The Adelaide Film Festival has revealed its full program for 2022 with the theme of ‘A Celebration of Imagination’.
The event is taking place in the South Australian capital from Oct. 19 to 30.
This marks the first annual iteration of the festival, which previously took place every two years.
The 2022 program features 129 films, 22 of which are world premieres and a further 32 which are Australian premieres.
The festival will open with a celebration of The Angels – “The Angels: Kickin’ Down The Door” – a documentary directed by Adelaide’s Madeleine Parry. The band will then perform at the Opening Night after party.
The Opening Night Gala will also feature the world premiere of “Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black)”, a multi-disciplinary artwork created by Yankunytjatjara artist Derik Lynch and Australian artist Matthew Thorne.
It will close with the feature debut “Talk to Me”, by the Racka Racka brothers, Daniel and Michael Philippou. The film is an Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund film, and tells the story of a lonely teenager who gets hooked on conjuring spirits using a ceramic hand.
The festival will also host the Australian premiere of “Carmen”, direct from its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Publicity from the festival said the film is “a visual and aural feast” from celebrated choreographer Benjamin Millepied (“Black Swan”).
The festival will also feature a number of awards and celebrations including the Feature Fiction Competition, which celebrates bold storytelling and innovative filmmaking. In addition, the AFF’s annual Change Award will be awarded.
The 2022 Bettison and James Award has already been awarded to Pat Rix, a respected artistic director with significant experience creating community and mainstage productions in Australia, the U.S. and South East Asia.
Rix will speak at the festival, giving an in-depth interview about her lifetime journey building an artistic community based on trust and respect.
The 2022 Don Dunstan Award has also already been recognised, with the award going to David Jowsey. The screen industry figure established Bunya Productions with Ivan Sen and has been instrumental in developing many memorable film and television projects in recent years, including “Mystery Road”.
Mat Kesting, CEO and creative director of the Adelaide Film Festival, said the program showcases an incredible cross-section of remarkable screen talent.
“Adelaide Film Festival is a home for the courageous creatives at the frontier of film art and those who help to forge our national identity through the exploration (and creation) of ideas and culture,” he said.
“The Festival is proud to present the directorial debuts of directors, Australian and international, alongside a diverse array of extraordinary and award-winning films from around the globe, and welcome a growing Australian guest list including AFF patron Margaret Pomeranz, Dr Bob Brown, David Jowsey, The Angels, the Racka Racka Brothers, Brenda Matthews, Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM, Richard Bell, Soda Jerk and Lynette Wallworth, in addition to international guests we look forward to announcing soon.”
Andrea Michaels, the state’s minister for the arts, said the AFF team is to be congratulated for curating an outstanding program.
“I am particularly pleased to see the program opens and closes with local South Australian talent. The South Australian Government’s additional $2 million investment to annualise the AFF will give a major boost to the contribution already made by the AFF to the local creative sector over the past 20 years,” Michaels said.
