TOP PICKS OF SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL 2018 FROM THREE PLAYWAVE CREATIVES

June 04, 2018

Here at Playwave we are big fans of Sydney Film Festival. But with a program of over 200 films, events and experiences, it's hard to know what not to miss. So our Playwave Creatives have taken the time to sift through the ocean of gems to pick out the diamonds in this year's program. Check out their top picks. 

NICOLE'S TOP 5

I’ve always been a fan of Sydney Film Festival, but I must say, this year’s program is particularly bangin’! With an incredibly diverse range of films from all over the world (and plenty from home) - surely there’s something to satisfy everyone’s cinematic taste. If only I could temporarily stop time to fit in all two hundred films over the two weeks

Three Identical Strangers
I’m particularly excited for Tim Wardle’s documentary about long-lost identical triplets, billed to be ‘unsettling’, ‘disturbing’, and ‘unbelievable-but-true’ - how could you not be! Despite strong urges to Google their story and feed my fascination with twisted stories, I have resisted the temptation so I can go in blind, and allow my mind to be completely blown as the the dark truth of this story unfolds.

Skate Kitchen
I’ve been a fan of Crystal Moselle since her 2015 documentary, The Wolfpack, for her investigative storytelling, delving into worlds we would otherwise never face. Semi-fictional, semi-documentary - I’m keen to pump into the female skating world - a culture that I’ve always utterly fascinated by, and frankly wish I was cool enough to be a part of.

Chocolate Oyster
A quirky comedy about young, creative Sydneysiders just trying to figure their shit out. Me?! I’m curious to see how life in Sydney is captured on the big screen, and hoping it represents our experiences in a relatable way - something that’s rarely explored on screen, and essentially concealed from the international sphere.

Dragonfly Eyes
In the face of increasing institutionalised surveillance all over the world, Chinese artist, Xu Bing’s feature debut repurposes these injustices to create a provocative work of art. Utilising over 10 000 hours of surveillance footage from China, and melding it with voice actors, I’m looking forward to a uniquely confronting experience that comments on the issues of today in a way that might just be a too close to home.

Yellow is Forbidden
The world of Haute Couture is often defined by end product, but Pietra Brettkelly’s documentary intimately explores Chinese Designer, Guo Pei’s private world, something that would otherwise be completely hidden from the public eye. I’m excited to see how Brettkelly delves into the rich history Guo Pei brings to her artform, and how her past influences the work she creates today.

ZACK'S TOP 5

Sydney Film Festival is a great opportunity to see some international and homegrown films on the big screen, a step away from the American blockbusters we’re used to. This list compiles 5 local and international films that didn’t have an Infinity War budget.

The Changeover 
The Changeover seems like its gonna be really fun, I love romance and the supernatural and I especially love kiwi filmmaking. It’s an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Margaret Mahy so I’m worried it’ll fall victim to the limitations of adaptations but, hopefully all of these traits I love will win it over for me!

Terror Nullius
This mashup of Australian footage seems to paint the holistic image of the Australian paradigm in a way I’ve always wanted to see it. An explosive mix of genre and intent all culminating into 53 minutes of Australian madness.

The Second
The Second is described as a “sexy thriller”, the responses to which could easily be made into a 2013 era “there are only two kinds of people in the world” meme; One side horrified and the other intrigued, I obviously place on the latter which is why The Second makes my list.

Rafiki
I’ve seen Rafiki making news recently since it was censored in its home country of Kenya, but this isn’t the only reason that Australian (and international) audiences need to see it. This film’s voice is young, fresh and authentic and this comes through even in the stills of this exciting drama.

Good Manners 
I’ve heard that Good Manners involves lesbian werewolves, which seems like the perfect backdrop to explore the complex attitudes towards race and class in Brazil. “Werewolf noir” is the genre I never knew I needed and Good Manners is definitely the quirkiest but also possibly my favourite entrant on this list.

LARA'S TOP 5

Join in for the Sydney Film Festival’s 64^th year of celebration. Experience new and exciting cultures from unique perspectives from all around the world. Here is my top list of films not to miss this year:

Piercing 
A thriller about family, love and betrayal. A gory, gritty story with Australia’s very own Mia Wasikowska, now acting on something with a lot more guts that ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

American Animals
Blistering boredom brings us this fanatic heist by dwindling teens lost in their average lives. This story of young spirit infamously glamorises crime films and their juvenile practices.

L’Animale
This film presents a coming of age story, about a teen caught between relationships and discovering their own sexuality. A passionate and insightful portrayal of finding one’s unique individuality.

The Cleaners
A documentary about the excess of info lingering around the dark side of the internet. This reveals social, political and ethical dilemmas that these individuals face by removing explicit content before it erupts into mayhem.

Brothers' Nest
A dark and witty comedy from Australia, bringing forth sibling rivals set against the back drop of a murder gone wrong.

Sydney Film Festival 2018
6 - 17 June
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