NCIndieSeen

What happens when you mash together 300 volunteer zombies, a $10,000 budget and an “end of the world, romantic-zombie-action-musical” screenplay? The 2009 Australian indie film I am Bish, currently buzzing through the international film festival circuit with the appropriate tagline, “Just because it’s the end of the world doesn’t mean we can’t have a few laughs.”

The film, directed by David Bishop, tells the story of a film student (Bish) shooting a documentary in his hometown of Perth, Australia, which has secretly been chosen as the site of a joint U.S./Australian defense project. When something goes massively wrong, a neutron wave blast wipes out the community and transforms any remaining survivors into zombies.

The film is a spoof of the 2007 movie I am Legend, starring Will Smith. However, instead of a larger-than-life action hero as the “last man on earth,” Bish is just an average guy trying to survive in a zombie-infested Western Australia. I am Bish has become an Official Selection of 5 International Film Festivals, including the Edmonton International Film Festival, the Southern Winds Film Festival, the Riverside International Film Festival, the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival and the upcoming Charlotte Film Festival. The film has also won 4 awards, including the Golden Palm Award at Mexico International Film Festival, The Silver Lei Award at Honolulu International Film Festival, the Award of Merit at The Indie Fest, and the Award of Excellence at the Twin Rivers Media Festival.

I am Bish is one of more than 60 films that will be showcased at this year’s Film Festival. The Fifth Annual Charlotte Film Festival will be held Sept. 20-26 at two locations – Epicenter Theaters and Regal Park Terrace, both in Charlotte. I am Bish will screen at 11:15 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25 at Regal Park Terrace.

For tickets, see

http://www.charlottefilmfestival.org/2010/i-am-bish.