Documentary Feature Film Festivals & Awards

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM FESTIVALS & AWARDS

The Bikes of Wrath has screened at 8 festivals to date, has been selected as ‘opening night film’ twice, and has won 7 awards:

WINNER ‘People’s Choice Award’ – BANFF Mountain Film and Book Festival, Alberta, 2018. WINNER ‘Spirit of Adventure’ award – 5Point Film Festival, Colorado, 2018. WINNER ‘Best Documentary Feature’ – Twister Alley, Oklahoma, 2018. WINNER ‘Best Feature Director’ – Twister Alley, Oklahoma, 2018. WINNER ‘Audience Choice Award’ – AFME, New Mexico, 2018. WINNER ‘Best Feature Documentary’ – Rueda Film Festival, Barcelona, 2018. WINNER ‘Audience Choice Award’ – Gig Harbor Film Festival, Washington, 2018. RESPONSES & REVIEWS

‘A film for the ages’. – Kim Fuller, Elevation Outdoors Magazine.

‘The Bikes of Wrath is an incredibly deep dive into humanity, stereotypes, poverty, government, generosity, and the American Dream, all told from the perspective of five Australian guys riding their bikes across the American Southwest. Go watch it and it will change you!’ – Phil, World Premiere audience member.

‘Of all the 463 films that I screened for this years festival, The Bikes of Wrath was the one that truly captured my heart’. – Michelle Souza, Screening Team Director, AFME Film Festival, New Mexico.

‘Leave it to five Australian’s to show we Americans ourselves. They have found the real America on their journey; a good reason to hope that the current political divide might crumble into dust. The Bikes of Wrath couldn’t be more timely; this film will have you on the verge of tears more than once, and will also make you laugh.’ – Luke Nestler, KDNK Radio.

‘What an incredible impression you made on my sons and myself after seeing your movie at 5Point Film Festival this past weekend. I can’t thank you enough for creating what you did’. – Colleen, World Premiere audience member.

‘Wow – I love this film. Super emotional, impactful and really moving storytelling. It makes me happy, think, and makes me cry... I LOVE IT!’ – Meredith Mckee, head programmer 5point Film Festival.

‘I watched The Bikes of Wrath last night and wanted to leave you a note to tell you how impressed I am. You captured the people you encountered in such a beautiful and unexpected way. Your humility, your willingness to give people your time and attention and your genuine curiosity comes through in the way that people are willing to let their guard down around the five of you, even in front of the camera. I was also really impressed by the way you structured the piece. I wouldn’t have thought to weave in and out of the timeline the way that you did, or to pull in quotes from characters we hadn’t met yet alongside quotes from ones we had, but it worked so nicely.’ – Jen Altschul, producer, ‘The Dirtbag Diaries’.

‘An amazingly poignant, relevant, funny, informative and touching film. A film I won’t forget. Thank you for creating this piece of art!’ – Patti Smith, AFME audience member.

‘A wonderful, heart opening project. If it takes 5 non-cycling Australians channeling John Steinbeck’s story of intra-state immigrants to open our eyes to current realities, so be it’. – leocast.com “They’s gonna come somepin outa all these folks goin’ wes’ – outa all their farms lef’ lonely. They’s gonna come a thing that’s gonna change the whole country.” – John Steinbeck

LOGLINE

Oklahoma to California: 2600 kms, 420 dollars, 30 days, 5 bikes, 3 cameras, 2 guitars and one of the most influential novels of the 20th century — The Bikes of Wrath is the story of adventure, human connection, and an in-depth look at inequality and disenfranchisement in today’s America through the lens of John Steinbeck’s seminal novel, ‘The Grapes of Wrath’.

SHORT SYNOPSIS

Five Australian friends attempt to cycle 2600kms from Oklahoma to California in honour of the mighty westward migration undertaken by ‘The Grapes of Wrath’s’ Joad family.

Through chance encounters with everyday Americans, the cyclists explore the novel’s core themes – migration, inequality and the perceived land of opportunity – and how the nation has progressed some 78 years after Steinbeck’s Dust Bowl depiction was first published.

It is through countless acts of generosity from small-town individuals and communities, to desolating encounters with ‘unwanted’ Americans, that the cyclists experience first-hand the startling parallels of the novel in a country still grappling with immigration, wealth disparity and, ultimately, its own sense of identity.

The Bikes of Wrath couldn’t be more timely. It’s a funny, heartbreaking, yet ultimately hopeful documentary that opens our eyes to the complexities of America, all while shining a positive light on the nation at a time when the world needs it most. “I’m learning one thing good,” she said. “Learnin’ it all the time, ever’ day. If you’re in trouble or hurt or need – go to poor people. They’re the only ones that’ll help – the only ones.” – John Steinbeck FULL SYNOPSIS

The Bikes of Wrath tells the story of five Australian friends as they attempt to cycle 2600 kilometres from Sallisaw, Oklahoma, to Bakersfield, California in honour of the mighty westward migration undertaken by ‘The Grapes of Wrath’s’ Joad family. Armed with an inordinate amount of self-belief, the cyclists set-off on their 30-day adventure with no training, no support vehicle, and as one member puts it best, ‘no real idea’. Burdened with trailers, musical instruments, and camera equipment, the group set themselves the additional challenge of surviving on $420 (the modern-day equivalent of the Joads’ $18 in the 1930s) and whatever their musical performances yield. Riding 90 kilometers a day, the journey along America’s iconic route 66 takes them from the farmlands of Oklahoma to the blistering Mojave desert and countless places in-between; the diversity of landscapes only matched by the assortment of characters met along the way. It is through these chance encounters with everyday Americans that the cyclists expand on the novel’s central themes: migration, inequality and the perceived land of opportunity. The group explores whether America has progressed since the book was written, discussing the wealth gap, immigration, and the American Dream. These vastly different small-town characters quickly become the central focus of the film, as well as integral to the group’s success; letting the cyclists into their homes, lives, and demonstrating the startling parallels of ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ eighty years after its publication. The Bikes of Wrath uncovers a deep insight into the human spirit and shines a positive light on America at a time when the world needs it most; all rolled into a unique, funny and life-affirming observational documentary filled with adventure, literature, music, and human connection. “Up ahead they’s a thousan’ lives we might live, but when it comes it’ll only be one.” – John Steinbeck DIRECTOR’S LETTER OF INTENTION / VISUAL TREATMENT

The media’s depiction of America is currently one of division, fear, and at times, ignorance. However, as filmmakers from Australia, without preconceived notions of the United States, The Bikes of Wrath documentary team is able to present a more genuine reflection of America through unplanned conversations with small-town, working-class people.

Our subjects aren’t policymakers, scholars or doctors; they are everyday people ingrained in the small-town cultures of the conservative heartland. They are characters from various backgrounds who display incredible hope and love for their country, and for their communities, contrary to the often-negative stereotypes of the American South.

By focusing on these relatable characters, and not ‘talking-down’ to our audience, we believe that the core messages of the film will be more accessible and resonant with viewers. Moreover, by blending adventure, literature, music, history and cultural exploration, the documentary offers multiple access points to help subtly educate, reduce fear, and-break down stereotypes without the platform feeling dry or condescending.

The merging of history and cultural exploration is further aided by incorporating Steinbeck’s observations from the late 1930s. Carefully selected passages from ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ are read by the film’s main characters over the course of the journey to enhance key moments of the narrative, connect parallel themes, and propel the series forward.

When an issue of historical or modern-day relevance requires deeper analysis, we cut to (what we refer to as) a ‘historic beat’, or an ‘opinion beat’. These segments first offer a fact (white text on black) followed by a selection of characters met along the journey who share their opinions and beliefs on the topic at hand; all cut together with historic or contemporary imagery to bring greater meaning to the issue discussed, and the film as a whole.

The Australian cyclists are not relegated to mere ‘peddlers’, either. Filmmakers, photographers and journalists in their own right, they are observant, respectful and engaging characters who are constantly seeking to gain a greater understanding of America. The cyclists reflections are captured at the completion of each state (in ‘one-on-one’ interviews) and interspersed throughout the film; offering an additional layer to the group’s collective experience, and the film’s narrative arc.

All of these unique elements are connected with a visually-stunning aesthetic approach, not dissimilar to that of a road-movie. The pacing, music, landscape, and freedom of the road-ahead remain palpable and alluring throughout, eliciting a thirst for adventure, unique characters, and the great unknown. “The bank is something more than men, I tell you. It’s the monster. Men made it, but they can’t control it.” – John Steinbeck BIOGRAPHIES

Cameron Ford Director/Producer/Editor

Cameron is best known for his work as the director, cinematographer and editor of Australia’s most-watched online series, The Katering Show (2015 - 2016). Other major credits include comedy short Too Far which screened at Tropfest 2005. Two years later, his short film The Grey Cloud screened at Tropfest 2007, and Cameron won the award for best cinematography.

In 2011 Cameron signed with PB Management in Los Angeles, his original TV and feature film scripts have been read at HBO, Showtime, Mandeville Pictures and Mosaic. In 2012, SBS bought exclusive television rights to his short film Ali 707 which also screened at 13 film festivals around the world.

In 2014, Cameron was the cinematographer and editor on Australian/French feature film, Drama. The film was shot in Paris, had an Australia-wide theatrical release and screened at Cannes Film Festival in 2018. In 2015, his web series The Greatest Love of All won best international web series at NYC Web Fest.

In 2017, Cameron was the editor on 8 x half-hour comedy series Get Krack!n for ABC1. He also completed principal photography on the follow-up documentary to The Bikes of Wrath, entitled Floatin’ with Huck – an adventure down The Mississippi River exploring racial and economic division in today’s America through the lens of Mark Twain’s classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Charlie Turnbull Director/Producer

While relatively new to the scene, Charlie’s background in journalism, enthusiasm for travel, and keen interest in different cultures has led him to the world of documentaries. After working around the globe as an expedition leader for several years, Charlie graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney, with a Bachelor of Communications in 2015.

During this time Charlie traveled to Central Asia to work on his first film oject:pr a 25-day canoe journey from Mongolia to Russia. Since then he has produced short, adventure-based documentaries in Iceland and Finland, (Summer Dreaming 2016) and a six-part web series (Tales to Tell 2015) in Australia. He has also worked as a news journalist in print media.

Charlie has just returned from the United States after completing principal photography on his most ambitious documentary project to date. Teaming up once again with The Bikes of Wrath co-director, Cameron Ford, the pair will use Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to explore America’s racial and economic divides in 2017 whilst embarking on a three-month adventure down the Mississippi River on a homemade raft. “Says one time he went out in the wilderness to find his own soul, an’ he foun’ he didn’t have no soul that was his’n. Says he foun’ he jus’ got a little piece of a great big soul.” – John Steinbeck

CONTACT Cameron Ford Director/Producer +61 425 746 625 [email protected]