The Road is based on the 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner novel by Cormac McCarthy (‘No Country for Old Men’). A post-apocalyptic tale describing a journey taken by a father and his young son over a period of several months across a landscape blasted years before by an unnamed cataclysm that destroyed civilization and, seemingly, most life on earth.

Release: January 28, 2010
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Directed by: John Hillcoat (The Proposition)
Cast: Charlize Theron (Monster, In the Valley of Elah), Viggo Mortensen (A History Of Violence, Eastern Promises), Guy Pearce (The Proposition, Memento), Robert Duvall (We Own the Night)

To get your hands on a double pass ticket to The Road email ekogan@bigissue.org.au.

www.theroad-movie.com

A soul searching comedy, Cold Souls follows Paul Giamatti, an actor who stumbles upon an article in The New Yorker about a high-tech company that extracts, deep-freezes and stores people’s souls – possibly the key to happiness that he has been searching for. But, complications arise when Paul is the unfortunate victim of “soul-trafficking.” Giamatti’s journey takes him all the way to Russia in hopes of retrieving his stolen soul from an ambitious but talentless soap-opera actress. Balancing a tightrope between deadpan humor & pathos, and reality & fantasy, Cold Souls is a true soul searching comedy. Also starring David Strathairn, Dina Korzun and Emily Watson.

To get your hands on a double pass ticket to Cold Souls email ekogan@bigissue.org.au by November 24.

www.coldsoulsthemovie.com

Celebrities in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will take part in the week long campaign, held from October 12-16 during Anti-Poverty Week.

Participating celebrities have been asked to allocate 30 mins-1 hour to sell The Big Issue magazine and assist The Big Issue in breaking down stereotypes and boosting the self-esteem and confidence of their hundreds of vendors across the country.

Support your favourite celebrity by purchasing a copy of The Big Issue off them in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane this week…

MONDAY OCTOBER 12 – SYDNEY

9-9.30am – David Koch
Front of Sunrise (Channel Seven)
Martin Place Sydney

 12-12.30pm – Craig Foster, Mariana Rudan
Cnr of Market and George St (Craig Foster)
Cnr of Market and Pitt St (Mariana Rudan)

1.30-2pm – Tim Ross
Broadway Shopping Centre, Cnr Bay and Parramatta Road, Glebe.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 13 – MELBOURNE

8-8.30am  – Hamish and Andy
Front of Young & Jacksons, Flinders St (Hamish)
Front of Flinders St Station (Andy)

12-1pm – Judith Lucy
Front of Safeway, Acland St – St Kilda

12.30-1.30pm – Peter Helliar
Front of Safeway, Smith St – Collingwood

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15 – BRISBANE

12-12.30  – Triple M’s The Cage 
GPO Queen St (Marto)
Commonwealth Bank Cnr Adelaide and Albert St (Sully)
Queens Plaza Cnr Adelaide and Edward St (Skip)
Borders Books Cnr Albert and Elizabeth St (Emily-Jade)

 4.30-5pm – Labor Member for Kingsford Smith, Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett AM, MP
Queens Plaza, Adelaide and Edwards St

Big Art, an event dedicated to raising awareness and money for The Big Issue in Brisbane will profile the works of acclaimed Queensland artists including Stephen Dix, Simon McLean and David Hinchliffe. Pieces by fashion designers Easton Pearson and Bowie Wong, swimmer Geoff Huegill, and musicians The Grates will also be displayed and all available for purchase by silent or public auction.

Professionally curated and hung in the Bleeding Heart Gallery in Brisbane’s historic School of Arts Building, the works will be showcased all week from Monday October 5. Those wishing to snap up one of the unique pieces on display will need to buy tickets to a special event being held on Thursday October 8.

Event: Big Art
Date: Thursday, October 8 2009
Time: 6-8pm
Address: Bleeding Heart Gallery, School of Arts Building, 166 Ann St Brisbane
Tickets: $50 – includes drinks, hors d’oeuvres, entertainment and the chance to win a dinner and cook book from Philip Johnson’s e’cco bistro
To book: Contact The Big Issue in Brisbane on 07 3036 4420 or email brian@bigissue.org.au

The 2009 Diversity@Work Awards reward and recognise the efforts of individuals, teams and organisations who encourage diversity and inclusion in their workplace for people with disabilities, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Australians; Indigenous Australians; mature age and youth workers; gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender and intersex; women in leadership; as well as promote a work life balance.

In addition, there are three champion awards for recognising the overall efforts of organisations and individuals in approaching diversity and inclusion as a broader concept.

We invite you to join more than 800 attendees from the government, corporate and community sectors in celebrating true leadership within our community. The evenings celebratory program will include a special keynote presentation from Reverend Tim Costello (CEO, World Vision), Jenny Brockie (presenter of Insight, SBS TV) as Master of Ceremonies and musicians and artists reflecting Australia’s diverse community as well as announcing the winners of the eleven award categories.

Tickets sales are open until Friday 9 October 2009. For further information on the 2009 Diversity@Work Awards visit the website www.diversityatwork.com.au/awards. To download a copy of the ticket booking form click here.

The Big Issue has 10 double passes to give away to the advanced screening of Blessed, valid nationally from September 4-6. Contact ekogan@bigissue.org.au by Wednesday September 2 to grab your tickets!

BLESSED

Release: September 10, 2009

From the acclaimed director of ‘Head On’
Premiere screening at the 2009 Melbourne International Film Festival
2009 Toronto International Film Festival

During the course of one day and night, seven children wander the streets in an urban odyssey.  But not all of them will find their way home.  

Dawn breaks, and it’s the same day but now we experience the viewpoint of the five mothers. Over the course of their respective journeys we understand that they are as lost and defenceless as the children they care for. BLESSED is a film about mothers and children, about love and beauty, about being lost and finding your way home.

“Ana Kokkinos proves herself to be a master storyteller with this beautiful, multi-layered and tremendously moving film.” Annette Basile, Filmink

“an engaging, provocative film, with raw and emotional performances from some of the best of Australian talent… will stay with you for days afterwards.” Jo McKay, InStyle

www.iconmovies.com.au/blessed

Join us for a night of sparkling champagne and tasty food while watching the true story of one man’s lost dreams, an unlikely friendship and the redemptive power of music.

When: Thursday September 3
Where: Palace Barracks Cinema, Petrie Terrace
Time: 6pm (for 6.30pm)
Price: $25 (includes a glass of champagne, finger food and a copy of Filmink magazine). All monies raised will go to The Big Issue.
RSVP: Please purchase tickets by contacting Sharon at The Big Issue on 07 3036 4420.

See a preview at www.soloistmovie.com

Click here to fill out the online survey and you will automatically go into the running to win a $500 investment with Australian Ethical Investment.

Don’t miss out – entries close midnight 3 September!

*Terms and Conditions Apply

Enlisting the pro-bono help of the blue group (Creative), Melbourne-based Director Luci Schroder (The Director’s Group), Producer Craig Griffin (The Director’s Group) and Mitchell & Partners (Distribution), the 30 second television commercial aims to show people how $5 a fortnight can help homeless and marginalised Australians earn more than just an income.

the blue group’s Cam Trollope said the concept behind the this year’s campaign, which is set to run across outdoor, print, radio, television and online was to simply, yet effectively, educate potential readers on who The Big Issue vendors are and why they stand on the street – day in, day out – selling the magazine.

“It’s often the case with charity ads that an ‘all too quirky’ or ‘award friendly’ idea can cloud the key message,” Mr Trollope said. 

“In keeping with the success of the recent outdoor campaign, we aimed to remain educational and let the Vendors themselves explain why they do what they do.

“When it boils down to it, every vendor is working to help themselves in various ways and for that they should be applauded.”

The Big Issue’s Marketing and Communications Manager Natalie Susman said that it was important for the organisation to show that selling The Big Issue magazine was a lot more than just an income for the 300 or so vendors across Australia.

“Our research has shown that by selling the magazine vendors experience a boost in their self-esteem, are given an opportunity to make friends in a positive environment and are given the confidence to start making positive changes to their lives such as improved housing, addressing drug and alcohol abuse, seeking help for mental illness or reconnecting with family,” Ms Susman said.

“The Big Issue is an initiative that quite simply, helps people help themselves.”

Want to judge The Big Issue’s 2009 TVC for yourself? Press play to view:

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Big Issue would like to acknowledge the generous support of everyone who contributed in the production of the 2009 TVC, assisting us to cement our position as a magazine that people love, sold by vendors that people want to support.

Media Contact: Danielle Bombardieri, Media Relations Consultant, 0400 100 978 or dbombardieri@bigissue.org.au