From June 10 to 21, the festival will present important elements of its 2020 lineup: world premieres of compelling true stories from some of Australia’s most exciting documentary filmmakers, a program of shorts from rising stars of the Australian film industry, and films from Europe’s most cutting-edge female directors.
For the first time ever, festival attendees around Australia will be able to buy tickets and packages to experience the festival from wherever they are.
This year’s festival will present the Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary, the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films, and Europe! Voices of Women in Film.
“This year’s special 67th Sydney Film Festival: Virtual Edition and Awards is all about bringing audiences across the nation together at a particularly challenging time in celebration of filmmakers and particularly the Australian film industry,” festival director Nashen Moodley said.
“For almost 70 years, the SFF has been the way we collectively explore the world and our times through the medium of film.
“It is two weeks in June when Sydney is as we know and love it – open, alive, inquisitive, inspired and connected – and we with it.”
The unprecedented festival’s program will be launched on May 27.
“The SFF is when we came together to discover, discuss, explore; to be transformed and always entertained,” Moodley said.
“So, from our homes the journey continues!”
It comes after the SFF announced its decision to join 20 major film festivals from around the world, led by Tribeca and including Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Sundance and San Sebastian, together with YouTube, to present a free 10-day digital festival.
The festival will run from May 29 to June 7, and screen features, shorts, documentaries and more via YouTube.
It’ll also include music, comedy and conversations, with the lineup set to be announced close to the event’s dates.
The festival creators seek to provide unity and raise awareness for coronavirus relief efforts: a sidebar on video pages welcomes audiences to donate to WHO and local relief partners in each region.
