Dungog Film Festival 2010

The fourth Dungog Film Festival – held over 4 nights and 3 days during the last weekend of May – was a resounding success and the event is testament to the marketing and organisational skills of Allanah Zitserman and her committed team. Dungog is unique in being the only major film festival in the country to exclusively screen Australian films, shorts and documentaries and the festival is a golden opportunity for industry professionals to network in a relaxed and laid-back country setting.

Among the many highlights of this year’s festival was the world premiere of Lou, written and directed by Belinda Chayko; the moving and harrowing Beneath Hill 60, brilliantly directed by Jeremy Sims and starring an impressive ensemble cast headed by Brendan Cowell; a surprise screening of Accidents Happen, directed by Andrew Lancaster and starring Gina Davis; and the closing night gala film presentation Subdivision, a romantic comedy directed by Sue Brooks and starring Aussie screen legends Gary Sweet, Steve Bisley, Kris McQuaid and Bruce Spence, with Ashley Bradnam and Brooke Satchwell making their feature film acting debut.

The Dungog Film Festival has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception in 2007 and unlike many of the big film festivals where it is next to impossible to network with industry professionals Dungog is open access for one and all. So if you are an actor, acting student or a budding filmmaker, then head for Dungog next year and network like crazy – the huge Rock ‘n Reel party on Saturday night alone is worth the drive.
Then you can happily chant the festival mantra: Done Sundance; Done Cannes; Dungog.

The laid-back ambience of Dungog (Photo looking down main street)

Alan Nurthen and Allanah Zitserman on the red carpet at Dungog.

Alan Nurthen and Screen Actors Workshop coordinator Vera Polianskaia at the historic James Theatre.

The infamous Saturday night Rock ‘n Reel party.

Dungog Film Festival 2009

Some of the many highlights of the 2009 festival were the multi-talented Matt Newton’s feature film directing debut, Three Blind Mice, featuring the late great Bud Tingwell; the premiere of Richard Frankland’s hilarious road trip comedy Stone Bros; the confronting action-packed moral tale Hobby Farm; and the documentary-style jigsaw puzzle mystery Lake Mungo.

Amongst a sea of well-known faces, Ray Argall (President of the Australian Directors Guild) was also in attendance this year, as the ADG has joined the growing list of Dungog Film Festival sponsors.

Alan Nurthen, Matt Newton and Vera Polianskaia

Alan Nurthen, Bruce Callaghan and David Friend

Peter Phelps and Alan Nurthen

The infamous Saturday Night Party at Dungog 2009!

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