For the first time in the festival's history, Sydney Film Festival will run a Summer Season, coinciding with January's major arts event, Sydney Festival. As part of the festival's program, five local and international films will be screened at the State Theatre, for one weekend only from 15-17 January 2021.
The Sydney Film Festival is one of the world's longest-running film festivals and a mainstay in the New South Wales cultural calendar. The collaboration provides audiences with an insight into what's to come later in the year, when the festival hosts its 68th edition in June. The Summer Season will feature three highly-anticipated Australian films, alongside two of the most talked about international films of the year.
Starting off the weekend, the festival's screenings will begin with Nel Minchin and Wayne Blair’s Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra – a film that shares the tale of the three Page brothers, who took a newly born Australian dance company and turned it into a First Nations cultural powerhouse. Other local appearances include High Ground, the tense and powerful outback western starring The Mentlist's Simon Baker, Jacob Junior Nayinggul and Jack Thompson. Finishing off the Australian card is the triumphant documentary Girls Can’t Surf, about the competitive band of women surfers from around the world who revolutionised the sport.
Watch key highlights from the films below.
Festival attendees will also be among the first in the world to watch two internationally acclaimed features; the alcohol-soaked Danish comedy-drama Another Round, and Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner Minari, a film which is already receiving Oscar buzz.
“We encourage audiences not to miss this selection of essential films at the State Theatre. Sydney Film Festival: Summer Season will be an important prelude to what we have in store later in the year when Sydney Film Festival returns."
To view the full program for the Summer Season, find out more information, or to purchase tickets, head online to the official Sydney Film Festival website.
