Filmmakers across Australia and around the world have just over two weeks to finalise their submissions for the 61st annual Sydney Film Festival, which is set to offer up the best in world cinema from Wednesday June 4 until Sunday June 15, 2014.
Entries across all submission categories will close at Close Of Business on Thursday February 27, 2014, and will need to be submitted through FilmFestivalLife.
Festival Director Nashen Moodley said, "We are thrilled with the number of submissions that have come in so far and are looking forward to selecting the best of the best entries to screen at the 61st edition of the Festival.”
“Entries have come from far and wide, with strong submission numbers being seen across all categories including features, short films and documentaries. We encourage all interested filmmakers to wrap-up their projects over the coming week and submit their films for consideration.”
Last year, out of the total entries submitted, 192 films were invited to the Festival, screening to more than 140,000 attendees over 12 jam-packed days and nights.
A highlight of the 2014 program will be the Australian short film competition which, in its 45th year, is the oldest short film competition in Australia. Since 1970, the competition has served as a unique spring board for acclaimed Australian film talent, launching the careers of multiple international award-winners including Chris Noonan (Babe), Don McAlphine (Moulin Rouge), Jack Thompson (Sunday Too Far Away) and Phil Noyce (Rabbit-Proof Fence), among others.
Entries are open to features, documentaries and short films (under 40 minutes) in all categories of the Festival program, including:
• The Australian Documentary Competition – which awards a cash prize of $10,000;
• The Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films Live Action Award and Best Director – both winners receive cash prizes of $5,000 sponsored by Dendy Cinemas;
• The Yoram Gross Animation Award (cash prize $4,000).
Dendy Cinemas have been proud to sponsor the Awards for 26 years, and the winner of their Live Action Award is now eligible for Academy Award consideration. Also eligible is the winner of the Yoram Gross Animation Award. Yoram and Sandra Gross have sponsored the Yoram Gross Animation Award since 1987.
Both the Dendy Awards for Australian Short films and the Australian Documentary Competition are open exclusively to Australian films.
A small fee applies with the submission. Before entering, Festival organisers encourage all entrants to read the submission requirements closely to ensure that all entries meet premiere status and broader eligibility requirements. Head to: http://www.sff.org.au/public/about/2014-film-submissions/ for full eligibility criteria and submission details.
The 2014 Sydney Film Festival will screen more than 190 films from over 50 countries across Sydney in both CBD and city-fringe locations. More than 280 screenings will take place at the State Theatre, Dendy Opera Quays, Art Gallery of NSW, Event Cinemas George Street, Festival Hub at Sydney Town Hall and Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, as well as at a number of soon-to-be-announced boutique screening locations.
A sneak preview of the 2014 program will be announced in April and the full Festival program will be revealed in May.
What: Sydney Film Festival
When: 4-15 June, 2014
Submissions: http://www.filmfestivallife.com/Sydney-Film-Festival