Dungog Festival’s highly anticipated film program has been released, with several classic films on the bill.
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The program features a fantastic array of predominantly Australian feature films and documentaries, along with panel talks, interviews and a short film competition.
The centrepiece is a digitally restored version of 1982 Australian cult classic StarStruck, about the wild adventures of aspiring singer Jackie (Jo Kennedy) and her enthusiastic cousin Angus (Ross O’Donovan).
A special event will be held ahead of the screening - In Conversation with Brian Thomson.
Thomson is one of the country’s most celebrated stage and screen designers.
As well as StarStruck, he is renowned for his work Rocky Horror Picture Show and Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, as well as the Olympic Games and the Rugby World Cup.
An array of hand-picked documentaries will screen. Gym fans will enjoy Destination Arnold, a tale of two female Indigenous friends on a quest to conquer bodybuilding competition The Arnolds.
The Coffee Man will also feature, which follows Bosnian immigrant and barista champion Sasa.
The third will be Motorkite Dreaming, in which seven amateur adventurers tackle a 4000km journey through outback Australia.
Each will be presented alongside a question and answer with the stars, director and producer, respectively.
The short film competition will be split into 10 sessions across the festival.
Categories include Australian fiction and documentary, young filmmakers (under 25), international shorts and music videos.
The short film competition has a $30,000 cash prize pool, the richest regional competition in Australia.
The competition has attracted some of the best short films in the country which will screen across Friday and Saturday in the lead up to the awards.
Entrants will be judged by an impressive panel of some of the biggest names in Australian film and television, including David Field (The Combination, The Secret Daughter), Matt Day (Rake, Perry) and Sue Smith (Mabo, Saving Mr Banks).
The Australian Directors Guild will launch two new scholarships at the Short Film Competition Awards presentation. The two Metro Screen scholarships will be awarded to emerging filmmakers, valued at $20,000 and $15,000, each year for the next three years.
In addition to screenings, the festival will feature a free virtual Reality Lounge, which offers festival-goers a stunning visual narrative.
Lights Out and Listen will also provide attendees with an enthralling sonic journey through memories, stories and music.