Travelling Film Festival arrives in Townsville

Some of the world’s most awarded new feature films are heading to Townsville in a festival full of stories that will make you laugh, and cry. See the line up.

On location BTS from the movie ONE WINTER. Saturday, October 15, 2022. Dunedin, New Zealand. Photo: Marc Weakley/Cereal TV

It’s the ultimate weekend for film fans as the Travelling Film Festival returns to Townsville for its 49th tour as part of the acclaimed Sydney Film Festival.

A unique line-up of highly awarded, new international films will arrive at Townsville’s Warrina Cineplex, from November 10-12.

Featuring seven award-winning and nominated feature-length films and three award-winning Australian short films, the festival program ranges from gripping dramas to quirky romances directed by filmmakers from France, New Zealand, Japan, USA, Finland, Canada, and Australia.

Annie Parnell, manager of the Travelling Film Festival said it’s a festival full of stories that will make you laugh, cry, think and give you great insight into other people’s lives.

“People seem incredibly grateful they get the opportunity to see films out of the ordinary that don’t fit in with the usual blockbusters,” she said.

On location behind the scenes from the movie ONE WINTER. Photo: Marc Weakley/Cereal TV

“They’re the sort of films that make people think, they come out the cinema and want to talk and explore the themes.”

This year’s Opening Night film is 2023 Cannes Palme d’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall from French filmmaker Justine Triet, also a Sydney Film Festival Audience Award winner.

A unique line-up of highly awarded new films from around the globe will arrive at Townsville’s Warrina Cineplex November 10-12.

The tense psychological drama stars Sandra Hüller (Toni Erdmann) as an author accused of murdering her husband.

The film also won the Palme Dog Award at Cannes this year for best performance by a dog.

However, on Saturday night, the film not to miss is Uproar, starring Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), and Julian Dennison (Hunt for the Wilderpeople), the drama from New Zealand directors Paul Middleditch and Hamish Bennett is more than a coming-of-age film.

“Uproar is about a young person at 17 trying to find out who he is in the world. And what 17-year-old hasn’t done that at some point?” Parnell said.

With a sharp political focus on Mãori rights and finding your place in the world, it’s described as a feel-good film that will tickle your funny bone and tug at your heartstrings.

Director Paul Middleditch said UPROAR is the most personal film he has made in his career.

“It was a rollercoaster of emotions - so much laughter and tears. Now we have the chance to share Julian and the rest of the amazing cast with audiences,” he said.

“We’re thrilled to be part of the Traveling Film Festival, and hope those who get along to see it in Townsville will also feel the laugher and tears.”

The Travelling Film Festival will also showcase three Australian short films from this year’s Sydney Film Festival including Katele, Screening alongside Shayda on Saturday, by Torres Strait Islander filmmaker John Harvey.

Spoken in English and Kala Kawa Ya, the film was also selected for the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films and is set across a Far North Queensland and Torres Strait Island backdrop.

The festival tours from late June through to March and currently visits 19 locations including Far North, Central and Southern Queensland, NSW and major centres in the Northern Territory.

For the full program and to purchase tickets go to sff.org.au/tff.

Originally published as Travelling Film Festival arrives in Townsville