The program for the 61st Sydney Film Festival was officially launched today by Tony Grant, the NSW Minister for the Arts. The Festival will run from the 4th to the 15th of June and will showcase a wide and exciting range of incredible films. This year the Festival consists of 183 titles from 47 countries, including 15 World Premieres (including 6 World Premiere short films), 122 Australian Premieres (including 14 Australian Premiere short films) and 6 International Premieres (including 1 International Premiere short film).
Mr Grant said that “the New South Wales Government, through Screen NSW and Destination NSW, is very pleased to be again supporting Sydney Film Festival, which is also part of Vivid Ideas 2014. Sydney Film Festival is a highlight of the city’s rich arts calendar and an important part of our cultural fabric. The Festival underpins Sydney’s recognition as a UNESCO City of Film, and I look forward to experiencing the Festival this June.”
Festival Director Nashen Moodley said that the “Sydney Film Festival has gone from strength to strength over recent years, with attendances increasing over 23% since 2011 to 143,000. SFF not only presents the best films from across the country and around the world, but we also open up dialogue between the creators and audiences and curators and critics alike, in every direction and combination. Together in a crowded theatre, comedies are funnier, horror films are scarier and tender moments bring tears more readily; everything we feel is amplified by the power of the shared experience.”
The Festival will take place in a range of locations around Sydney, including the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, and the Art Gallery of NSW. 2014 also sees the first Festival appearance of the Skyline Drive-In Blacktown, which will be hosting a special 40th anniversary screening of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre on Friday The 13th June.
Films competing in the Official Competition include the Australian premiere of outback thriller The Rover, which stars Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson. Also competing is Richard Linklater’s much-anticipated drama Boyhood, which was shot over 12 years, allowing its cast to age along with their characters. Other selections include Locke, which stars Tom Hardy, and 20,000 Days on Earth, a highly-stylised portrait of singer Nick Cave. The Festival will also give you the opportunity to see a range of Australian and international documentaries and short films, as well as special events such as a selection of films covering the career of the great Robert Altman.
The 61st Sydney Film Festival promises to be an unmissable opportunity to experience a massive range of groundbreaking and challenging films, and we look forward to seeing you there!
The 61st Sydney Film Festival runs from June 4th to 15th. The full program, along with ticketing information, can be found at www.sff.org
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