PRESS RELEASE
From true tales of ghosts and musical heroes to critically acclaimed features about love, environment and terrorism – Clarence Valley film-buffs will be able to watch the latest and greatest in world cinema when the Travelling Film Festival hits Grafton’s Saraton Theatre and Yamba Cinema for the very first time from Thursday March 27 to Monday March 31, 2014.
Tickets to Australia’s longest-running travelling film festival are on sale now, with the Festival offering local audiences two respective programs at both Grafton and Yamba screening venues.
The Festival travels to Clarence Valley thanks to a new partnership with Clarence Valley Council, and will showcase an eclectic selection of eight features and three short films from Australia, Italy, France, Chile, Spain, India, Germany, United States and the United Kingdom.
Many of the titles will arrive in Clarence Valley on the back of acclaimed runs on the international film festival circuit and sell-out screenings across the Northern Territory.
Commenting on the new partnership between the Festival and Clarence Valley Council, Mayor Richie Williamson says: “Clarence Valley Council is a proud sponsor of the Travelling Film Festival and we can’t wait for it all to happen here in Grafton and Yamba.”
“I’m sure all our local film-buffs and those in our neighbouring regions will be marking the dates in their calendars so they don’t miss out on this great cultural opportunity usually reserved for city folk. We’ll certainly be welcoming the visitors that this event attracts and no doubt it will be a welcome boost to the local economy.”
The Festival will kick off in Grafton on March 27 with THE DARKSIDE, a documentary that brings true Australian ghost stories to life with the help of some of the nation’s most iconic acting talent including Deborah Mailman, Claudia Karvan and Aaron Pedersen.
The film, directed by Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton (Samson and Delilah), made its international premiere this week at The Berlin International Film Festival and presents a collection of moving and bizarre first-hand accounts from regular people who have had weird experiences and unexplainable experiences with the unknown.
Yamba screenings will commence on March 28 with the Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning drama THE GREAT BEAUTY, directed acclaimed Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino (Il Divo). The film has been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Academy Awards and tells the story of Jep, a charismatic 65-year-old journalist-bachelor who reflects on life and love as he explores Rome’s people, ruins and city streets.
Screening in Both Yamba and Grafton will be acclaimed French drama THE PAST, directed by award-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhardi. The film was nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes International Film Festival and centres around an Iranian man who faces the prospect of divorce after leaving his French wife and two children to return to his homeland.
Other Festival highlights include the latest drama-epic from Kurdish Cinema legend Hiner Saleem MY SWEET PEPPER LAND; crime-thriller and Eric Bana starrer CLOSED CIRCUIT; award-winning Chilean-Spanish drama GLORIA; and toe-tapping rookie documentary MUSCLE SHOALS, which takes an insider’s look at legendary recording studio that played host to everyone from Aretha Franklin to Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones.
What: Travelling Film Festival
When: Grafton Saraton Theatre – March 27-30; Yamba Cinema – March 28-31.
Full program details and ticketing information can be found at:
• Grafton: http://www.sff.org.au/public/travelling-film-festival/tff-locations/grafton/
• Yamba: http://www.sff.org.au/public/travelling-film-festival/tff-locations/yamba/