Spotlight on avant-garde films at upcoming festival

THOUGHT-PROVOKING and intriguing best define the 18 national and international films in the Animation + Experimental + Avant-Garde Program screening as part of the North Bellarine Film Festival next month.
Where last year’s program presented an eye-popping array of animation and experimental films, this year’s focus is on the avant-garde.
The difference? Experimental films can be purely abstract where avant-garde films tend to have a narrative no matter how strange or unusual.
Whether it’s the slow-burn weirdness of Chong Ming’s A Room (Hong Kong), the delightful romp of Jennida Chase’s The Fawn (USA), the black and white mystery of Emanuele Dainotti’s Santa Teresa (Italy), or the sci-fi eeriness of Kim Miles’ Untitled (Australia), there will be something to tickle the mind.
Ion Cebotari’s heart-felt tale of lost dreams, Otilia (France), leads the animation line-up while Ryan Thompson provides the mind-bending signature film IDENTITY (USA). Heather Frise and Mike Hoolboom combine animation with live action in The Bed and The Street (UK), and the maestro of 3D animation Murat Sayginer presents the jaw-dropping grand finale film,The Safe Zone (Turkey).
Experimental works include Bill Bennet’s compelling road trip in XCTRY (USA), Sammy Sayed’s cosmic Deeply Absurd Lucidity (Egypt), and Marie Craven’s esoteric video poem Everything Sleeps But the Night (Australia).
Plus the new Blast From The Past Section showcases Brian Jones’ experimental Mandala (Australia/USA) from 1971 and Chris Windmill’s avant-garde comedy The Cuttock Heads (Australia) from 1990.
The free program screens on Sunday November 17 at the former Portarlington Neighbourhood House, 28 Brown Street, from 2pm to 4pm.
Full program information will be available at the door.