an old man mistakenly discards a precious memento, a faithful raccoon makes it his mission to return it in the innocent and heartfelt So Long Memories (China). A bunny facing his fear of the dark makes an otherworldly discovery in the enchanting and picturesque As the Sun Goes Down (France). And a heartfelt conversation between an immigrant mother and her daughter comes to life in the colorful and compassionate Have I Swallowed Your Dreams (Canada).

This screening is relaxed and family friendly. Young film enthusiasts are welcome and should feel free to talk or move about the space as needed. If you have questions email access@chicagofilmfestival.com.

 Chinese, English, Korean, No Dialogue 

Content Advisory

Screenings & Events

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