THE AUSTRALIAN DRAMA/SCI-FI FILM SUPPORTED BY FORMER AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR PROFESSOR PATRICK MCGORRY AND LEADING INTERNET ADDICTION SPECIALIST, DR. PHILIP TAM SELECTED FOR COMPETITION AT FLICKERFEST, BONDI
“An insightful look at the philosophical and psychological problems we could face in the coming decades as technology and the Internet comes to dominate our lives” – Dr. Philip Tam
MEDIA RELEASE – Sydney, Australia
The touching and visionary Australian film, “Anima” which follows the journey of a rogue scientist as he struggles to preserve his terminal wife inside a virtual world of his own making has been selected for competition at the OSCAR and BAFTA accredited 22nd International Short Film Festival, Flickerfest in Bondi, New South Wales from January 11-20, 2013.
With the timely theme of technology addiction at its core, the ambitious crowd-funded film by emerging Australian filmmaker, Scott Mannion will be part of the Best of Australian category on Wednesday January 16 2013 from 6.45pm at this year’s Flickerfest event. The film is supported by Professor Patrick McGorry, former Australian of the Year, (Melbourne), and child psychiatrist/leading internet addiction specialist, Dr. Philip Tam, (Sydney).
Many international studies show that up to 10% of regular online users may show signs of addiction and dependency, when multiplied by the total users worldwide, this amounts to tens of millions of people potentially affected, with a corresponding impact on education, relationships and general well-being.
“Anima is a powerful yet poetic meditation on the intoxicating power that modern technology and the Internet can have on many of today’s young people. The movie shows both the good, and the potential dark side of this exciting new Cyberworld. It shows that, with determination and insight, it is possible to break free from a cycle of dependency or even ‘addiction’” said Dr. Philip Tam.
The 13 minute drama/sci-fi will have its international premiere at the prestigious 35th International Short Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand in France from February 1-9 2013. “Anima” was able to beat a record breaking group of over 7,500 registered films from around the world to screen at the event dubbed the world’s leading festival for short films, the ‘Cannes’ of shorts.
Written and directed by Scott Mannion, “Anima” was crafted by experienced skilled technicians, including veteran cinematographer, Mike Molloy ASC BSC, known for his work with Stanley Kubrick, Stephen Frears, Michael Caine and Christian Bale and stars Henry Nixon (The Pacific, Noise), Katherine Hicks (Winners & Losers, Black & White & Sex), Laura Brent (Not Suitable For Children, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of Dawn Treader) and Karl Beattie (the Oscar nominated Miracle Fish and X-Men Origins: Wolverine).
Filming was completed around the world, from epic cosmological time-lapse of the stars in the mountains of Austria, to precise striking microscopic fluid dynamics shot in the USA, and principle photography shot in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.
“Anima” follows the lives of Roman (the scientist), and Anastasia, who since a deadly car accident, have lived in seclusion, their only connection and addiction, technology. Psychologically and physically, it’s killing him and Anastasia is beginning to reject the fantasy. But with the outside world closing in and his wife’s body deteriorating, Roman desperately keeps her alive the only way he knows how…inside the system.
Scott Mannion reached out to the online community for finance, using the internationally recognised crowd-funding website, Kickstarter, to ensure adequate budget was available to achieve a world-class standard film, the funding trailer for “Anima” immediately connected with the digital community resulting in the much-needed $10,000 dollars raised for production.
“With over a quarter of the earth’s population connected to the internet, and Facebook becoming as essential in communication as a mobile phone tower, this technology is deeply changing the ways in which humans communicate. The industrial revolution drove revolutionary change; the double edged sword that is the internet is having the same effect. While researching this problem, I came to realise that these types of addictions are as serious as any drug; the psychological element of addiction can be just as strong in many cases as the physiological one. Playing in Flickerfest is an honour and a great opportunity for us to showcase the film to Australian audiences, especially with this theme becoming a mainstream issue” said filmmaker, Scott Mannion.
To view the film’s trailer:
www.animafilm.com.au
