Cherry Hands Media

20/12/2024

We're sending massive congratulations to Riley Stiles, on being named in the 2025 AACTA Young Stars Finalists list!! Released by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) today: https://www.aacta.org/our-news/media-room/finalists-for-the-2025-aacta-young-stars-national-youth-casting-call

We are so proud. One of Riley's first roles was playing Luka in Amissa Anima - the role for which he was nominated as "Best Young Actor" at the St Kilda Film Festival in 2021. He was nine years old when he did the film, and we flew him to Melbourne from Perth for it, because we knew he had something utterly special.

Go Riley. So great to see that all the hard work is paying off. Congrats to Ali & Peter at Actors Management International and your amazing folks too.

Amissa Anima was a difficult story that starred four of the most incredible young cast as the lead ensemble, alongside Justin Hosking - Actor/Writer/Producer, Jim Daly and David Kara. But we had an absolute ball making it!!

Directed by Tatiana Cichowska Doroshenko. Story by David Markin. Produced by Katrina Mathers and Bernie Clifford. DOP (and for these pics of young Riley) by the incredible Ellery Ryan ACS.

https://www.amissaanimafilm.com
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10308624

19/12/2024

Do you make documentaries or films that change peoples' thinking. Have the ability to spark debate and discussion - that contribute to a better world? Consider submitting to the The NGO International Film Festival which is way more than a film festival, it's a global platform for thought-leaders, future-thinkers, change-makers and global-warriers.

11/12/2024

Last few nights to see SKATING IN THE CLOUDS at Theatre Works. 7.30pm x 90 mins. No interval. Book direct ($20 tix still available: https://www.theatreworks.org.au/2024/skating-in-the-clouds or grab some super cheap tix from PROMOTIX for tonight: https://www.promotix.com.au/event/CHtNXHawt?state=VIC

09/12/2024

Wow. What a roundup of arty grants and opportunities.
Thanks Arts Access Victoria for putting this together.

Massive round-up of summer grants and opportunities!

Multi arts 🖼️

• Bundoora Homestead Art Centre A1 Darebin Art Salon. Closing Wednesday 11 December.

• Frankston Arts Centre Frankston Street Art Festival EOI. Closing Thursday 12 December.

• Hobsons Bay City Council Street Art EOI. Closing Friday 13 December.

• City of Greater Dandenong HOME 25 – Invisible Cities. Australia-based artists with refugee, asylum seeker, First Nations or migrant background. Closing 15 December.

• Frankston City Council Pier Sculpture EOI. Closing Friday 20 December.

• City Of Port Phillip Port Melbourne Wayfinding Signage EOI. Closing Friday 27 December.

• Unbound Award for Deaf and Disabled artists in Greater Bendigo. Closing Sunday 12 January 2025.

• The Ian Potter Cultural Trust Emerging Artist Grants. Up to $15,000 for emerging and early-career artists. Professional development, usually overseas. Closing 14 January 2025.

• Arts in Maroondah Arts Activators Program. For 18 - 25 year olds. Closing Wednesday 15 January 2025.

Performers and theatre-makers 🎭

• Registrations for RAW Comedy 2025. Beginner open mic comedy competition.

• Theatre Works 2025 Associate Artist Secondment. Successful applicants will be paid $500. Closing Sunday 8 December.

• Melbourne International Jazz Festival Take Note program for women or gender diverse jazz musicians. Closing Tuesday 10 December.

• Arts Merri-bek Coburg Court House Residency 2025. Free venue space for up to three months. Closing Thursday 12 December.

• Gippsland Performing Arts Centre Summer Residency. Closing Thursday 12 December.

• Melbourne Theatre Company Future Creatives 2025. Two-year development program for aspiring theatre designers from historically underrepresented cultural backgrounds. Closing Monday 16 December.

• Banyule City Council Chillin’ in Banyule 2025. For musicians and singers living in the city of Banyule. $300 performance fee. Closing Monday 6 January.

Film, screen and TV 📽️

• Bus Stop Films 2025 Accessible Film Studies program enrollment open.

• VicScreen Professional Attachments paid program. For early career Victorian crew. Closing Friday 20 December.

• Melbourne International Film Festival are now accepting applications for 2025. Closing 12 February 2025.

Writers ✍️

• Emerging Writers' Festival and RMIT University Speculative Writers Prize. For TAFE and University students. $1,500 prize money. Closing Sunday 15 December.

• Geelong Regional Library Corporation and Deakin University 2024-25 Local Word Poetry Prize. $2000 winners prize. Closing Monday 20 January.

• Join Multicultural Arts Victoria Freelancer Database.

Our grants and auspicing support service will be open again in the new year. Find out more about how we can support your practice on our website. www.artsaccess.com.au/get-creative/grants-and-auspice

Image: Luminescence in Eden by Doron Banks, 2020.

03/12/2024

Absolutely LOVE this interview with Skating In The Clouds writer Clare Mendes (of Melbourne Writers Theatre) about the show, which opens for preview tomorrow - 3 Dec and runs until 14 Dec at Theatre Works:

"Audiences can expect a can't-stop-watching love story, powerful performances from actors I am daunted by, dancing, dreaming, drama, humour, absurdism, and non-appearances by a superb fairy-wren named Frida Kahlo."

"..if you enjoy absurdist, escapist plays with a le***an love story you'll probably enjoy Skating. If you also like salsa and Latin music, you'll probably really enjoy it."

https://www.theatreworks.org.au/post/in-conversation-with-clare-mendes-skating-in-the-cloud

4-14 December at Theatre Works in St Kilda.
7.30pm show. 90 mins. No interval. 15+ audience.
https://www.theatreworks.org.au/2024/skating-in-the-clouds

In this week's Backstage Blog, we chat with writer and producer Clare Mendes about Melbourne Writers' Theatre's upcoming production, SKATING IN THE CLOUDS, opening at Theatre Works this Wednesday 4th December.Q. What should audiences expect when they are coming to see Skating in the Clouds? A: Imagi...

15/11/2024

Looking for something to see tonight in Melbourne?

Try ME AND THE D.O.G. (Dead Old Guy) 6-7pm at The Motley Bauhaus by El Kiley... eventfinda.com.au/2024/back-to-the-fringe-me-the-d-o-g/melbourne/carlton/tickets

And the very last MADWOMEN MONOLOGUES at 7pm and/or 8.30pm at The Butterfly Club thebutterflyclub.com/show/madwomen-monologues

Get out and see some local theatre.

13/11/2024

MADWOMEN MONOLOGUES by Baggage Productions
The Final Season

★★★★
"brilliantly talented performers

hilariously absurd ideas
heartening, relatable, and soul-bearing
a wave of praise

the charm of small wins in the lives of everyday women
more than a pleasant way to spend a low-key night in Melbourne"

Review by Amelia Williamson for Whats The Show.
https://whatstheshow.com.au/madwoman-monologues

Book now, only a few seats remaining for tonight, tomorrow and Saturday night, at The Butterfly Club 7pm + 8.30pm: https://thebutterflyclub.com/show/madwomen-monologues

Baggage Productions is back for the lucky 13th and final season of Madwomen Monologues. Two programs of six monologues each, showing each night at 7pm and 8.30pm – enjoy both on one night!

11/11/2024

Chookas to our favourite Mad Women of Melbourne, for their opening night of the final season of the MADWOMEN MONOLOGUES at The Butterfly Club (7-10pm for both sessions) by Baggage Productions. If you don't have tix yet - grab them asap. Some nights are almost booked out!! Definitely catch both sessions on the one night to see all 12 performances. For members of On The House, there are a few super cheap tix still available for tonight and tomorrow night: https://www.itsonthehouse.com.au/events/4408
Regular booking link is here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/madwomen-monologues-tickets-905824464357

And for those keen to see ME AND THE D.O.G. (DEAD OLD GUY) by Ellen Kiley on Friday 15th or Saturday 16th at The Motley Bauhaus 6-7pm - there are also some discount tix available on On The House and Promotix as well. But be quick:
https://www.itsonthehouse.com.au/events/4402 or: https://www.promotix.com.au/event/wsOQHCI8m?state=VIC Regular booking link is here: https://www.eventfinda.com.au/2024/back-to-the-fringe-me-the-d-o-g/melbourne/carlton

Baggage Productions is back for the lucky 13th and final season of Madwomen Monologues. Two programs of six monologues each, showing each night at 7pm and 8.30pm – enjoy both on one night! This annual festival of original monologues written by madly brilliant women always delivers a wonderful arra...

05/11/2024

On behalf of all the actors involved in these upcoming local productions - if you're a casting director, theatre maker, director or other kind of creative looking to discover some incredible actors (and writers and directors) - please get along to these three shows in Melbourne:

ME AND THE D.O.G. (DEAD OLD GUY) by El Kiley
Encore Season. Two nights only.
15 -16 November 6-7pm, The Motley Bauhaus, Carlton.
This is not a one-woman show. This is two people, one alive and one dead, talking about being alone.
Written and performed by El Kiley. Directed by Lucy Payne. Premiered at this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival and back by popular demand.
Venue page: https://www.themotley.com.au/whatson.html -19487ace-8143-421c-8dbf-36b3fe83adf0-event-lzt6usgd
Booking link: https://www.eventfinda.com.au/2024/back-to-the-fringe-me-the-d-o-g/melbourne/carlton
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1APLrJRKMF/
Press Release and Images: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/228zhojrzq3d39oeh466d/AIMZVJauvXROTUnYv-VOFR8

Reviews: "El is endlessly watchable, relatable and human. Funny one moment and heartbreaking the next. Incredible first show! Definitely a performer to follow!”
"Fantastic show, with emotional cut writing and a riveting monologue performance to match. No wonder El Kiley didn't gift her script to another actor.”
Contact us and we'll put you in touch with El Kiley

MADWOMEN MONOLOGUES - The Final Season.
11-16 November 7pm & 8.30pm, The Butterfly Club.
This annual festival of original monologues written by madly brilliant women always delivers a wonderful array of characters and stories written by women.
Program One cast: Alice Daly, Melina Wylie, Phoebe Taylor, Kate Mulqueen, Melanie Madrigali and Christina Costigan.
Program Two cast: Fiona Scarlett, Julia Lambert, Sandy Morrison, Clare Larman, Lily Major, Hissell Bermudez
Venue page: https://thebutterflyclub.com/show/madwomen-monologues
Booking link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/madwomen-monologues-tickets-905824464357
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/share/kHX3m87XNnYjAW4z/
Press Release and Images: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/xewt8zqgkdqs8q7ix1fqa/AKlKgb7zpz5cilFHY-KAQaM

Reviews from past seasons: “Feminist wit with a wicked edge, the Madwomen are on form.” The Age
“Quality theatre making. What is in abundance is a bevy of strong, resilient, authentic womanhood” Samsara Dunston review for What Did She Think
Contact: Baggage Productions

SKATING IN THE CLOUDS - Premiere Season.
4-14 December, 7.30-9pm, Theatre Works
Summer and Autumn are in love, but there’s a problem in their love nest. Autumn roams the house, spanner in hand, looking for a drip she can’t see while Summer plans a spectacular skating party. A modern fairytale that begins with salsa, pirouettes into the clouds and ends on a snow-capped mountain, Skating in the Clouds is an adventurous new work by playwright Clare Mendes. Supported by a Malcolm Robertson Foundation grant. Presented by Clare Mendes & Melbourne Writers’ Theatre.
Cast: Katrina Mathers, Rebeccas Morton, Shamita Sivabalan, El Kiely
Venue page: https://www.theatreworks.org.au/2024/skating-in-the-clouds
Booking link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/skating-in-the-clouds-tickets-774953947117
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1009834574188156/1009834580854822
Media Resources: https://sassyred.com.au/media-resources/skating-in-the-clouds-clare-mendes
Clare Mendes website: https://claremendes.com

Reviews of Clare’s previous work: “Mendes writes with an ease, boldness and clarity of focus… undeniably a gifted story-teller.” Weekend Review.
“..one of those great new works … which will grow to become a classic in the Australian canon” Samsara Dunston review of ’Trash Goes Down the River’
All media enquiries: Sassy Red PR

01/11/2024

23 November 4-8pm, pop on down.

106 Art artists Tia Thomas, Jane Molesworth, Gunnel Watkins, Denise Honan and Jacinta Lane will be setting up stalls at the Twilight Market at the Well at St Kilda Chapel. Come along on Saturday afternoon on 23 November for clothes to candles, hand crafts and jewellery, food and of course, art!

It’s going to be fabulous.

16/10/2024

We've had so much fun supporting Sal, Danielle and the whole LikeMyBrother team as they plan their film festivals run.

Please be sure to catch this wonderful, inspiring documentary in cinemas around the country from tomorrow!! LIKE MY BROTHER. PS: you don't need to love footy to love the film.

Have you booked tickets yet? We're in CINEMAS all around the country from tomorrow!!!

See LIKE MY BROTHER on the big screen - take your friends: https://www.likemybrother.com

LIKE MY BROTHER 90 minute feature documentary // four young women dare to dream official TRAILER IN CINEMAS OCT 17 Awungana Awungana mamanta. Welcome friends. This is not a welcome to country. This is a welcome to story.

12/10/2024

For those attending The NGO International Film Festival The NGO International Film Festival - be sure to register with the community hub and get involved in daily discussions: www.goodfortunelabs.com/ngoiff

If you haven't yet booked your individual session tickets - please do that via the NGOIFF24 website. Almost all are free to attend, but you must reserve a ticket. Don't delay as many sessions will book out: https://thengoiff.com/2024-festival-programme/

09/10/2024

Just passing on this opportunity for artists and performers:

There’s still time to apply for Maribyrnong Arts & Culture’s 2025 Residency Program!
We are inviting Expressions of Interest from the creative community for three of our annual residency programs: Bluestone Church Arts Space (Creative Development or Supported Season) Artist Residency, Braybrook Hub Community-Engaged Artist Residency, and ArtsBox Artist Residency.

There are opportunities for all kinds of artists, whether you might want to create new work in dedicated spaces, present a performance season, or collaborate with community on a deeply engaged arts project.

All residency programs are now open and will be accepting applications until 5pm on Friday 18 October 2024. Find out more via https://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/arts-and-culture/Programs/Artists-in-Residence

ID: a graphic with images from Bluestone Church Arts Space, Braybrook Hub and ArtsBox. Text: Opportunities for artists in 2025 with graphics of arts activities.