Find a Production

Sadness

Year of completion: 1999
Content type: Documentary
Format: Short
Genre: Arts, Culture, History, Society
Duration: 52 minutes
Production Status: Completed

Award winning photographer William Yang explores issues of grief, family and identity in this adaptation of his acclaimed stage performance, 'Sadness'. Through this mesmerising, poetic montage of storytelling, photography and stylised reenactment, William brings to life the stories of his family and friends. SADNESS has two themes; the first involves an exploration of William's Chinese-Australian identity and family history, while the second centres on his experience of loss during the AIDS epidemic.

Completion Year: 1999
Genres: Arts, Culture, History, Society
Format: Short
Production Status: Completed

Cast and Crew

Director

Writer

Executive Producer

Franco di Chiera, Megan McMurchy

Producer

Michael McMahon, Megan McMurchy

Director of Photography

Tristan Milani ACS

Cast

William Yang, Craig Shai-Hee, Richard Cotter, Pinau GHee, Kevin Lau, Zac Quitzan, William Gu, Stephane Lau, Linden Goh, JIm Hillman, Gina Twymble, John Benton

Awards

1999 — The Pacific Film and Television Commission Pty Ltd, c/ Brisbane International Film Festival

2003 — Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival

1999 — Film Critics' Circle of Australia

1999 — AWGIE Awards

1999 — Australian Film Institute

2000 — Australian Teachers Of Media Inc

1999 — Melbourne International Film Festival

Screenings

1999 — "Reel Affirmations" Film Festival

1999 — Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival

2000 — Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short & Animation Films

1999 — The Pacific Film and Television Commission Pty Ltd, c/ Brisbane International Film Festival

2000 — International Film Festival Cinenygma

2000 — International Festival of Films on Art

1999 — Hawaii International Film Festival

1999 — Image and Nation Film Festival

2000 — Marseilles International Documentary Film Festival

1999 — The New Festival / The NY Lesbian and Gay Film Festival

1999 — Outfest Film Festival

2000 — Out Takes - New Zealand Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

2001 — Reel Out Queer Film and Video Festival

2000 — Singapore International Film Festival

2003 — Taipei Film Festival

2000 — Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival (Doc Aviv)

2000 — Inside Out - Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film Festival

2003 — Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival

1999 — International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam

2000 — Hot Docs - Canadian International Documentary Festival

2000 — Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival

1999 — NewFest: New York's LGBT Film Festival

1999 — Frameline - San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

2000 — Visions du Reel - International Documentary Film Festival Nyon

1999 — Melbourne International Film Festival

Sales

Australian Sales

National Film and Sound Archive of Australia

International Sales

National Film and Sound Archive of Australia

Production Company

Film Australia Limited