Below Media release was send out to all the local news papers with a follow up phone call, not much interest but at least a mention of the film on the 1 of March 2011 in the local news paper The Echo. the film will screen later today! Yeeeh all very exciting now!... I'm still preparing my introduction speech!
Local Filmmaker world premièring new third award winning animation film at BBFF
Mullumbimby filmmaker Elka Kerkhofs’ new animation film THE CONFESSION OF FATHER JOHN THOMAS will world premiere at the Byron Bay International Film Festival this month.
THE CONFESSION OF FATHER JOHN THOMAS won best animation film and best local filmmakers award during the recent preview screening at the Queer Fruits Film Festival in Lismore.
THE CONFESSION OF FATHER JOHN THOMAS is a story about a penis priest called Father John Thomas, who lives in the heart of the Australian Outback. During one of his “seemingly” innocent confessionals he is caught out by God who pushes him to reveal his true self. Along with the filthy fantasies of fellow sinner lesbian vagina Miss Beaver Eater, he finally gets the balls to confess.
This is Kerkhofs third award winning animation film. Previously she was awarded with both her internationally acclaimed animation films LASH and FILLED WITH WATER.
“What an incredible start for our new film’s world wide journey. It is wonderful to feel such support from the local Northern Rivers top film festivals to give our film the thumbs up and help us boost it into the world. We are so very grateful, because without the festival’s acknowledgement to filmmakers we would feel less encouraged to keep on making films”
Kerkhofs keeps pushing the boundaries and creates intriguing and thought provoking films that members of the community and industry respond to. BBFF’s selection of this daring and spicy film will give her further confidence in her couragous path of filmmaking.
Asking her what inspired her to make such a quirky film?
“The Confession of Father John Thomas was always in the back of my mind, waiting to be made, even if I didn’t know it yet! When my last dramatically dark film, Lash, was finished in 2008, I decided my next film would be a comedy.
The first basic concept of the film was sparked by a painting that I had made of two penises kissing way back in 2004, and it wasn’t until I had combined this rather daring image with my desire to see real change in dogmatic religious structures, that Father John Thomas was able to step out from the darkest part of my subconscious and into the light.
I was raised in the predominately Catholic country of Belgium, and after immigrating to Australia’s Northern Territory, I observed Catholic infiltration in the form of small bush churches everywhere in outback Australia. Today they are converted to community halls where public events take place. I thought this to be a great setting for our story.
The film has a strong message about the fluidity of ones sexual feelings, desires and orientation; one that does not necessarily find a place in a dogmatic religious structure. These ideas come together in a visually stunning, confronting at times, comical blend, which will have the audience in stitches and glued to the screen for the whole 5 minutes.”
And while Elka is delighted with the world premiere of THE CONFESSION OF FATHER JOHN THOMAS at BBFF, she is currently finishing her Masters by research in Film and TV at the VCA in Melbourne and writing the script for THE SECOND COMING OF MISS BEAVER EATER. Together with her animation colleague Leigh Ryan they are looking for funds and a producer to come onboard to realise the next sagas of the Father John Thomas confessions.
To stay in touch with Father John Thomas’s journey, become friends with him on Facebook or catch the spicy trailer on the film’s official website www.fatherjohnthomas.com.au
THE CONFESSION OF FATHER JOHN THOMAS will screen at the Byron Bay Community centre on Saturday 5 March at 12 pm in the adult only shorts session.
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