“Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Kinds of Kindness” with Emma Stone, Lee Tamahori’s “The Convert” with Guy Pearce, and “The Bikeriders” with Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy, are among the nearly-200 films locked in for Sydney Film Festival 2024.
Announced today (May 8), members of Midnight Oil and director Paul Clarke will attend opening night to present “The Hardest Line,” a feature-length documentary which captures unheard interviews from all members of the legendary Aussie rock band, plus unseen live and studio footage, and signature moments along the way.
The curtains draw from June 5-16 for a Festival program that features 197 films from 69 countries, including 28 world premieres and 133 domestic first screenings.
According to reps, the program is comprised of 92 narrative feature films, including prestigious international festival prize-winners and 54 documentaries tackling crucial contemporary issues.
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Also announced to the lineup is the world premiere of homegrown boxing drama “Kid Snow,” Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine As Light,” and award winners “Dahomey” (Berlinale Golden Bear), and “Sujo” (Sundance Grand Jury Prize).
“The 71st Sydney Film Festival unfurls a canvas of bold narratives and remarkable visions, mirroring the evolving dynamics of our world,” comments Sydney Film Festival director Nashen Moodley in a statement. This year, adds Moodley, “we are proud to present films that challenge, entertain, and provoke dialogue, from the sweeping landscapes of Australian dramas to the complex human stories from global cinema.”
For the 16th year, a $60,000 cash Sydney Film Prize will be awarded to the film that demonstrates audacious, cutting-edge and courageous cinema.
The winner of the prestigious prize, part of the official competition, is announced at the Festival’s Closing Night Gala on Sunday, June 16.
Also, ten documentaries will compete for the 2024 Documentary Australia Prize, the winner of which receives a $20,000 cash sum (courtesy of Documentary Australia) and becomes Academy Award eligible.
The competition is the only film competition in Australia endorsed by FIAPF, the regulating body for international film festivals, and is judged by a jury of local and international filmmakers and industry professionals.
“The Sydney Film Festival is an important moment in our city’s cultural calendar,” comments NSW minister for the arts John Graham.
“One of the reasons the festival continues to go from strength to strength is the power of going to the cinema – coming together in a shared experience of escaping day to day life, sitting down in a theatre, and looking into this kaleidoscope of human stories,” Graham continues. “There’s something special about sharing that experience with hundreds other people that I believe will keep this festival going for another 71 years.”
Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Screen NSW; the federal government through Screen Australia; and City of Sydney the Festival’s principal local government partner.
Visit sff.org.au for the full lineup.
