SYDNEY, May 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Sydney Film Festival (SFF), launched a fully online programme for 2020 today, allowing movie-lovers to enjoy the best of the big screen from home, amid COVID-19.
The internationally renowned celebration of cinema will run from June 10 till 21, featuring 33 films, including 16 world premieres.
“Since the 66th SFF in 2019, nothing has changed. We aren’t together in a dark cinema, sharing new ideas and worlds — but film is still where we look for them,” SFF Director, Nashen Moodley, said.
“This year’s special 67th SFF: Virtual Edition and Awards, presents a distilled essence of SFF, where audiences can not only watch mind-boggling films but support the filmmakers who’ve made them.”
The film-making industry has been hit hard by COVID-19, with cinemas closed and productions around the world forced to shut down.
“While we have lost the opportunity to share these films together in the dark, we have gained the opportunity for a national audience, and a new sense of urgency and purpose, to ensure that these stories are seen despite the current crisis,” SFF Chair, Deanne Weir said.
This year, SFF is also part of We Are One: A Global Film Festival, a free online film festival, commencing May 29.
Prompted by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, We Are One is first-ever collaboration of the world’s premier film festivals, including Cannes, Venice and Berlin, presenting selections from each of the festivals involved.
SFF contributed two ground-breaking Australian films from First Nations directors Rachel Perkins and Ivan Sen — Mabo and Mystery Road.– NNN-AGENCIES
