While Chicken Salt is now a ubiquitous household item, back in the early 1970’s when Peter and his wife Helen moved to the small rural town of Gawler, this wasn’t the case. Peter ran a wholesale business and hot chicken and chips shop out of the local theatre, the Ozone. To try and make his hot chicken skin even tastier, he created a special salt. Soon enough, his shop front customers were putting it on everything – chips, pies, fish, chico rolls and dim sums. More importantly, the fish and chip stores in the region (which was heavily populated by British expats at the time) started requesting Chicken Salt from Peter’s wholesale business.

By the late 1970’s, Chicken Salt was booming in the region as an add-on to Peter’s business, but a personal tragedy required him to sell the business to the Mitani Family in 1979. Recognising the unique nature of the salt, the Mitani Group commercialised the product and has been selling it around the world ever since.

Despite this sale, and the plethora of brand names you see in your cupboard today, he maintains that the original recipe, held secret for more than 40 years, tastes even better.
www.filmfocusproductions.com/

Executive produced by Hotel Transylvania’s franchise creator, Genndy Tartakovsky, along with Michelle Murdocca; directed by Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon, written by Jennifer Kluska and produced by Christian Roedel; the short film is launching online to celebrate Pets Day this Sunday, April 11.

“What would it be like if the Drac Pack all owned pets? We couldn’t be more excited to jump back into the world of Hotel Transylvania, and explore all the fun and lovable frustrations of pets through a monster lens,” said Monster Pets directors Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon. “What happens when your golden retriever is 5 stories tall? Or your chihuahua breathes fire? Being able to introduce an all-new group of characters in Monster Pets who are just as funny and weird as the Drac Pack was an absolute blast. We hope audiences enjoy the short, and look forward to seeing the monster pets make an appearance in the upcoming Hotel Transylvania: Transformania!”

Enjoy Monster Pets and don’t miss the final chapter of the franchise, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, only in cinemas this Spring.
www.facebook.com/SonyPicturesAUS

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Director Chris Saines said short films selected for screening would also be considered for the Festival awards across five different categories.

‘Queensland-made entries will be eligible for the Screen Queensland Short Film Award valued at $7500, with the winner given the option of either concept development funding or travel and marketing to attend a film market of their choice,’ Mr Saines said.

‘It is a fantastic opportunity for an aspiring or established Queensland filmmaker to realise a project that’s currently underway, or an entirely new work. The prize winner will also have the opportunity to meet with Screen Queensland regarding their next steps.

‘In addition to the Screen Queensland Short Film Award, the BIFF 2019 Short Film Competition includes cash prizes for Best Festival Short Film Award, Best Australian Short Film Award, a Special Jury Award, and an Innovation in Form Award.

‘All short films submitted between now and 15 June will be considered by the Festival Selection Committee for screening at BIFF 2019, and submitted to the competition jury for final judging.’ Mr Saines said.

Entry fees apply, and discounted early-bird submissions can be made prior to 30 April 2019. For full terms and conditions, and to submit an entry visit www.biff.com.au/submissions

CEO of Screen Queensland Tracey Vieira said BIFF, which was founded in 1992, has established itself as one of Australia’s premier film festivals.

‘We’re thrilled to continue supporting BIFF, and to help bring this new element to the Festival for 2019 as part of a dynamic film program delivered city-wide by QAGOMA’s Australian Cinémathèque,’ Ms Vieira said.

Festival Artistic Director and Curatorial Manager of QAGOMA’s Australian Cinémathèque Amanda Slack-Smith said BIFF 2019 would include new release features, documentaries, thematic and retrospective programs, special events, and screenings with live music, panel discussions and more.

The complete program will be announced later this year, with the winners of the BIFF Short Film Competition revealed during the Festival.

BIFF 2019 SHORT FILM COMPETITION AWARDS AND PRIZES

• Screen Queensland Short Film Award. (Value AU$7500). Courtesy of Screen Queensland. Open to Queensland residents only. Please see conditions of entry for further details.
• Best Festival Short Film Award. All submissions eligible (AU$2000).
• Best Australian Short Film Award. Open to Australian short films only (AU$1000).
• Special Jury Award. All submissions eligible (AU$1000).
• Innovation in Form Award. All submissions eligible (AU$1000).

Information on the online submission process, eligibility and full terms and conditions can be found at www.biff.com.au/submissions

Palace Cinemas will be injecting a cash prize of $2,000 for The BIFF Centurion Short Film Award to the best Brisbane short film Director. All award finalists will have completed their graduate film project in 2016. Entries include Griffith Film School’s Claire Randall, winner of the Crystal Bear for her short ‘Wolfe’ at Berlinale in the youth focussed Generation14plus program.

Festival Co-Director Maxine Williamson said, “It is BIFF’s pleasure to provide a meeting place for the 2016 best of the graduate short films to be seen, judged and curated for audience. These are our filmmakers of the future and BIFF is providing an important community bridging between education and industry.”

The judges are Kiki Fung, film critic, curator and former Head Programmer for BAPFF & BIFF, ABC 612 film critic Matthew Toomey and Des Partridge, the former film critic for the Courier Mail.

All entries will be viewed at Palace Cinemas providing the best possible screening environment for judging.  A short list of the finalists curated by the judges will be included in the program to be screened at the festival, along with a showcase event amongst Queensland’s finest filmmakers allowing for exposure and recognition of their talents.  It’s the ideal opportunity for Queensland’s emerging film talent to watch their film amongst industry, peers, family and members of the public.

The award will be announced at a screening of short film finalists on Tuesday August 22 at 7pm at Palace Centro Cinema on James Street. Tickets are $10 and are now on sale at www.palacecinemas.com.au

The Brisbane International Film Festival runs from 17 August – 3 September 2017. The festival is co-directed by experienced film curator Richard Sowada and Brisbane’s Maxine Williamson, previously Film Director of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival.

Brisbane International Film Festival 2017
17 August – 3 September 2017
Palace Barracks and Palace Centro – Brisbane
www.biff.net.au