Ever seen a short film so profound, exquisitely made, relevant and moving that your eyes filled with happy tears?
Three of the short films at Gympie’s Heart of Gold film festival 12-20 September, had this effect on me.
‘Like friend, like Deer,’ by Iranian director Malek Eghbali, is a 13-minute animation gently telling the story of a wildlife ranger (with the head of a deer) who, after killing an illegal hunter, is handed over to a soldier–teacher. The teacher makes a moral decision that shows humanity during conflict and the animation is like watching a painting filled with the human spirt.
‘Jeem, 1983’, directed by Jorj Abou Mhaya, tenderly and playfully looks at the war in Beirut through the eyes of an orphan boy who uses fantasy for momentary reprieve from the destruction of his city and his people.
‘Conquering the Six’ is a short documentary about a Ukraine war veteran refusing to let his amputated leg stop him running marathons around the world to show the Ukrainian peoples’ tenacity and refusal to surrender.
Wide variety of short films
These gems stand out in a program with something for everyone, ranging from laugh out loud short films to biting social commentary on domestic violence, queer identity, social media filters and war. There were plenty of Queensland films on lighter topics too.
In this way, the Heart of Gold film festival brings the world to the Senior Citizens Centre in Gympie in a thoughtfully curated selection offering laughs, tears and food for thought. While the venue was adequate and brightly decorated in retro style this year, many locals are looking forward to the festival returning to the Gympie Civic Centre which is due to reopen next year.
Heart of Gold film fest attendees enjoyed quirky indoor spaces to lounge around PHOTO: Vivienne Wynter
In between the one and a half hour sessions showing roughly 5-15 shorts, attendees enjoyed scrumptious, filled, home-made focaccia from Mr Rigatoni, cupcakes and good coffee from Blooming Yummy’s Little Coffee Van or a drink from the bar under the shade of an outdoor marquee.
Festival presenter Cindy Vogels and sponsor Lesa Bell enjoying the shade of the marquee. PHOTO: Vivienne Wynter
The live music on the day this reviewer attended was high quality with Jack Wilde and Phoebe Rose serenading the crowd in good voice supported by a strong sound system.
It was hot outside the festival but attendees Michelle Dowd and her husband didn’t seem to mind. PHOTO: Vivienne Wynter
The quality of the films varied, with Australian short film ‘Finding Mama’ about the state of live theatre not quite holding up, positioned as it was between higher quality films on deeply profound themes from Belarus and the US.
A film-maker intro to each of the sessions would have been welcome and having an on-stage MC interview film-makers about films that had not shown in the same session did not work for me. I want to see film-makers interviewed right after I’ve seen their film though I understand that’s tricky with an international film festival featuring directors a long way away.
Small budget spread far to deliver week-long event
Overall, Festival Director Nicole Harper and her team of hard-working and charming volunteers did an outstanding job with a small budget and miniscule staff to deliver an international film festival showing mostly high calibre films, supported by entertainment and film-maker interviews that were engaging and well staged.
Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival Director Nicole Harper. PHOTO: Vivienne Wynter
If you missed Heart of Gold this year, it’s highly recommended for next year, with reasonable ticket prices, workshops, free entertainment and comfy areas to sit, eat and drink and mingle with film-makers and film-lovers alike.
