A Portrait of Love, Molly Reynolds’ intimate portrait of the late Archibald Prize winning artist Craig Ruddy, will have its South Australian Premiere with a Q&A screening with Editor Sam Matthews at Palace Nova Eastend on Sunday 17 November.
Following the extraordinarily successful AACTA winning film My Name is Gulpilil, Reynolds’ latest work shares with audiences the incredible love story of Craig Ruddy, using footage shot exclusively by his partner of 20 years, Roberto Meza Mont.
Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at its Mardi Gras Film Festival World Premiere in February, this life affirming celebration of love has continued to sell out screenings and receive standing ovations from audiences.
2024 marks 20 years since Ruddy’s portrait of Australian screen legend David Gulpilil ‘Two Worlds’ won the Archibald Prize as well as the People’s Choice Award, a win that caused great controversy. Ruddy’s Archibald Prize finalist works include portraits of Cathy Freeman, Bruce Pascoe, and that of Warwick Thornton, ‘The Prince of Darkness’, which won the People’s Choice Award in 2016.
Editor Sam Matthews is currently nominated for the Screen Editor’s Guild Ellie Award for Best Editing in a Documentary Feature.
SA PREMIERE SCREENING – Palace Nova Eastend
Q&A screening with Editor Sam Matthews, hosted by filmmaker Nelya Valamanesh
4pm, Sunday 17 November
Tickets: https://www.palacenova.com.au/special-events/filmmaker-qa-a-portrait-of-love
Synopsis:
“We were the best for each other”…Roberto.
For over twenty years, Archibald Prize-winning artist Craig Ruddy and his partner Roberto Meza Mont filmed their life together to share with friends and family.
They documented events big and small, from celebrations and travel to the inner workings of a significant artist, illustrating a vibrant, joyous life that was filled with love.
To tell their story, their friend, documentary-maker Molly Reynolds (My Name is Gulpilil), spent months immersed in Roberto’s footage and crafted her most intimate film to date.
An extraordinary insight into a prolific artist and the relationship that inspired him, the film is a rich and spirited portrait of life, love, and loss that draws you into its open embrace.
Using footage shot by Roberto Meza Mont, the film is directed by Molly Reynolds, produced by Reynolds and Rolf de Heer, and co-produced by Anthony Anderson and Roberto Meza Mont. Editor is Sam Matthews, with sound design by Tom Heuzenroeder. Art works and opening animation are by Craig Ruddy, and colour grade and post-production finishing by Mark Eland.
