THE POPULAR ANU Film Group is going local tonight at 7:30pm (Wed March 11) with a screening of Simon Weaving’s debut full-length feature, “The Competition.” 

Filmed in and around the ACT and the Capital region, “The Competition” was made using an all Canberra cast and crew and stars Leah Baulch, Geoffrey Borny, Tony Turner, Andrea Close, Dallas Bland, Ian Croker, comedian Jay Sullivan and features newsreader Natalie Forrest.

Billed as a special event, the screening will be followed by a Q&A where Weaving joins other guests for a discussion about the film and its journey to the big screen.

Briefly, the story is that Steffie has lived her whole life in a small and strangely musical country town, brought up by her grandmother Maria. Steffie would love to get to the big city but is held back by her loyalty to her boyfriend Mike and best friend Allie.

When Sebastian Johnson and Kev Plummer, two aging judges from a struggling reality TV show, “Band in Australia”, arrive in town to run a music competition, Steffie has to make some big decisions. As the week in the small country town (looking strangely like Gunning) unfolds, Sebastian – who is Maria’s old flame from Uni days, is confronted with the consequences of his past.

The all-local soundtrack features the music of Owen Campbell, Chanel Cole, The Fuelers, Alchemist, Julia & The Deep Sea Sirens and other Canberra bands.

Simon Weaving’s “The Competition,” in the Coombs Theatre, ANU campus (opp Menzies Library), 7:30pm (Wed March 11), all welcome, tickets at the door, bookings and membership details at anufg.org.au

• Rating PG
• Length 103 mins
• Year 2014
• Director Simon Weaving
• Writer Simon Weaving
• Stars Leah Baulch, Geoffrey Borny, Jessica Brent, James O’Connell