I wrote this media release for the Traveling Film Festival for my internship in Australia.

1. MEDIA RELEASE
EMBARGOED UNTIL SUNDAY 26 AUGUST 2018
HANG AROUND HUSKISSON TO SEE THE BEST OF THE FEST!
The Travelling Film Festival, the regional tour of the Sydney Film Festival, returns to Huskisson’s Greater
Union Cinemas this August, showcasing the hottest films from the 65th
Sydney Film Festival. Presenting eight
feature films and one fascinating documentary, the Festival returns from 24-26 August 2018.
The Travelling Film Festival, started by David Stratton in 1974, tours to 18 regional locations year-round,
including six Queensland centres, nine in New South Wales and three in the Northern Territory.
Opening the Festival is Australian documentary Backtrack Boys. The film delighted Sydney Film Festival
audiences and follows a story of three Aussie boys who are on a rocky path towards jail until they meet a
rule-breaking jackaroo and join his legendary dog jumping team.
“We’re thrilled to bring the festival back to Huskisson,” festival manager, Karina Libbey, said.“With nine of
the best films direct from Sydney Film Festival, from star-studded comedies to captivating dramas by award-
winning directors, the local community have plenty of brilliant films to look forward to.”
Program highlights include winner of the 2018 Sydney Film Prize at Sydney Film Festival The Heiresses by
Paraguayan director Marcelo Martinessi. A rare film from Paraguay’s modest film industry, the complex
relationship drama takes an unusual look at the lives of wealthy Paraguayan families, through the tribulations
of a lesbian couple.
Also screening will be two winners of Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films at Sydney Film Festival 2018:
Andrew Goldsmith and Bradley Slabe’s Lost and Found, winner of the $5000 Yoram Gross Animation Award.
Tip of my Tongue, a screenability short film and came close to winning, will be shown at Huskisson Pictures.
Closing the Festival will be Oscar-nominated filmmaker Gus Van Sant’s inspirational comedy Don’t Worry, He
Won’t Get Far On Foot, starring Joaquin Phoenix alongside Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara and Jack Black.
Direct from Cannes, the Festival will also screen: Lee Chang-dong’s FIPRESCI critics’ prize winner Burning, the
highest-scoring film in the history of Screen International’s jury grid; winner of Best Director prize, visually-
stunning love story Cold War from Oscar-winning filmmaker Paweł Pawlikowski; and winner of the Society of
Dramatic Author and Composers Prize at Critics’ Week, Woman At War by Of Horses and Men director
Benedikt Erlingsson.
The Festival will also showcase three riveting stories: The Insult, nominated for the Best Foreign Language
Oscar; West of Sunshine, an exhilarating debut feature from Australian director Jason Raftopoulos; and
comic drama Wajib, about the lives of Palestinians living in Israel, starring real-life father and son
Mohammad and Saleh Bakri.
Tickets to Australia’s longest running travelling film festival are now on sale with ‘Subscribe and Save’
packages offering great value for multiple ticket purchases, with tickets from just $9.
The 65th Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW, City of Sydney and
Destination NSW. Federal Government support is provided through Screen Australia.

2. The Program:
Opening Night: Friday 3 August
• Backtrack Boys – Three Aussie boys are on a rocky path towards jail until they meet a rule-breaking
jackaroo and join his legendary dog jumping team
Saturday 23 June
• Backtrack Boys – Three Aussie boys are on a rocky path towards jail until they meet a rule-breaking
jackaroo and join his legendary dog jumping team.
• ÁGA - In this visually spectacular love story, set in the Arctic, an isolated couple must deal with a
changing way of life while yearning for their estranged daughter.
• West of Sunshine - A working-class dad must settle a crippling debt in this punchy slice of Australian
social realism. Jason Raftopoulos’ impressive first feature debuted at Venice Film Festival. Screens
with short film Tip of My Tongue.
• Cold War - Pawel Pawlikowski (Oscar-winner Ida) won the Best Director prize at Cannes for this
passionate, music-filled love story set in Cold War-era Europe and based on the relationship of his
own parents.
• The Insult – Ziad Doueiri’s (The Attack, SFF 2013) thrilling, Oscar-nominated legal drama explores
festering historical, political and religious divisions in his native Lebanon.
Sunday 24 June
• Woman at War - Gloriously funny, this year’s Cannes Critics’ Week award-winner from Benedikt
Erlingsson (Of Horses and Men, SFF 2014) is about a DIY Icelandic eco-warrior taking on heavy
industry.
• Wajib - Writer-director Annemarie Jacir’s multi-award winning comic drama about the lives of
Palestinians living in Israel stars real-life father and son Mohammad and Saleh Bakri. Screens with
short film Second Best – winner of the Dendy Live Action Short Award at Sydney Film Festival 2018.
• The Heiresses - Winner of the 2018 Sydney Film Prize at Sydney Film Festival, this complex drama
takes an unusual look at the lives of wealthy Paraguayan families through the tribulations of a lesbian
couple. Screens with short film Lost & Found – winner of the Yoram Gross Animation Award at
Sydney Film Festival 2018.
• Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot – Oscar-nominated actors Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill and
Rooney Mara star alongside Golden Globe nominee Jack Black in Gus Van Sant’s portrait of cult
cartoonist John Callahan.

3. WHAT: Travelling Film Festival Wollongong
WHEN: Friday 3 August – Sunday 5 August, 2018
WHERE: Greater Union Cinemas
68 Burelli St
Wollongong NSW 2500
SINGLE TICKETS: $14 / $12 / $10 (Adult / Concession / Student & Kids)
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE: FULL SUBSCRIPTION: $81 Adult / $72 Concession
5-FILM FLEXIPASS: $53 Adult / $48 Concession
HOW TO BOOK: Book tickets online in advance at sff.org.au/wollongong
For ticket enquiries please contact Sydney Film Festival on 02 8220 6600 or contact the cinema box office.
TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL VISITS…
NT Alice Springs, Darwin, Katherine QLD Bundaberg, Cairns, Mackay, Nambour, Toowoomba, Townsville
NSW Huskisson, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Sawtell, Tamworth, Ulladulla, Wagga Wagga, Wollongong TFF
AT SEA Sydney to Tasmania
PRESENTED BY Sydney Film Festival T 02 8220 6600 E tff@sff.org.au W sff.org.au
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Amy Owen, Communications Advisor
E: Amy@cardinalspin.com.au P: 02 8065 7363 M: 0404 977 338
Genvin In, Communications Assistant
E: Genvin@cardinalspin.com.au M: 0449 939 864