All posts filed under: arts

Women Like Us – MICF Review

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Ellen Briggs and Mandy Nolan are two funny, funny ladies. Straight-talking independent women who shoot straight from the lip and keep the stories coming, the kind of sparkly, charismatic women who, if you met at a dinner party you would be enthralled, chin in hands as they deliver one funny, entertaining tale after the other. Armed with a repertoire chock full of Mum jokes, Mullumbimby hippy digs and witty, intelligent tales about waxing, trying on clothes and having to deal with snooty shop assistants, (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg) their humour is warm, sometimes politically incorrect and always entertaining. Too often there is a lot of pressure on women in the traditionally male-dominated industry of stand up to prove themselves. Ellen and Mandy knock it out of the park without having to resort to the lowest common denominator, minimising every day first world struggles of middle-class women, inviting the audience to laugh about every day trivial things and reaching a connection with everyone within five minutes of hitting the stage. They are …

Transitions Film Festival

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Transitions Film Festival returns to Cinema Nova next Friday and if you’re a documentary buff you’ll love this year’s program. With films covering an enormous spectrum of controversial and empowering topics including, activist grandmas, global tax avoidance, the history of climate change, and so much more, this year’s Transitions Film Festival places a strong emphasis on ideas and impact. To kick off the program there will be a pre-festival outdoor screening at City Square in partnership with The New Joneses, and Federation Square in partnership with Pause Fest, before the opening night screening of Catching The Sun at Cinema Nova on the 18th of February. Film highlights include O​verburden,​ a ​film about the need to transition away from coal, H​ip​Hop­e​ration,​ which sees a charismatic group of eighty­​ plus­​ year­ olds compete in an international hip h​op tournament, and 10 Billion ­ What’s on your Plate,​ which explores the revolutions needed in the food system to feed a growing planet. Catch a film during the two week program and find out what it means to be human. When: 18th Feb …

Melbourne lights up for White Night

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White Night Melbourne has become a favourite event on the summer calendar for over 3 years now and in just over 2 weeks White Night Melbourne will return for it’s fourth year from 7pm to 7am to transform Melbourne’s city streets, major cultural institutions, public spaces, gardens, landmark buildings and laneways. Get your comfy shoes ready and pack a camera for the all-night party will feature performance, illuminations, art installations and music throughout the city and in and on some of Melbourne’s most iconic spaces including the Royal Exhibition Building, Federation Square, Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne City Baths, Arts Centre Melbourne, State Library Victoria, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Museum and ACMI. Some of the highlights that we’ve got marked down include: Some of the highlights that we’ve got marked down include: The Dresses – Queen Victoria Gardens French artist Tae Gon Kim’s ethereal work, The Dresses, shapes hundreds of fibre-optic strands into the form of three beautiful and extravagant gowns suspended in darkness – apparitions, shimmering from the realms of fantasy. Slowly the illuminated …

Tropfest makes a comeback

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Feel the love as the world’s largest short film festival, Tropfest makes a Valentine’s Day comeback. Short film fans around Australia were heartbroken when earlier this year it was announced that the iconic event was cancelled, but thanks to the generous sponsor CGU Insurance, the Festival has received a lifeline and will be back on Sunday 14 February 2016 in Centennial Parklands, Sydney (with fingers crossed a live screening in Melbourne).  Twenty-one years on, Tropfest Australia attracted a live national audience of around 150,000 people on a single night and today more than 1.6 million people have attended a Tropfest event over it’s lifetime.  “As a free, outdoor event, Tropfest makes short film accessible to all. There’s nothing else quite like it and I think that’s what people love.. Tropfest is a great festival, providing unique platforms for talented filmmakers through its events and initiatives, and we are excited to be able to help them get back on their feet,” Mr Bessell said. “Tropfest is about fostering the growth of the Australian film industry, and these …

Meet travel writer, Rob Mcfarland

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Ever dreamed of being a travel writer but didn’t have the courage to take the steps? Back in 2004, Rob McFarland was an IT consultant, but knew he needed a change. After a career break and a lot of self-help books, he decided he would give travel writing a go. Prior to leaving his IT career behind and making the jump he had never being published before. Today, Rob has gone on to become  one of Australia’s leading travel writers and is a regular contributor to the Sydney Morning Herald, Sun-Herald, The Guardian, San Francisco Chronicle, NZ Herald, West Australian, Luxury Travel, Let’s Travel & GQ magazines. Rob has also won  six awards including Travel Writer of the Year. We took the opporutnity to have a chat with him to find out a bit more  about the travel writing industry and also asked him for some tips for all the budding travel writers out there. Dividing your time between  Sydney, New York and the UK, where do you call home? That’s a tricky one. Most of my family …

Rivoli Cinemas turns 75

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The Rivoli Cinemas turns 75 years old this month and to celebrate they’re holding a weekly classic film series. Take a step back in time and catch old classics like Casablanca, Vertigo and Shawshank Redemption. The art-deco cinemas officially opened its doors on October 11, 1940 and was designed by noted cinema architects, H. Vivian Taylor and Sollieaux. Over the years, Rivoli Cinemas has become a landmark in Victoria, possessing a rich heritage with its stunning art deco opulence, showcasing the latest in contemporary and art-house film offerings. The month-long celebrations will finish with a nostalgia imbued Gala event, including an exclusive screening to the most anticipated film of the year, Carol (2015), starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara! Visit the website here.