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Balomania

Directed by Sissel Morell Dargis
2024
Denmark, Spain
93 minutes
Unclassified 15+
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A thriller-like ascent into the secret world of baloeiros, the favela men who build spectacular illegal hot air balloons and launch them defiantly into Brazil’s skies. CPH:DOX selected.

Fanatically dedicated to their outlawed craft, the baloeiros spend years glueing together tissue paper and creating incredible, multi-hued designs, often featuring portraits of their heroes. They compete against each other to build the biggest, most spectacular balloons. It’s a seriously macho world – and secretive too, because the baloeiros are pursued by the authorities, who see their activities as dangerous and criminal. Which makes it all the more surprising that a female filmmaker was able to enter their world. It took years for Danish-Spanish director Sissel Dargis Morell to gain their trust. But her doggedness paid off, and the result is gripping, spectacular and infectious.

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.
The ultimate in high-stakes outsider art
Wendy Ide, Screen International
An insider view of a mysterious world – a man’s world uncovered by a female director, who audibly shares the excited mania of her subjects as she watches the majestic balloons rise up into the heavens
Kees Driessen, Cineuropa

Special Guest

Sissel Morell Dargis
Director, Cinematographer
Sissel Morell Dargis is a graduate from the Cuban film school EICTV, where she directed several shorts screened across the world. One of them was Plástico, the award winning documentary short that formed the basis for Balomania. Dargis studied games and animation at the National Film School of Denmark, where she developed the indie game Cai Cai Balão. Also set in the world of Brazil’s balloon artists, it was nominated at the Independent Games Festival and IndieCade, and exhibited at the Smithsonian Arts Museum.

Tickets

Thu 6 Jun
6:15pm
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 3
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Subtitled
Past Event Cancel
Sat 15 Jun
2pm
Event Cinemas George Street - Cinema 3
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Subtitled
Past Event Cancel
Program Strand
International Documentaries
Year
2024
Classification
Unclassified 15+
Country
Denmark, Spain
Language
In Portuguese with English subtitles
Director
Sissel Morell Dargis
Producer
Jesper Jack, Carles Brugueras, Marieke van den Bersselaar, Marie Schmidt Olesen
Cinematographer
Sissel Morell Dargis
Editor
Biel Andrés, Isabel Monteiro de Castro, Rikke Selin Als, Steen Johannessen
Premiere
Australian Premiere
Genre
Crime, Documentary, Politics & Economics, Women Directors, Central & South America
Company Credits
Sales Agent: Cargo Film Releasing
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