Sydney Film Festival - 2023

Introduction 

Since its establishment in 1954, the Sydney Film Festival (SFF) has grown both in size and reputation to become a prominent international film festival in Australia. The festival, which has received recognition from the Federation Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films (FIAPF), takes place every year in June at various locations throughout Sydney. The SFF program showcases the finest works of global cinema, featuring a wide range of features, documentaries, short films, retrospectives, as well as industry and public discussions. In 2022, the festival curated a selection of over 200 productions from more than 60 countries, drawing an audience of over 100,000 attendees.

Table Of Contents

• Details
• History
• Registrations
• Indian Celebrities At Sydney Film Festival 2023
• Schedule

Details

History

A committee was formed to establish a film festival in Sydney, inspired by the experiences of Australian filmmakers at the Edinburgh Film Festival and the annual meeting of the Australian Council of Film Societies. This committee included notable individuals such as Alan Stout, John Heyer, John Kingsford Smith, and David Donaldson. Under Donaldson's guidance, the inaugural festival took place in 1954, spanning four days with screenings held at Sydney University. The event was a success, with full capacity attendance and 1,200 tickets sold.

The festival's reputation and international attendance grew over time. In 1958, it welcomed Paul Rotha as its first visitor sponsored from abroad and began publishing advertisements in the festival catalogue. By 1959, the programme had grown to seventeen days, and by 1960, it had over 2,000 subscribers, with the addition of an Opening Night feature film and party. However, censorship issues arose in the mid-1960s, and they persisted until the festival was granted an exemption in 1971.

Initially hosted by the University, the festival relocated to Rose Bay's Wintergarden in 1968 for a five-year run. Then, in 1974, it moved to the historic State Theatre, which is still used for the festival. The festival added new entertainment elements in 2007, such as live gigs, shows, and cabaret-style screenings at the nearby Metro Theatre.

The 2020 festival had to be scaled back and held entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, it was postponed and opened with limited audience capacity, gradually increasing throughout the event. The films were also made available for online viewing.

Registrations

Eligible films will have one or more of the following as a core narrative or subject:

• addresses the challenge of adapting to, or fighting against, the impact of climate change.

• advocates for the preservation of biodiversity.

• profiles sustainable consumption and industries, including agriculture and renewable energies.

• explores energy efficient and sustainable urban planning and transport.

• portrays technical innovations and solutions addressing climate change.

• focuses on reducing the human environmental footprint, including responsible tourism.

• champions individual and organisational social responsibility in respect to emissions reduction.

In addition, the film:

• may be of any length;

• must have been completed since 1 June 2022;

• must not have previously screened* publicly in New South Wales in the submitted version;

• must be provided by link to enable the jury to view the film privately during the months of May-June.

* A screening being the public presentation of the film either; in a cinema or other space; online (such as YouTube); on a streaming service (like Netflix or SBS on Demand); or broadcast (e.g., on a television channel such as ABC).

Indian Celebrities at Sydney Film Festival 2023 

• Anurag Kashyap - Anurag Kashyap, the head of the jury and the chief guest at the Sydney Film Festival, attended the festival with Sunny Leone, Shariq Patel, and the rest of the team for the screening of his latest film Kenndy, which was also shown at the Cannes Film Festival and was well received.

• Sunny leone - Sunny Leone, alongside Anurag Kashya is attending Sydney Film Festival for the film Kenndy. 

• Manoj Bhajpayee - Manoj Bhajpayee will be attending the Sydney Film Festival alongside Mohd Zeeshan ,Megha Mathur and Tannishtha Chatterjee for their new film Jhoram, a survival thriller about a father who is fleeing from his troubled history and the imminent threats that seek to harm him, all while protecting his young daughter.

Schedule

Play

The festival will run from 7th of June to 18th Of June across Sydney.

The Sydney Film Festival, founded in 1954 by The Sydney Committee, the NSW State Government, and the City of Sydney, has a long history. It grew into a prestigious international event after being inspired by the experiences of Australian filmmakers at the Edinburgh Film Festival. It has shown a wide range of films over the years, attracting renowned guests and expanding its programme. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival hosted an online version in 2020. The 2021 edition saw a gradual return to in-person screenings. The festival continues to provide a platform for cinematic excellence and fosters cultural exchange.