Canine companions and courageous women in dual film festivals

TWO film festivals will stop in Geelong next month as part of their national tours, promising audiences a carefully-curated selection of short and feature films from independent filmmakers and international award-winners.

The Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour will hit Geelong first, arriving at Village Cinemas on August 7.

Celebrating the bold and daring spirit of women, the film festival will showcase a collection of eight inspiring short films, including the stories of three incredible Australians, each of whom are breaking boundaries on the world stage.

Impact to Ignite follows endurance runner Brooke McIntosh as she embarks on a 1600km journey through Western Australia’s toughest terrain, while 23.4Degrees captures both the incredible skills of Australian Olympic FreeSkier Anna Segal and the breathtaking beauty of Canada’s mountains.

Ms Segal said she was grateful to be part of the festival, an “empowering event” that highlights “strength and resilience”.

“Australian audiences have a unique opportunity to see what their fellow country-women are doing to break boundaries and push the limits,” she said.

Audiences will also be treated to a screening of The Speed Project, which follows Erchana Murray-Bartlett as she pushes the limits of endurance and survival, undertaking her 500km run through Death Valley from LA to Vegas.

Erchana Murray-Bartlett said being involved in the film tour was “a powerful reminder of the importance of community” and the impact of sharing stories.

“I hope my journey inspires others to embrace their own adventures,” she said.

Then, on August 8, Australia’s biggest canine film festival tour will take over Village Cinemas, its line-up bringing almost three hours of hilarious and heart-warming dog-themed movies from around the world to the region.

Established in 2017 as a celebration of dog-inspired cinema from around the globe, the Top Dog Film Festival has become an annual tradition for the country’s dog devotees.

Highlights from this year’s program include Man’s First Friend, a journey through the remote villages of India where packs of pariah dogs have waged war on marauding monkeys to protect the livelihoods of banana plantation owners, Abbey and the Bull Breeds, a depiction of one woman’s mission to give abandoned and misjudged bull breed dogs a second chance at life and love, and Andy: A Dog’s Tale, the story of a puppy from humble beginnings who overcomes extraordinary challenges to become a service dog.

Festival director Jemima Robinson said it was an absolute delight to take the film festival on tour across Australia again this year.

“With comedies, dramas, documentaries and an animated film, our goal is to bring together dog lovers of all ages to celebrate the unique joy that our canine companions bring to the world,” she said.

For tickets to the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Festival, visit gutsygirlsadventurefilmtour.com.au/tickets and for tickets to the Top Dog Festival, head to topdogfilmfestival.com.au/tickets