Bangalow Film Festival is back for its fourth year and the full program is available in all its cinematic glory!
Grab the popcorn and settle in for exclusive world and Australian premieres of critically acclaimed feature films, award-winning documentaries, beloved classics, plus masterclasses with industry experts, Q&A sessions, special guest encounters and surprise events.
The 2024 program features over 20 premieres, 4 special film events, 3 masterclasses and a specially curated program to showcase some of the Northern Rivers’ finest creative talents.
Last week, highlights from the opening weekend were announced including the premiere of A Portrait of Love – a tender portrait of the relationship between Roberto Meza Mont and the late Archibald Prize winning artist Craig Ruddy directed by Molly Reynolds, and the world premiere of the fungi focused visually stunning documentary from Catherine Marciniak, Follow The Rain. Both screenings will be followed by Q&As with the filmmakers.
Adding to the opening weekend is the 30th anniversary of Australian masterpiece The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Adding sparkle and pizzaz, Priscilla is the queen of our festival in 2024 and we’ll be hosting a very special evening including an exclusive panel about the making of this modern classic with the director Stephen Elliot and members of the original production team, plus a special drag performance and the remastered screening. Dress ups are encouraged!
If that’s not enough, the opening weekend will also showcase four incredible documentaries: Patrick and the Whale, a wondrous journey of a marine videographer and a sperm whale he named Dolores and Anselm, a stunning showcase of Anselm Kiefer, one of the most extraordinary artists of our time by Wim Wenders, one of the most influential filmmakers.
The Eternal Memory is the Sundance Grand Jury Prize (World Cinema Documentary) winning uplifting yet heartbreaking love story into dementia. Cocoricò Tapes is an insight into a radical and transgressive nightclub in Italy in the early 90’s where everything was permitted in the name of art. Invisible Beauty is the memoir of fashion trailblazer Bethann Hardison, who, as a pioneering black model, modelling agent and entrepreneur, has pushed the boundaries of global fashion culture and progress, featuring interviews with Iman, Naomi Campbell, Zendaya and more.
A stunning array of feature films include Evil Does Not Exist – a multi-award winning fable about the struggle between modern civilisation and nature impacting a rural community in Japan. With director and lead actor in attendance to intro the film, Heart of the Man is an Australian feature of a young boxing prodigy coming to terms with his sexuality, battling between fulfilling his father’s dream and becoming his own man.
On the eve of the Second World War, two of the greatest minds of the twentieth century, C.S. Lewis (Matthew Goode) and Sigmund Freud (Anthony Hopkins) converge for their own personal battle over the existence of God in Freud’s Last Session. Afire tells the story of two friends at a holiday house on the Baltic Coast seeking inspiration for their creative pursuits. Based on true events, Radical shines a light on the incredible potential school children in a Mexican city can manifest when an innovative teacher empowers them to think for themselves.
Documentary lovers are spoilt for choice with even more offerings like Finding the Money which follows an underdog group of economists on a mission to instigate a paradigm shift by flipping our understanding of debt upside down. In Theatre of Thought acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog asks us to question whether we truly have autonomy over our thoughts or if our brains will inevitably become infused with mind-controlling technology in the future. Eskawata Kayawai – The Spirit of Transformation explores the cultural and spiritual renaissance of the Huni Kin people from the Brazilian Amazon forest through their connection with Ayahuasca. Posso Entrare? An Ode to Naples takes us through the contrasts and complexities of the city of Naples – one of passion, culture and creativity, but also abandonment and crime.
There are four special events that have been created as part of the Made in the Northern Rivers program. Specially curated for the festival, these events include The Mushroom Whisperers, an intimate and spellbinding audio-visual concert featuring Romano Crivici and Carla Thackrah who composed the score for Follow The Rain. Then, the beloved Shire Choir brings you A Love Letter To Film, harmonising their way through a selection of some of film’s finest and most iconic songs, with singalongs encouraged!
Nosferatu is often cited as the film that gave birth to horror, but for BFF it’s getting reborn with Nosferatu (A)live, a music and film event with an original score written and performed live in concert by acclaimed musician Jai Piccone. Dustyesky meet Aleksander Dovzhenko’s Earth will see the much-loved accidental phenomenon choir from Mullumbimby return to the stage after a 3 year hiatus to accompany Dovzhenko’s masterpiece Earth in a special one-off performance.
For families, come and enjoy the absolute classic The Muppets Take Manhattan, followed by Common Ground, a fascinating and uplifting documentary about a return to natural soil health with testimonials from Woody Harrelson, Donald Glover, Laura Dern and more that will get your kids’ green thumb ready for action!
Surf and nature lovers have we got some treats for you!? For those who love the heat, Smoke Sauna Sisterhood is a cathartic exploration of the powers of sauna for women sharing and healing from trauma. Narrated by Aquaman himself Jason Momoa, Deep Rising is an exquisite but concerning look at destructive deep sea mining and how it affects the vital relationship between the deep ocean and sustaining life on earth.
Big Wave Guardians focuses on the lifeguards who put their lives on the line on the treacherous seven mile stretch on Hawaii’s North Shore, featuring interviews with some of the biggest names in surfing. The festival closes with the huge Australian premiere of Trilogy: New Wave the long awaited second film from Taylor Steele following elite surfers Ethan Ewing, Griffin Colapinto and Seth Moniz to remote destinations and pristine waves as they balance their careers and their desire to rediscover the joy of surfing free from content scores.
This year’s industry moments will include masterclasses by BAFTA nominated composer Guy Gross and by Oscar nominated sound recordist Guntis Sics, plus a session focused on the making of the forthcoming Aquarius documentary with the film’s director Wendy Champagne.
Make sure you head along to the Lobby Bar at the A&I Hall, offering delicious drinks including the specially brewed “Take Two” BFF beer by Common People, culinary bites and entertainment. It’s the perfect place to catch up with friends and loved ones before each screening.
Tickets to these events are on sale now, and selling fast!
For tickets and more info, head to www.bangalowfilmfestival.com.au
