Five of the most anticipated films in world cinema have been added to the AFF's already impressive 2024 program.
Justin Kurzel’s The Order, starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult, Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, Maria, starring Angelina Jolie as opera singer Maria Callas, The Brutalist, starring Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce, and Alex Ross Perry’s Pavements will screen at AFF (23 October – 3 November).
In this, his latest film, Australian director Justin Kurzel points his chilling storytelling lens to domestic terrorism in the US.
Kurzel describes The Order as “a foreshadowing of a divided time, a warning shot of what has been and what could come.”
Known for his daring career choices, director Justin Kurzel, who, after the striking Adelaide Film Festival debut feature Snowtown (2011), took on as his second feature, a Shakespearean adaptation Macbeth (2015) starring acclaimed international film actors Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. Justin retuned to Australia to make True History of the Kelly Gang (2018) and the Cannes award-winning film Nitram (2021).
The Order is set in 1983 when a series of increasingly violent bank robberies, counterfeiting operations, and armoured car heists frighten communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Based on a true story, The Order follows FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) as he uncovers the truth behind the crimes which are committed by a group of dangerous domestic terrorists led by the radical, charismatic Bob Matthews (Nicholas Hoult).
Justin Kurzel and the film’s composer Jed Kurzel will be Festival guests. They will participate in a Q&A following the film’s first Australian screening on October 30 at AFF. The Order premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and was also selected for the Toronto International Film Festival.
Maria, which also premiered at Venice, is directed by Pablo Larrain and reimagines the legendary diva Maria Callas in her final days as she reckons with her identity and life. Australia’s Kodi Smit-McPhee also features in the film.
Cinema master Pedro Almodóvar returns to AFF with The Room Next Door, winner of the Golden Lion (Best Film) Award at Venice. Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore deliver a touching performance as old friends reunited by illness in Almodóvar’s first feature film in English – an intimate adaptation of What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez.
The Brutalist is director Brady Corbet’s American epic exploring the humanity and artistry behind brutalist architecture. Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce are joined in the cast by Felicity Jones and Joe Alwyn.
Pavements is Alex Ross Perry’s genre-defying examination of the iconic 1990s indie band Pavement that only adds to their mythos. Perry both mocks and idealises the music documentary/biopic, staying true to a band that made a name out of mockery. The cast includes Joe Keery and Jason Schwartzman.
“I’m incredibly proud and excited to be able to present the Australian film festival premieres of each of these five masterly films. They are amongst the very best films produced over the past year by some of the finest directors and actors currently working in international cinema. Audiences should not miss any of them!” said AFF’s CEO & Creative Director Mat Kesting.
