Best of the fest: Coming of age
Storytelling has a unique way of making us reflect on who we are as people. We see ourselves in narratives, in the journeys of others. Sometimes we see ourselves in the hero, sometimes the underdog, sometimes the villain. Nothing makes us reflect more than a coming of age story grappling with identity and the potent question of how we can change the world to better welcome us all.
These four Best of the Fest films deliver beautiful narratives of brave young people navigating gender, racism, family, Indigenous rights, heritage, and of course, identity.
They are visually stunning, emotionally rich and will be accompanied by some incredible post-screening panels art and pre-screening performances. Come along for the journey!
FAREWELL AMOR
THURSDAY 22 APRIL | 6:30PM | ACMI CINEMA 1
Bear witness to teenager Sylvia’s journey of self-expression as she finds her place in a new country and family dynamic. Reunited in the US with her Angolan father after 17 years, Sylvia struggles to find common ground after years of separation. But a shared love of dance helps her family move through the distance and complexities of rediscovering each other.
Features a pre-screening performance by Zimbabwean-born performer NIASHA.
COWBOYS
SATURDAY 24 APRIL | 2:00PM | ACMI CINEMA 1
This groundbreaking film takes us into young Joe’s world as he travels through the American countryside with his father on a quest to escape the bigotry of his mother. Joe is a young transgender boy, played by the phenomenal young trans actor Sasha Knight. Cowboys is significant not just for the content of the film itself, but also for the representation of young trans actors in a feature film. This is a sensitively told, nuanced coming of age story that transcends the screen and will take us all along with it.
The film will be followed by a panel discussion exploring how we can create safety for our youth.
KUESSIPAN (2019)
SATURDAY 24 APRIL | :30PM | VILLAGE CINEMAS CENTURY CITY
Follow the story of Mikuan and Shaniss, two 17-year old Indigenous girls from a rural Quebec Innu community struggling to find their place in the world and in their friendship. Conflicting ambitions, dreams and a first love put the two friends at odds in a journey through friendship, community and the ties that bind us.
This beautiful film was nominated for Best Canadian Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be accompanied by a short film by GRID Series.
THE LAST TREE
SATURDAY 1 MAY | 6:30PM | ACMI CINEMA 2
Young Brit Femi will capture your heart as he navigates a new life in inner-city London and tries to make sense of his place of belonging. A heart-wrenching and deeply moving narrative (and a phenomenal soundtrack) takes us with Femi from childhood to teenage years as a formative trip to Nigeria helps him decide what kind of man he wants to be and maybe, at last, reconcile his heritage with his future.
This stylish cinematic work is accompanied by a pre-screening performance by Western Edge Youth Arts
