Thursday 19 May 2011

Dungog Movie Festival - The Worlds Biggest Festival of Australian Films


The Dungog Film Festival, established by award winning filmmakers, Allanah Zitserman and Stavros Kazantzidis, is a world class film event set in an Australian country location of the township of Dungog. It is expected that the towns population of 2,000 people will swell to 10,000 people for the Festival.

Every May over four glorious autumn days the usually sleepy town of Dungog turns into Australia's movie Mecca. Visitors flock from all over the country to this picturesque location to immerse themselves in the very best of Australian cinema and get up-close and personal with filmmakers and actors.

The dynamic festival program combines a smorgasbord of new Australian features, restored masterpieces, thought-provoking documentaries, cutting edge shorts, premiere television, with an inspirational education sidebar.

By hosting the biggest celebration of Australian films in the world, the Dungog Film Festival has become a key national event, a fusion of city and country and the ultimate mini-break with a culture hit.

The Film Festival is a four-day event held in the quintessentially country town of Dungog in the Hunter Valley region of NSW. It is the biggest celebration of Australian film in the world. The Film Festival was kicked into gear in 2007 by talented AFI award-winning filmmakers Allanah Zitserman and Stavros Kazantzidis whose accolades include “Love and Other Catastrophes” and “Russian Doll”. The festival has grown from 1500 people attending in 2007 to about 7000 last year.

“DFF is a world class four day event, celebrating Australian films at four screening locations showcasing new Australian screen content, honouring leading Australian filmmakers and revisiting Australian movie classics, in a non-competitive environment,” said festival director Allanah Zitserman.

This year's DFF will include the world premiere of ten feature films, including the premieres of Nick McGee’s “Frank and Jerry”, the documentary “An Imprint in Time” and the Hunter Valley-shot The Forgotten Men – a short film staring Jack Thompson based on an old R.M.Williams campfire story

In total, there will be 194 screenings- 12 features, 16 documentaries, four TV sneak previews, and 159 short films, and – for the first time – digital content.

The first Australian/Chinese co-production The Dragon Pearl, starring Sam Neill, will also have its NSW premiere – following the national premiere at February’s Adelaide Film Festival. The film tells the story of a young boy travels to China to visit his father on a dig, and with the help of a new Chinese friend, discovers a real-life, but benevolent dragon.

The NSW Minister for the Arts, George Souris highlighted NSW’s position within the national cinematic output (47 per cent of the national total), as well as his own status as an avid Dungog-ian. “I actually have a full collection of the t-shirts, and I treasure it,” confessed the MP to a receptive audience. “They’re going to be a collectors item: I leave the labels on, leave the plastic covering on, because nothing can beat the slogan that captured my imagination from day one – Done-Cannes, Done-Sundance, Dungog.”

The festival films are shown in various venues in Dungog, including the Dungog Cinema. The Dungog Cinema is the oldest still operating purpose-built cinema in Australia. Originally the site was used for an open air theatre which opened in 1913. Under the control of James Stuart (hence the name James Theatre) by 1914 it had been roofed and in 1930 it underwent extensive reconstruction (the screen went from the north end to the south) and was equipped for talkies at that time. Seating was for 650, although the front section was flat floored and the seating was not fixed, allowing for dances, etc. A large stage, dressing rooms and supper room were also provided. It is believed the Spanish-style facade was added to the building in the 1930's rebuild. In the 1980's the local council acquired the building as a community centre and the cinema operation continued under Ken Reeve until his retirement in November 2007.Architecturally it is historic for being one of only four Spanish Mission cinema facades in the state. The auditorium, although painted in recent times, retains the simplicity of a cinema built in a small country town during the Great Depression.

The Festival commences with the Opening Night Gala Film 6pm Thursday 26 May 2011. The Festival runs until the Closing Night Gala Film and Party 6pm Sunday 29 May 2011. The festival includes gala events, parties and the local Main Street Parade. Screenwriter and playwright David Williamson (Gallipoli) and composers Lisa Gerrard and Michael Yezerski will also be running Masterclasses over the weekend.

For more information see the website:-  http://www.dungogfilmfestival.org/

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