Film, Footy, Food, Music & Fun
There’s something for everyone at DIFF 2024
2024 Darwin International Film Festival presents a cinematic (and literal) feast with premieres, special guests, events, live music screening and more at the iconic Deckchair Cinema, and for the first time, at the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Tourist Centre theatre on Stokes Hill Wharf – from 12-22 September. A huge program of 29 feature films and 30 shorts includes the best local, international, award-winning and crowd-pleasing films, with every day of DIFF an event!
In 2024, with the support of the NT Government’s Community Benefit Fund, DIFF will present DIFF Down the Road in Katherine (19-22 September), and the inaugural Mparntwe/Alice Springs International Film Festival (MASIFF) (3-13 October) with their full programs to be announced soon.
DIFF Manager James Parker said “The 2024 DIFF program is rich with international and local delights. We are presenting so many firsts in 2024 – with our new venue partner in the RFDS theatre, Darwin cinephiles can catch three festival films in a row – and every night at Deckchair during DFF is an event with amazing food, live music and special guests. DIFF is also travelling ‘down the road’ to Katherine and we are launching the new Mparntwe/Alice Springs event in October. We look forward to announcing their programs soon, but now it is time to dive into DIFF!”
Opening Night in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs
The festival opens with the gala NT Premiere of Like My Brother, fresh from sold-out screenings at MIFF! The film follows four talented Tiwi Islander girls who dream of AFLW stardom, and who, with the support of their community, must overcome the physical and social obstacles standing in their way. Special guests include directors Sally Ann Balharrie and Luritja and Warumungu filmmaker Danielle MacLean, and players Freda Puruntatameri, Julianna Kerinaiua, Jessica Stassi and Arthurina Moreen.
Screening before the feature is the world premiere of NT short film Winimaku Ara Papa Wiimatjaraku, an animated story about a dog that falls from the sky based on artwork by the late Tangentyere Artists painter Margaret Nampitjinpa (Williams) Boko, with special guests director Rosalyn Brenda Boko, animator Jonathan Daw and producer Lisa Stefanoff.
DIFF’s Amazing International Line-up
Among the 29 feature films screening are the NT Premieres of major international award winners including 2024 Cannes Grand Prix winner, a women’s road trip drama from India, All We Imagine as Light; the delightfully wicked comedy drama There’s Still Tomorrow which scored an unprecedented 19 nominations at the Italian Oscars, and an Iranian comedy about a 70yo woman’s romantic life from this year’s Berlinale, My Favourite Cake, which Screen International called ‘a subversive delight’.
A special night celebrating award-winning queer stories features the achingly romantic Việt And Nam, a gentle and hypnotic story of two workers in a coal mine in Vietnam which was selected for the Cannes Un Certain Regard program, and from Hong Kong, the elegantly observed drama All Shall Be Well, winner of the Teddy Award at this year’s Berlinale. The event also features the world premiere screening of short documentary Nim and the Butterfly about Darwin icon Teddy Suphannabutt.
A triple feature of films from Bhutan starts with a retrospective screening of Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019) at the RFDS Theatre, then back to Deckchair for Rome Film Festival Special Jury Prize winner The Monk and the Gun and Sundance competition documentary Agent of Happiness which follows Amber, a happiness agent, who travels the Bhutanese Himalayas surveying people’s happiness.
Completing the international features lineup is Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury Prize winner, gripping Mexican coming-of-age story Sujo; Somalian family drama -and the first Somali film ever selected for Cannes – The Village Next to Paradise; Venice Special Jury Prize winner Green Border – a powerful and uncompromising retelling of refugees caught in a geopolitical nightmare on the Polish-Belarusian border, by the legendary creator of ‘Europa Europa’ – and two films from New Zealand: The Moon is Upside Down, a triptych of stories about three women, awarded Best First Feature at Tallinn Back Nights Film Festival; and We Were Dangerous, winner of the Special Jury Award at SXSW this year – a story of friendship between girls held at an institution for delinquent girls on an isolated island in 1954.
Internationa Guest of the Festival – from Timor-Leste!
International festival guest Bernardino Soares and his film Titir Husi Maubisse headline a program of seven Timor-Leste Shorts which celebrate the rugged landscapes and raw natural beauty of Timor-Leste.
Three more Australian feature films have their NT Premieres at DIFF.
The Moogai is the highly anticipated feature debut from Jon Bell, a spine-tingling horror thriller starring Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year. Sarah and Fergus, a hopeful young Aboriginal couple, welcome their second baby. However, their joy turns to fear when Sarah begins seeing a malevolent spirit she believes is trying to take their child. Producer Mitch Stanley is a guest of the festival.
Andamooka, produced by Aaron Pedersen and written and directed by SPARK alum Mara Jean Quinn (Desert Metal Dreaming 2021) is an honest picture of womanhood as Alex undertakes an epic road trip to the secluded opal mining town of Andamooka to celebrate her 30th birthday with her best friend. Set against the breathtaking landscape of remote Western Queensland, Northern Territory, and South Australia, Alex is afforded the freedom to be as raw and unguarded as she needs, reflecting on life’s disappointments while immersing herself in the magic of the outback.
With special guests Georgie Neave, Mara Jean Quinn, John Schmidt
Under Streetlights, written and directed by Danielle Loy features music stars on the rise, Amatjere man Jacob Harvey (aka rapper King Jay) and Madison Hull (one half of twin duo The Wanted Gems) in a story of resilience against all odds. In remote Australia, an aspiring Aboriginal hip-hop artist forms an unexpected friendship with the daughter of the policeman who arrested his father (played by Leighton Mason). Both struggling with personal grief and united by their love for music, they set out on a journey of healing and self-discovery. Special guests Jakob Harvey, Madison Hull, Leighton Mason, Danielle Loy, Ken Lechleitner
SPARK Short Film Showcase – World Premieres
Screen Territory’s SPARK short film initiative is back for its 9th edition with the theme of courage providing the inspiration for the three films produced to world premiere exclusively at DIFF. BEAR from director/writer/producer Rebecca Parker and producer Sarah Price was made in Darwin, while two films were made in Alice Springs. They are FENCE from director/writer/producer Samantha Alexis Laughton and producer Rarriwuy Hick, and LIVE FROM ALICE by director/writer Damon van der Schuit and producer Emma Smith. The three films were made with support from supervising producer Greg Haddrick.
Film Festival Feast – a four-course meal over a tantalising slow-cinema treat
Forthe first time, DIFF in partnership with Hilton Darwin presents the ultimate bespoke dining and film experience for the cinephile foodie. This one-off event features cuisine from the award-winning PepperBerry Restaurant to accompany a mouth-watering slow-cinema film, Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros, set in a three-Michelin-star French restaurant. Legendary documentarian Frederick Wiseman takes the audience on a fascinating four-hour deep dive into this rarefied world of gastronomic perfection; from menu development to the markets, farms and gardens where the produce is selected, to the kitchens where masterpieces are created.
A Long List of Shorts…
The 30 short films featured in DIFF 2024 include a broad selection of fun, insightful, moving and inspiring films from the NT and Australia, Timor-Leste, Taiwan, and New Zealand, and an unprecedented number of shorts with chickens. Shorts screen before many features at Deckchair, while the DIFF Short Film Showcase and Best of Timor-Leste Shorts screen over at the RFDS Theatre.
RFDS RETRO at Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Tourist Centre Theatre, Stokes Hill Wharf
The RFDS RETRO program features screenings of Jocelyn Moorehouse’s Proof, and Bruce Beresford’s Black Robe, both newly restored by the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA). Also screening is Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, and Oscar-winner Adam Elliott’s Mary and Max.
Sunset Sounds & Scrumptious Supper at Deckchair
As the Deckchair Cinema gates opens at 5.45pm, DIFF presents live music as the sun goes down with artists including Alice Cotton, Adam Scriven, Reverie, Jigsaw Collective, Arafura Wind Ensemble, Tarnished Oompah, Crystal Robins and The Wildfires and meals whipped up by a glorious array of Darwin tastes – Soul Essence, La Cantinette, Moorish, Yogi’s Way, Darwin Chilli Co, Spice Garden, Deebee Catering, Three Mums Kitchen, Darwin Catering Co and Christine’s Exotic Eats.
Wes at the Waterfront
Over at the Darwin Waterfront Screen, a free family-friendly Wes Anderson retrospective screens over four nights featuring Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr Fox and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
NT Screen Industry events
The NT Screen Summit, September 21 & 22, is a free two-day event aimed at NT screen professionals, game-developers and people considering a career in the Northern Territory Screen Sector. This industry symposium explores craft, creativity and innovation with some of Australia’s most senior screen practitioners.
2024 Australian Cinematographers Society NT Awards for Cinematography recognises and awards excellence in cinematography by NT practitioners. Guest of honour in 2024 is Peter James ACS ASC, one of the greatest cinematographers of his generation and a legend in the Australian screen industry.
The 2024 Darwin International Film Festival is presented by the Darwin Film Society, NT Government Community Benefit Fund, NT Major Eventsand Screen Territory. DIFF gratefully acknowledges the support of Screen Australia and Randazzo Properties.
DIFF 2024: 12-22 September at Deckchair Cinema, RFDS Theatre, Darwin Waterfront and Hilton Darwin.
Full program and tickets at www.diff.net.au
DIFF Down the Road in Katherine: 19 – 22 September at Katherine Cinema 3 from, with a selection of highlights from the 2024 DIFF program. DIFF Down the Road is presented by DIFF and the Darwin Film Society in partnership with the Katherine Film Society. Program to be announced soon! www.diff.net.au/katherine
Mparntwe/Alice Springs International Film Festival (MASIFF): 3-13 October will bring the best of local and international film to the Red Centre from 3 to 13 October. MASIFF is produced by Red Hot Arts with support from DIFF and the Darwin Film Society. Program to be announced soon! www.diff.net.au/alice-springs
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