Film festival lights up Barcy

FILM buffs are in for a treat next weekend as the Australian Film Commission’s touring Big Screen film festival sets up shop in Barcaldine.

Over four days, Australian films including Picnic At Hanging Rock, locally shot The Proposition and kids flick Hildegarde will screen at the Radio Theatre.

Barcaldine Arts Council president Brett Walsh is again looking forward to another film festival, which has previously brought local film connoisseurs out-of-the-woodwork.

"This will be the third year in a row that the Big Screen festival has appeared in Barcaldine," Mr Walsh said.

"It is an exciting weekend for the town, and it will be great to see films like the iconic Picnic At Hanging Rock on the Radio Theatre’s screen.
"It will also be the first time that The Proposition has been shown to an audience in Barcy.
"High School students will also have the opportunity to view Kokoda during the festival for free, which has apparently tied in well with their current studies.
"It will be great for people just to sit back and watch movies all weekend."

The festival gets underway next Friday with a gala opening night screening of Josh Jarman, starring Marcus Graham.

The film’s writer/director, Pip Mushin, will present the film to the audience, no doubt fielding questions from local film enthusiasts.

Other films that will screen during the festival include Oyster Farmer – a story about a 23-year-old Sydney sider who moves to an oyster farm to be close to his sister, Bad Eggs – Mick Molloy stars as the undercover detective, Ben, who along with his dim-witted partner Mike, make it to the headlines of Sydney’s tabloids; Puberty Blues – a gritty drama about being a teenager in the ‘cool group’; The Big Steal – a romantic comedy starring Ben Mendelsohn and Claudia Karvan; and Solo, set in Sydney, is a dark journey into the heart of Australia’s underworld.

Festival programs are available online at www.afc.gov.au/bigscreen or at the Radio Theatre.