By Ron Nurwisah, Boy Reporter

Fellow Torontoist contributor Alison Broverman is currently in Australia which has made the rest of us here at Torontoist HQ a little bummed out and on days like today, very jealous. Fortunately we get a bit of a consolation prize. The Australian Trade Commission has organized the first Australian Film Weekend. Australia’s film scene, blessed by distance from the US and a supportive government has had a history of creating good work and of creating even better talent (Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Geoffrey Rush, Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Eric Bana and then some). Sadly none of those big names will be around this weekend.
The fest opens tonight (7:30) at the Isabel Bader Theatre with the Oyster Farmer which has been getting positive reviews down under. There’s also TIFF favourite Look Both Ways (Friday night 9:30) Torontoist is looking forward to the best of Tropfest, a selection from the long-running outdoor shorts fest that happens in Sydney every year. Boy Reporter has been, and sitting in a park with friends watching shorts is a lot of fun. Like a picnic and a drive-in at the same time.