By Filmink Staff.

Until 25 January, Screenwave International Film Festival brings to Coffs Harbour and Bellingen its boldest and biggest program yet, with 90+ screenings, special events, guests and film-making workshops.

The festival opened last night at the town’s historic Jetty Memorial Theatre to a sold-out house with a screening of Greg McLean’s Jungle starring Daniel Radcliffe. Within hours two more sessions, the Palme d’Or-winning The Square, and surfing documentary Men Of Wood & Foam accompanied by a live soundtrack from Band Of Frequencies, were close to sold out.

In just three short years, Screenwave International Film Festival – known as SWIFF for short – has grown to be a flagship Mid North Coast summer cultural event which attracts visitors from across Australia and around the world.

“The groundswell that’s happened behind SWIFF is part of the larger emergence of unique cultural events popping up around regional Australia,” says festival director Dave Horsley. “People in regional areas are really wanting a different type of cultural experience.”

Special guests, who will meet the audience for Q&As over the next few weeks, include homegrown Hollywood star David Wenham, The Go-Betweens drummer Lindy Morrison, Documentary Australia Foundation Award winner Sascha Ettinger-Epstein, and veteran surf journo Phil Jarrett among a line-up of 20 filmmaker guests.

Industry workshops will be led by the likes of Cannes-selected short film director and AFTRS lecturer Jonathan Ogilvie and multi-industry award-winning sound designer Scott Collins of Noiselab.

For tickets, news and program details visit swiff.com.au.

Shares:

Leave a Reply