Channel 31 needs your support - Digital Upgrade Project

Support C31 as it implements a digital signal!

Melbourne’s local community television station C31 is making an urgent call to the community to
help raise money for the transition to digital.

For two weeks spanning March 15 to March 28, C31 is asking residents in Melbourne and
Geelong to dig deep in support of their only community television broadcaster.

The community will also have the chance to speak directly to their favourite C31 hosts if they
subscribe during a two hour LIVE broadcast being held on March 28 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.  

C31’s digital upgrade project demands more than $1.3 million, a sum the Station is currently $350,000
away from reaching. A one-off Federal Government grant and a one-off State Government grant have not been able to make up the shortfall.

If C31 does not reach its funding target, the Station’s facilities cannot be completely upgraded for digital
and some internal operations may be put on hold, said C31 General Manager Richard McLelland.

“We are looking to Victorians to dig deep and contribute to their community television station. This Station
could not exist without the support of the community, and it’s not often that we ask for financial help from
our viewers – but we need it now,” said McLelland.

The Federal Government granted C31 a Digital License in November 2009 after six years of campaigning
and community pressure.

To subscribe to C31 and help Switch On Digital, head to www.c31.org.au now or call
 (03) 9660 3131.

THE 2010 INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL: BOLLYWOOD AND BEYOND

Short Film Competition Winners Announced

The Indian Film Festival is delighted to announce the winners of its inaugural short film competition. S. Samson is the Indian winner for his film AASAI while director Veeran Naran and producer Lester Francois are the Australian winners for their film, SOY MILK. The New Zealand winner will be announced in Auckland next week. S. Samson has been flown to Australia this week and Lester Francois will later be flown to Bombay and have an internship on a Bollywood film. The winning films will screen in the festival and on World Movies India, World Movies Australia and Triangle TV (New Zealand).

The international competition, launched this year in conjunction with Bindass TV in India, World Movies and Indian Link in Australia and Triangle TV in New Zealand, was held in Australia, India and New Zealand. Applicants were asked to make a short film of less than 10 minutes on anything Indian.

AASAI (‘Aspiration’ in English) was shot in Tamilnadu, Southern India. It tells the story of a young boy, Selvam, who works away from home as a grocery delivery boy and is fascinated with telephones. Selvam aspires to call his mother and with the help of the STD booth lady works out how much it would cost to place a five minute call then starts saving his tips and rehearsing what he would say. Will Selvam speak with his mother or not?

SOY MILK was shot in Melbourne and looks at an Indian teenager in a western world who tries to balance his traditions and libido.

Responding to the news, Lester Francois said, ‘We are overjoyed to be the winners of the Indian Film Festival and can’t wait to fly to India to meet with Bollywood filmmakers.’

S. Samson said, ‘I was overjoyed to win this prize. It’s a dream come to true to come to Australia and be in the midst of such great filmmakers. This festival has given me international exposure which is just remarkable!’

Announcing the jury’s decision, Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said, ‘I am thrilled for our short film winners. We had a number of wonderful entries, not only from Australia and India, but from all over the world which was very exciting to see. Our judges had a hard time deciding. The Indian Film Festival is proud to not only showcase the best of Indian cinema but also be a platform to young film makers. I wish our winners all the very best. ‘

The five person jury, comprised of key figures in Indian cinema – director Kunal Kohli, director Kabir Khan, writer/director Rajkumar Hirani and writer/director/actor Imtiaz Ali – and Australian actor/writer/producer, Mick Molloy, decided between 12 short films including Red, Blunder Down Under, Priya, 12 Days of Christmas, Utah, and The Last Ride from Australia, and Run Leila Run and

Room 2611 from India.

Tickets and complete program available from www.cinemanova.com.au/festivals.html

www.iff2010.com

Veritas -National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA)

Veritas

Seeking the truth. Discovering oneself.

ve-ri-tas -  noun Latin. Truth.

Following the success of their 2009 production, Ariel’s Dream, the National Institute of Circus Arts presents its 2010 class of 3rd year students in a stunning production directed by former Cirque du Soleil artist, Holly Rollins. Tickets are now on sale for Veritas which opens at NICA on 23 March for a limited season.

Spectacular high-energy circus combines with video projection to portray the interior landscape of archetypal characters each seeking the truth. Their bodies are suspended, falling fearlessly, risking all. We join them on their journey of exploration and discovery through a kaleidoscope of aerial adventure.

The cast of eighteen 3rd Year Bachelor of Circus Arts students explore our longing to be loved, our dreams and fears with poignancy and humour and through the physical and poetic language that is unique to the artform of circus. Veritas is a vivid, inspiring celebration of life that charts the known and unknown, challenging assumptions of where journeys begin and end.

Director Holly Rollins has come from Boston, USA, to work with NICA students, trainers and creative team to create the sophisticated new show. She synthesizes her experience as an aerialist on Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam and La Nouba with her Master of Education research from the prestigious Harvard University to create a rich and lyrical performance that stays with you long after the curtain call.

“NICA has a strong tradition of providing students with the opportunity to work with international circus directors to develop a collaborative new work that expands the physical vocabulary of contemporary circus” said Pamela Creed, NICA Director & CEO.

Sixty young people study at NICA’s custom-built and award-winning facility, with a steely determination to graduate with a Bachelor of Circus Arts degree after 3 years. NICA is the only training institution of its kind in Australia – a global centre of teaching excellence for professional training, innovation and creativity in cutting-edge, contemporary circus arts.

Directed by Holly Rollins.

Season dates: 23-31 March 2010
NICA National Circus Centre
Green Street Prahran

23 – 31 March (except 28/3) @ 7.30pm
Matinee on 25 March @ 1.30pm
School holiday matinees on 30, 31 March @ 2pm
Sat 27 March @2pm

$22 Adult  | $20 Conc |  $14 Child | $55 Family (2 Adults + 2 Children)

Discounts for school and group bookings are available. Contact NICA on 03 9214 6975.

Book online at:  www.nica.com.au