Sweeney Preston & Ethan Cavanagh: Presentation is Everything | SPECIAL TAPING
2023-08-26 20:00 - 21:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
Iranian-Australian Family Story

Opening the 2022 Melbourne International Film Festival, Niasari ‘s debut film Shayda was selected by Australia to enter the Best International Feature Film Oscar race in 2023. Iranian-Australian born writer and director Noora Niasari tells the personally inspired story of a young Iranian mother and her 6-year-old daughter who find refuge in an Australian women’s shelter during the two weeks of an Iranian New Year. Set in the 1990s in Melbourne, its central theme is that of defining one’s own path; a theme deeply rooted in the Australian psyche. Under the protective wing of the refuge’s no-nonsense Joyce (Leah Purcell), Shayda puts on a brave face for young daughter Mona and experiences small pockets of sanity and self-worth in her life. Madman.

Australia, 2023, 117 min. Dir Noora Niasari.Stars Cannes Best Actress winner Zar Amir Ebrahimi (Holy Spider), Osamah Sami, Leah Purcell, and Jillian Nguyen. Executive producer: Cate Blanchett.

Ballarat Film Society

Membership 12 months – Feb-December: $606 months – Feb-June or July-Dec: $30 To join or renew your membership, please e-mail or phone Angus McLachlan (5374 2474), or come with cash on the night. Membership can be paid by bank transfer or with cash. For film enquiries, phone Sue Nunn: 5341 2266 or visit the Ballarat Film Society website All films are subject to availability. If there is no next film shown below it means the BFS is working on next season’s programme.

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Ballarat Film Society - Redemption of a Rogue
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2024-03-14 19:30 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballart Film Society | The Wild Goose Lake
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Ballart Film Society | Shayda
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Rock 'n' Roll with our Stars (Dancing with our Stars 24): Featuring James Bookman
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Ballarat Film Society | Army of Shadows
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Ballarat Film Society | Stop Making Sense
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Ballarat Film Society | L’Ombra di Caravaggio (Caravaggio’s Shadow)
2024-10-10 19:30 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society | EO
2024-11-14 19:30 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society | Smiley
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Ballarat Film Society | KNEECAP
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Ballarat Film Society | Red Rocket
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Ballarat Film Society | Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di Biciclette)
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Ballarat Film Society | La Chimera
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Ballarat Film Society | Sweet As
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Ballarat Film Society | Goodbye Julia
2025-09-11 19:30 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Spaceballs - a FightMND fundraiser
2025-10-04 19:00 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society | To Thank the Room
2025-10-09 19:30 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

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