Australian filmmaker Josephine Mackerras’ debut, Alice, is an unassuming yet powerful story of womanhood and self-realisation, and brimming over with French style. Striking for its cool-eyed presentation of ethically-fraught questions, the film picked up SXSW's Grand Jury Prize. When her husband’s addiction to costly call-girls threatens her home, Alice (Emilie Piponnier, reprising Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour) is forced to explore a scary new world of work. The film handles her new role with empathy and a lack of sensationalism, shifting focus from the work itself to the autonomy it offers her. Piponnier is enthralling: Alice’s feelings constantly simmer on the surface with an emotional resonance that engages audiences. Piponnier’s easy oscillation between vulnerability and strength makes Alice profoundly real and recognisable, transforming Mackerras’ exploration of transgressive womanhood into something universal.
An award-winning venue in the heart of Byron Bay. Lovingly called ‘Festival HQ’ the inaugural festival occurred here in January 2006 screening just 55 Australian Films and BBFF has grown steadily every year and grown its presence across the Community Centre.
The films screening here are eclectic, colourful, quirky, sometimes challenging, sometimes inspirational, but always intriguing, just like Byron’s own uniquely diverse community. Completed in late 2002, The Byron Community Centre is a world-class venue in the heart of Byron Bay. This multi-purpose facility hosts a great variety of activities including performing arts events, exhibitions, conferences, seminars, receptions and functions. It also accommodates the Bay FM Community Radio, Liberation Larder, Planet Corroboree (an Aboriginal art and craft shop) and Fundamentals (a natural health store).
The Centre plays a major community development function in the Byron shire. Over 20+ years it has established many community services, helping create over 60 jobs and bringing in over $10 million to the local community.