First Open Road Film Festival Revs into Bondi

With shades of an early day Tropfest, a room jam-packed with Australian film industry heavyweights including Jan Chapman, Toni Collette, Rowan Woods, Rachel Ward, Alyssa McClelland, Aaron Jeffery, Troy Lum, Matt Nable and Jeremy Sims gathered on Tuesday night for the showcase of eight Harley Davidson-centric films at the Open Road Film Festival at Bondi's The Bucket List.

 

Finch director Gregor Jordan of Two Hands and Ned Kelly fame, shot 75 seconds of film which would serve as the ending for each of the films entered.

 

Iconic Australian actor Bryan Brown was on hand to announce the winners who took home prizes from sponsors Harley Davidson and Canon.

 

The winning film, The Queen of Hearts, was written and directed by Nick McDougall and stars comedian Phil Lloyd as a married man looking to spice up his sex life, only to have an unexpected guest drop in on his booty call at a motel.

 

The film was described by Jordan as a six-minute masterpiece and will allow McDougall to trade in his hatchback for a Harley Davidson Iron 883.

 

And like Tropfest - which over the years grew into the massive event now held in the Domain - organisers Brown and Jordan hope one day to see the grassroots short-film-competition-with-a-twist spill onto the promenade at Bondi.