Perth's beloved outdoor cinema experience, the Perth Festival's Lotterywest Films season, is in full swing, promising an incredible 18-week program of global cinematic talent beneath the stars at the picturesque Somerville Auditorium.
A Season of Award-Winning Global Stories
After a brief interruption last year when a branch fell from one of the venue's iconic Norfolk pines, festival organisers have given the all-clear for a safe season. Every tree has been rigorously examined by arborists and declared healthy, ensuring moviegoers can focus solely on the films.
Film curator Madeline Bates has curated a selection of international highlights, from major festival champions to lesser-known treasures. "Asking her to pick favourites is like asking a parent to name their favourite child," the festival notes, though she did highlight several standouts.
From North Macedonia to Iraq: Festival Favourites
One such film is DJ Ahmed, a North Macedonian production that scored the Audience Award and the World Cinema Jury Prize at Sundance. Bates describes it as a local take on the American classic Footloose, following a young sheep herder who rebels against his family's traditions to pursue his dream of becoming a DJ.
Another hidden gem is President's Cake, the Iraqi winner of the Cannes Film Festival's prestigious Camera d'Or. Set during the first Gulf War in 1990, the film follows a young girl tasked with baking a birthday cake for Saddam Hussein. It boasts impressive Hollywood connections, being produced by Chris Columbus (Mrs Doubtfire) and co-written by Eric Roth (Forrest Gump).
Oscar Buzz and Acclaimed Actors
The program is also strong on likely Academy Awards contenders. The Voice Of Hind Rajab, from Oscar-nominated director Kaouther Ben Hania, uses real recordings and scripted scenes to tell the true, devastating story of a Palestinian girl trapped in a car under military fire. It is tipped for the Best International Film category.
The current favourite for that Oscar, Sentimental Value, is another program highlight. This Scandinavian drama from acclaimed director Joachim Trier stars Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning, exploring the relationship between a renowned director and his estranged daughters. Skarsgard's performance is already generating significant Oscar buzz.
Adding to the star power is Narcos star Wagner Moura, who won the Best Actor award at Cannes for his role in the Brazilian thriller The Secret Agent. Set during the 1970s Carnival, the film also earned Kleber Mendonca Filho the Best Director prize.
Completing the lineup of major award winners is the Cannes Palme d'Or victor, It Was Just An Accident, a revenge drama from Iranian master Jafar Panahi, which will screen during the premium Christmas week.
For something completely different, the festival offers Pillion, a provocative romantic comedy featuring Stellan Skarsgård's son, the ridiculously handsome Alexander Skarsgård. He plays an enigmatic biker who draws a timid man, played by Harry Melling, into a dominant-submissive relationship.
The Perth Festival's Lotterywest Films season runs until March 29. With a program that spans Oscar dramas, romantic comedies, and global independent cinema, it truly offers something for every film lover.
