The full program of 251 films for the 62nd edition of the Sydney Film Festival has landed.
Festival director Nashen Moodley has announced the program before a gathering of media and industry figures at Customs House in Circular Quay. The annual celebration spans genres from feature to documentary, music, cartoon and beyond, taking in films from Australia and overseas – with many of those making their Australian premieres or world premieres at the festival.
As previously revealed, the festival’s Opening Night feature will be a world premiere of Brendan Cowell’s Ruben Guthrie – the film adaptation of his hit Belvoir Street Theatre play. Another Australian film, Neil Armfield’s Holding The Man (starring Ryan Corr, Anthony LaPaglia, Guy Pearce and Sarah Snook) will close the festival.
The 2015 Official Competition features 12 films competing for the $60,000 Sydney Film Prize. They include three Australian films – The Daughter (a world premiere with Geoffrey Rush, Miranda Otto, Ewen Leslie and Sam Neill), Strangerland (with Nicole Kidman, Joseph Fiennes and Hugo Weaving) and Sherpa.
Meanwhile, eight films are coming to Sydney Film Festival direct from Cannes, including Our Little Sister (from Cannes’ Official Selection) and Amy Winehouse biopic Amy.
The wider schedule includes several programs appealing to a diverse range of film audiences, including a new Animation Showcase, the music films of Sounds On Screen, the Freak Me Out horror program and an Essential Bergman collection curated by film critic David Stratton.
Apart from its traditional home base at the State Theatre and festival hub at Sydney Town Hall, this year’s festival adds new venues Dendy Cinemas Newtown and Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. Screenings will also take place at Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, the Art Gallery of NSW and Skyline Drive-In Blacktown.
Sydney Film Festival 2015 takes over cinemas and other venues around Sydney from Wednesday June 3 – Sunday June 14. For full program listings and ticketing info, visit the festival website.
