Sydney Film Festival 2015 – The deets
The ever-awesome Sydney Film Festival announced its programme this morning, along with the movies selected to compete for the Sydney Film Prize. Here’s all you need to know about the upcoming festival…
What:
The 62nd Sydney Film Festival will screen 251 films from 68 countries, with 33 World Premieres (including 22 World Premiere short films), 135 Australian Premieres (including 18 Australian Premiere short films) and 4 International Premieres.
When:
June 3rd – 14th
Where:
You can see flicks at the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Cinemas Opera Quays, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, Art Gallery of NSW and Skyline Drive-In Blacktown return; with new venues Dendy Cinemas Newtown and Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre added to the program. Free public Meet the Filmmaker talks return to the Apple Store Sydney, the Festival’s Outdoor Screen at Martin Place Amphitheatre returns for the fifth year and the big screen at Martin Place will be an integral part of Vivid Sydney again.
Our main highlights:
We’re very keen to check out Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (see trailer, above) which won big at the Sundance Film Festival.
Also, A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence will be interesting. It’s a surreal pitch-black comedy about the human condition.
Amy is a must see. It’s about the incredible and sadly missed Amy Winehouse.
The Tribe looks incredible. It is entirely in sign-language with no subtitling.
Love & Mercy looks good. It is about Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.
Strangerland, Australian director Kim Farrant’s debut feature starring, Nicole Kidman, Joseph Fiennes and Hugo Weaving is definitely worth a look.
Slow West too, will be good. Well, it does star Michael Fassbender after all.
We’re also excited about the World Premieres of Ruben Guthrie, Brendan Cowell’s adaptation of his hit play starring Patrick Brammall, Alex Dimitriades and Abbey Lee, and Neil Armfield’s Holding the Man, staring Ryan Corr, Anthony LaPaglia, our mate Guy Pearce and Sarah Snook. There’s a Russell Brand docco (two actually) as well.
The competition:
Now in its eighth year, the Official Competition awards the Sydney Film Prize and $62,000 in cash in recognition of courageous, audacious and cutting-edge cinema. This year’s selection includes: Arabian Nights, from director Miguel Gomes, Black Souls, Italian director Francesco Munzi’s drama about Calabrian mafia clans, the World Premiere of The Daughter starring Geoffrey Rush, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Strangerland, A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, Sherpa, a documentary from Australian director Jennifer Peedom, Tales, a multifaceted look at life in Tehran, Tangerine, about two transgender sex workers, shot entirely on an iPhone 5s, Tehran Taxi, the third film made in secret from the great Iranian filmmaker and dissident Jafar Panahi since he was banned from filmmaking, Victoria, a spectacular one-shot film detailing a Berlin bank robbery and Vincent, a romantic new take on the superhero genre.
Premieres:
You can see a bunch of premieres at SFF, including Women He’s Undressed, Gillian Armstrong’s documentary about Academy Award-winning Australian Hollywood costume designer Orry-Kelly and Jeremy Sims’ feature film Last Cab to Darwin starring Michael Caton and Jacki Weaver.
The Hub:
The Hub returns to Sydney’s Town Hall for a fourth year. Open to the public all nights, and select days, from 4-13 June, the Hub is a lounge, gallery, bar and festival party space which features music, design and film-related entertainment
The app:
Sydney Film Festival and Ferve Tickets have collaborated to bring you the official SFF 2015 iPhone and Android app, free to download now. The full 2015 program will go live on the app on Wednesday 6 May. With this app you can buy tickets securely with your credit card and scan your phone at the door – no paper tickets required. You can also watch trailers and find out more about the venues. Visit sff.org.au to find out more.
How to get tickets:
Tickets for Sydney Film Festival 2015 are on sale now. Please call 1300 733 733 or visit sff.org.au for more information.
Other stuff:
There is heaps more going on, including short films, doccos, gourmet cinema and all manner of other excellent stuff that we can’t squeeze on to this page. Head here for everything.
SEE YOU THERE!
