Thursday, July 05, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Kino #5 - Debrief!

Kino #5 took place Tuesday June 26th at Chalkhorse gallery in Surry Hills, bringing together 80 Sydneysiders, some filmmakers, some filmwatchers... and some in-between. See if you've been spotted: pics from Kino on our Flickr page.
Meat Pig kicked the evening off in style with what turned out to be their first live public appearance. Check out their wonderful tracks here.

Getting down to business, MC Matt Riviera introduced the first film of the night, a film made at Kino Manchester (a.k.a. Filmonik) entitled Modern Folk. This continues our Jamie Kennerley retrospective, following last month's Boy and Guitar and Stolen, which the Mancunian director presented to us through a specially recorded video intro.
Next we had the first ever film by Dom + Antho, Bizarre Love Quadrangle, a light-hearted 3-minute musical shot in Berlin.
It was followed by The Atomic Adventures of Jack Kerouac, by neon animator Jack Feldstein. It's Jack third film for Kino, and it's a superb follow-up to last month's Culinary Adventures of Jack Kerouac. The film was inspired - and written around - a Meat Pig song called Neutron Betty, the result of a fruitful encounter at Kino #4: well done guys!
Acclaimed filmmaker Stuart Clegg was next. He hadn't made a film but wished to present a short newsreel he'd unearthed. The Judd Brothers Disappearance took us back to 1979, to the scene of a mysterious crime committed in the back of Bourke. Eerie...

At the break our generous open bar served mulled wine (a perfect antidote to this distateful weather) made with love by co-host Marianne, as well as red, white and beer - accompanied by sushi and pastries.
As usual there were plenty of movie tickets up for grabs, including double passes for the eagerly anticipated Isabelle Huppert retrospective (merci Chauvel!), for new Australian feature West, and for the Edith Piaf biopic La Vie En Rose (props to Jack's spirited impromptu rendition of Piaf's Milord!).
After another hot track by guest band Meat Pig, we screened the first of our Kino challenges. Last month we asked if anyone wanted to begin a Choose Your Own Adventure Film. Nils Crompton raised his hand, vowing to shoot the first installment in time for Kino #5. Mission accomplished! Having being given 3 choices at the end of The Magic Dice, the audience voted for the rabbits to make a wish (I guess you have to see it). The film is now being sent to Kino Adelaide where local filmmakers have agreed to shoot the next episode... coming soon to Kino Sydney!
Next up was a drama by Guillaume Fortin entitled Laura. This short film was made in Brusssels in a Kino Kabaret. A Kabaret is like a Kino, except participants have between 2 and 6 days to make a film, rather than an entire month. Sydney will have its own Kino Kabaret as part of the 2nd Canadian Film Festival in November - more soon!
Each month we like to give willing participants a challenge or two. This time Liz put up her hand, allowing the audience to decide what film she should make for Kino #6. As with all democracies, ideas were put to the vote, and as with all democracies, only the ideas likely to make the world a better place were retained. Come back next month to see Liz present "a film about a horny blind girl"!

We finished the evening with another challenge. Last month Lawrence and his partner Michelle accepted to make an "exploitation" film about "butter", as per audience specifications. The result - Benny - was not for the faint of heart. One blogger called it "a daring insight into the world of a butter fetishist". We here at the Kino Blog thought it was pure filth, but then butter wouldn't melt in our mouths...
The evening was 100% Kino: all films shown on the night had been made specifically for Kino (watch them again on YouTube). If you'd like to make a film for Kino #6 (abiding by the rules), simply book your slot by emailing kino@kinosydney.com today.
See you next month!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Kino#5 brings home the bacon!

* Breaking News! *
Meat Pig will be playing live at Kino #5, Tuesday at Chalkhorse.
Meat Pig use modern day equipment to produce olden day music with leanings toward 1950's rockabily and european folk traditions. You can check out their latest tunes right here.
See you all Tuesday night!
Monday, June 04, 2007
Kino Sydney: now everywhere!
The address for the Kino blog has also changed, you'll now find the latest news at:
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Kino #5 - June 26th @ Chalkhorse
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Kino #4 - Debrief!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Friday, May 04, 2007
Kino #4 - May 15th @ Chalkhorse
Want to sign up to show a film at KINO #4 ?
Email Marianne at kino@thefestivalists.com asap.
For more info, visit our temporary kino page.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Kino #3 - Debrief!
KINO SYDNEY #3: DEBRIEF
A few filmmakers premiered brand new films finished just in time for Kino #3. Frances Anderson followed up Kino #2's In Africa (which was recently selected for the St Kilda Short Film Festival following its world premiere at Kino) with the abstract horror of Hotel. David Gacs gave the experimental animation Hegemons, while Minto Macpherson presented his first ever Kino film, the animated Technik.
We screened recently completed films from Shane K. (H.R. Pufnsnuf and Sky High), Garnet Mae (Kung Fu Shuffle) and JackFeldstein (The Great Oz Love Yarn).
Finally we showed two films made at other Kino chapters worldwide. From Kino Montreal we had Stéphane Lafleur's Inventaire (Inventary) and from Kino Adelaide we screened Dave Wade's Detached.
If you're making a film for Kino #4, don't forget to check out the rules, and to inform us of your intentions by emailing kino@thefestivalists.com.
Kino #4 is May 15th at Chalkhorse!
In the meantime check us out on Myspace or see pics of Kino #3 on our Flickr page!
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Kino #2 - Debrief!
It was great to see so many lovely people at our first monthly night at Chalkhorse in Surry Hills last night. A few filmmakers premiered their spanking new films to much applause: Frances Anderson (In Africa), David Gacs (Bad Times), Michael Samer (The Astronaut) and Matt Robinson (Graff Dogs).
We also screened a recently made shorts by Mark Alston (Rockdale '83, Wok) and Loosie Craig (Mavis), as well as some films made in kino cells around the world: Matt Ravier's Love in the Black City (Manchester), Jules Saulnier's Kompetenz (Hamburg) and Justin Sprecher's Status Quo (Adelaide).
Snacks were served, lollipops were sucked on, lucky door prizes were won, and beer & wine flowed all night. A big thanks to the people at Chalkhorse for the fantastic venue!
Want to sign up to show a film at KINO #3 ?
Email Marianne at kino@thefestivalists.com asap.
For more info, visit our temporary kino page.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Kino #2 - Feb. 27th @ Chalkhorse
CHALKHORSE Gallery,
$10 | free snacks, wine, beer & soft drinks | free if you're screening a film
Hot off having launched as a Kabaret at the closing night of Sydney's Canadian Film Festival, Kino Sydney lives on as a small underground film night, aiming to become the foremost platform for
MAKE A FILM FOR KINO#2!
Kinos work like an open-mic night for filmmakers. The aim of Kino is to place film makers in an ‘act now’ mindset and to shoot and show their films as a way to learn about the craft… and have a good time. The result is an unpredictable cinema of fresh ideas and unforseen moments.
Filmmakers simply register by sending an email with a few details of the film they'd like to screen - length, format, and the Kino screening they'd like to show their film at. In return for this platform, filmmakers are required to ensure that both themselves and their films abide by some very clear rules:
· Films must be on miniDV or DVD;
· Films must be shown for the first time at Kino Sydney;
· Filmmakers must present their film on the screening date which has been agreed ;
· Films must not have been made for a student course (though films made by students are ok);
· Films must be ready to go - no rewinding or fast-forwarding!
· Films must bear the Kino Sydney name at the end, including the screening number in which it is shown (all our monthly screenings are numbered);
Kino Sydney is part of an international movement of independent film and video makers - commonly known as Kino - whose motto is "do well with nothing; do even better with a little, and do it right now!". Born in
- To register to make a film for Kino#2: email kino@thefestivalists.com
- More information on The Festivalists: www.thefestivalists.com
- Pictures from Kino#1 - Kabaret: www.flickr.com/photos/the_festivalists/sets
Saturday, January 20, 2007
We recommend: Kino Kabaret @ Adelaide Film Festival
Sydney had its first ever Kino Kabaret at the Canadian Film Festival, and is about to see the launch of a monthly Kino night for intrepid filmmakers, but our friends in Adelaide have been at it for a while already!
Filmmakers will have about 48 hours to write, shoot and edit a short film, shown during Kabarets on 25th & 27th of February and on March 1st and 3rd at the Electric Light Hotel, 235 Grenfell St, Adelaide. Fore more info, click here.
Adelaide's very own Kino chapter formed during the highly successful Kabaret held at the 2005 Adelaide Film Festival, and after many successful monthlies, KinoAdelaide is back with a Kabaret in 2007. Some participants in the Sydney event will fly to South Australia to take part: come cheer them on!
Sunday, November 26, 2006
The Kinoites Arrive!
The team are in Sydney to take part in Kino Kabaret, a week-long collaborative film experiment which will see them shoot short films alongside up-and-coming Aussies, to be shown on the closing night of the Canadian Film Festival.
Marvelling at the heat (it's 0°C in Montreal right now), the Canadians were ecstatic to finally be in Australia. As it was too early to check them into the hotel, we took our wide-eyed guests for a Paddington walkabout, trying to avoid the puddles of vomit from last night's celebrations (following Austalia's victory at the tri-nations tournament no doubt). We ended up having coffee at Jacquie's, where we were sat next to Australian actor Hugo Weaving.
Eventually the filmmakers were able to leave the glamour behind and check into their fleabag motel for a well-deserved shower. Today they will start exporing Sydney, no doubt scouting for locations for the films about to be shot here.
You can meet the Quebec filmmakers on Wednesday December 6th, when they present their short films shot during the festival. We wish them the best of luck!
Monday, November 20, 2006
Possible Worlds: Do well with little, do better with nothing, and do it now!
See the result of a mad filmmaking experiment at this lively cabaret-style screening!
Kino's motto is simple: 'Do well with little, do better with nothing, and do it now!'. Headquartered in Montreal, the global phenomenon in low-budget filmmaking known as Kino has finally landed in Sydney.
Kino Kabaret teams half-a-dozen experienced Canadians with half-a-dozen up-and-coming Aussies for a week-long journey in spontaneous filmmaking. These fearless Kinoites will spend Festival week writing, shooting and editing short films around Sydney. Come cheer them on as they unveil the unpredictible but doubtless inventive results!
Wednesday 6th Dec. at 6:30pm - Chauvel Cinema, Sydney - $15
THE PARTY: Tickets to the screening are only $15 and include admission to the Kino Sydney Party at the Chauvel, co-hosted by the Quebec Oz Club!
The party features an open bar, lovely home-cooked food from Quebec and great music!
You can also win some of these hot lucky-door prizes:
- Bathers Pavilion will donate a $200 gift certificate for their restaurant and? 4 autographed books (The Bathers' Pavilion Menus & Recipes)...
- Kif Kaf will donate a beautiful wooden gift box with tea pots and organic tea - value $150...
- Allegria Designs will donate two $50 gift vouchers...
