Director:   Massimiliano Bruno, 
Cast:        Paola Cortellesi, Raoul Bova, Rocco Papaleo, Anna Foglietta.
 
  David di Donatello Awards 2011 Winner - Best Actress
  Nastri d'argento Awards 2011 Winner - Best Comedy

Alice (Paola Cortellesi) is a housewife in a posh part of Rome and a mother to nine year old Filippo (Giovanni Bruno) enjoying a luxurious home and lifestyle. When her husband dies in a car accident she is left with a massive debt and the risk of losing her son. Desperately in need of cash, and with no skills, Alice turns to the oldest profession in the world. 

Realising she is totally out of her depth, Alice looks to another escort, Eva (Anna Foglietta), for guidance and soon she goes from awkward amateur to seductive professional. Meanwhile Alice and her son move to her former butler's neighbourhood, and a new world of working-class folk – including a love interest in Giulio (Italian heart-throb Raoul Bova).
 
Cortellesi, who won Italy's equivalent of an Oscar for this role, exudes warmth and charm as the new high-price call girl. This is a frothy film with over-the-top comedy, romantic sentimentality and just a dash of social commentary.

Director: Roberta Torre 
Cast:       Donatella Finocchiaro, Carla Marchese, Pino Micol, Beppe Fiorello.

  Sundance Film Festival 2011 World Cinema Dramatic Competition
  Venice Film Festival 2010 Controcampo Italiano

The theft of a Madonna statue's head kicks off this vibrant, playful satire from director Roberta Torre (Angela). 

Manuela (Carla Marchese) is a 13 year old girl living in the dilapidated suburb of Librino in southern Sicily who spends her days sweeping hair in a salon. When one day she announces the Madonna appeared to her in a dream and revealed the location of the statue's head, her mother realises there's a lot of money to be made from miracles. But was it a miracle? 

Resembling an early Almodóvar film with its splashes of colour, dysfunctional family, theatrical tone and outright voluptuousness, Lost Kisses is also modern fable that plays with the idea of miracles in our image-obsessed world. 

With an interesting mix of both pro and anti-religious ideas, this is an enjoyable, clever film that mixes drab realism with sardonic humour. Marchese is a delight as the would-be saint, and Donotella Finocchiaro is hilarious as the conniving and opportunistic mother.

Director:  Ivan Sen
Cast:        Daniel Connors, Christopher Edwards, Michael Connors

In a remote Indigenous Community of Toomelah, Daniel - a sensitive, troubled 10 year old boy from a broken home - dreams of being a gangster.  When he is kicked out of school he befriends a local gang leader, until a rival gangster arrives back from jail to reclaim his turf.  A showdown ensues and Daniel is caught in the middle, leaving him with a choice to make about his uncertain future.

The film reveals the challenges facing the young Gamiloroi people of the Toomelah Community.  Robbed of much of their traditional culture by Governmenbt policy, it is a community on a cultural edge, struggling for an identity.  It is provocative and yet comic story that transports audiences inside the community, creeating an authentic world and way of life that is "Toomelah".

The film is set entirely in the remote Indigenous community of Toomelah, located on the NSW, QLD border.  It was created as a mission during the 1930's bringing together Gamilaroi and Bijambal people from the surrounding area.

Music:          Wolfgag Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:  Mark Wigglesworth
Director:      Goran Jarvefelt

CinemaLive, Opera Australia and Sydney Opera House are proud to bring you Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's renowned Opera, Don Giovanni.

Reviving this swashbuckling performance, brandishing a sword, and clad in leathers and thigh-high boots, Teddy Tahu Rhodes's show-stopping entrance in Don Giovanni is legendary.

Don Giovanni is a shameless womaniser. He loves the thrill of the chase but his deeds are beginning to catch up with him. He can outrun a jilted lover and dodge a jealous admirer, but a figure from beyond the grave? That might stop him in his tracks.

He leads a handsome cast of some of Opera Australia's finest singers. Rachelle Durkin as Donna Anna, Taryn Fiebig as Zerlina and Jacqueline Dark as Donna Elvira are the women who fall prey to Don Giovanni's advances.

While to round up the extraordinary cast, Henry Choo plays Don Ottavio, Andrew Jones is Masetto, Daniel Sumegi is The Commendatore, and great character actor and singer Conal Coad returns to play Don Giovanni's long-suffering servant Leporello to accompany us through the Don's last hours.

In the pit, Opera Australia welcomes back distinguished British conductor Mark Wigglesworth, to conduct Mozart's breathtaking score.

Captured in stunning high definition with 5.1 surround sound.

Flickerfest has come of age and is celebrating 21 years of short-film excellence, After it's 10 day festival and awards at Bondi Beach Flickerfest hits the road again and will be in Nambour on Friday 17th February, once again showcasing the Best of Australian Shorts.

After searching through a record number of over 2200 entries, the top 100 flicks have been carefully handpicked to represent the most innovative, creative and cutting edge short films being produced in the world today. This impressive and unprecedented number of contenders from all round the world confirms FLICKERFEST’s reputation as Australia’s largest and most respected short film competition and its profile as Australia’s only Academy® Accredited and BAFTA recognised short film festival.