A diverse program of world and Australian film festival favourites, including a brand new drama set in Arnhem Land, is set to screen in Raymond Terrace this week.
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As part of a push to attract people back into cinemas and showcase the best in new and independent films, Scotty's Cinema Centre in Raymond Terrace will host the My Cinema My Film Festival from Thursday to Sunday.
Sydney Film Festival's Travelling Film Festival has partnered with Independent Cinemas Australia, an organisation representing independent cinema operators throughout the country, and world-wide content delivery service Qube Wire to present My Cinema My Film Festival.
"My Cinema My Film Festival... is a fantastic opportunity for ICA member cinemas and the communities they serve to see the very best quality of films on the big screens of cinemas throughout Australia's cities and vast regional areas," said Scott Seddon, Scotty's Cinema Centre owner and president of Independent Cinemas Australia.
"This will give this particular segment of patrons the reason they have been looking for to get out off the couch and into their COVID-safe cinemas."
My Cinema My Film Festival aims to bring audiences back to their local theatres at a time when cinemas are faced with reduced capacity and fewer international releases.
"My Cinema My Film Festival gives independent operators a chance to present a bespoke festival-worthy program of world-class and top Australian cinema to screen to their local audiences," Sydney Film Festival chief executive officer Leigh Small said.
"This is one step we can take together to help bring audiences back to the cinemas responsibly, with outstanding films they are unlikely to see anywhere on streaming platforms."
The festival will open in Raymond Terrace on Thursday night with the screening of feature film High Ground starring Australian actor Simon Baker, Jack Thompson and newcomer Jacob Junior Nayinggul, a young Aboriginal man. The film will screen at 6.30pm.
Across the four days, Scotty's Cinema Centre will screen 11 feature films including Cannes 2019 prize winner The Climb, a bittersweet comedy that follows two friends through different rocky times in their lives; Canadian feature Kuessipan, a poignant coming-of age story told through two First Nation girls from a rural Quebec Innu community; Sydney Film Festival's documentary award winner Descent, which focuses on freezing water free diver Kiki Bosch and; The Painter and the Thief, a Norwegian documentary that exposes the curious friendship between an artist and the thief who stole her paintings.
Other films in the program include UK documentary Max Richter's Sleep; The Perfect Candidate, an entertaining and revealing look at the changing roles of women in Saudi Arabia and; Only The Animals, a mystery thriller follows five characters across two continents who seemingly play a role in the disappearance of a sixth.
Four Australian short films will also be shown during the festival including Safety Net, to screen alongside Kuessipan, Groundhog Night, to screen with The Climb, Diving In, showing alongside Descent and stop-motion animation Obscura, screening alongside The Painter and the Thief.
For the full festival program go to scottyscinemas.com.au.
Single film tickets are $25 per adult and $21 concession (seniors, students and pensioners).
Phone or visit the cinema to buy tickets.