A new documentary about the life of Sir Michael Parkinson, the British broadcaster known for his long-running interview programme, is set to premiere at the British Film Festival on November 8.
The film, titled Parky, will be shown at Palace Cinemas in all Australian capital cities as well as in Byron Bay and Bendigo. Screening times are listed on the British Film Festival website.
Witnesses describe Parky as tracing the life of one of the world's best-known interviewers. Sir Michael Parkinson's late-night talk show was watched by millions in Britain and Australia over five decades, and he was remembered for the authenticity of his interviews.
The film's co-director, Luke Mazzaferro, was interviewed by Stephen Hill about what inspired him to explore Parkinson's life. Radio edits and extended interviews from the conversation have been made available.
The documentary is described as exploring the extraordinary life of its subject, placing his career at the centre of the film rather than treating it as a retrospective list of guests and episodes. The premiere falls on a weekend, and the screenings that follow extend the film's reach beyond the festival audience to cinemas in each of the state and territory capitals.
Parkinson's interviews were broadcast late at night, and their reputation rests on the candour that viewers in both countries came to associate with the programme. The documentary's makers have chosen to build the film around that reputation, which is why the interview material and the conversation about the film's origins are presented together.
Audiences in Australia can see the film in person at any of the Palace Cinemas listed for the screenings, while the radio edits and extended interview material provide a further way to hear the conversation between Stephen Hill and Luke Mazzaferro. The story was provided courtesy of The Wire.