Dungog Film Festival

The Dungog Film Festival was an annual event held in the Hunter Region town of Dungog. Dungog Film Festival was a not for profit arts organisation that was dedicated to celebrating and promoting Australian screen industry. The festival was committed to education and nurturing the health of the Australian film and TV industry through a range of dynamic initiatives. Some proceeds of the festival have gone towards preserving the James Theatre. The festival aimed to support the Australian Film and TV Industry in a non-competitive environment that exclusively showcased Australian screen content.

Dungog Film Festival showcased feature films, short films, television, documentaries, Australian classics and music videos. The festival also ran an extensive education program, including workshops, seminars, master classes with prominent directors, and the In The Raw script readings for television series, miniseries and feature films scripts. It was considered the biggest festival of Australian cinema in the world, as well as the largest short film festival in Australia. Screenings took place in local venues including the iconic James Theatre and the RSL auditorium. The 2010 festival attracted over 9,000 people and national media coverage including Sunrise, NBN News and Network Ten.

The Dungog Film Festival has been replaced by the Dungog Festival, an annual event that includes a major film component which in 2016 included a short film competition with $30,000 in cash prizes, an out-of-competition showcase programme of documentaries and feature films and a series of filmmaker workshops and panels with a range of screen industry guest speakers.

The festival was established in 2007 by film-makers Allanah Zitserman (Festival Director) and Stavros Kazantzidis (Managing Director). Their aim was to foster a greater appreciation for Australian films among Australian audiences, strengthen bonds within the Australian film and television communities, and present a cultural experience in a distinctly Australian rural setting.

The last film festival was held in 2012. A new event, the Dungog Festival, with a focus on film, food and fresh air, was established in 2014 and is held annually, run by the Dungog Arts Foundation.

Over the years, film luminaries, emerging talent, actors, film buffs, students, industry executives, journalists and switched-on audiences have flocked to Dungog in increasing numbers. Film industry professionals have enjoyed the Festival because it offers a truly world-class festival experience with a laid-back vibe and intimate atmosphere, which promotes camaraderie away from the bustle of the city. Attendees love the Festival as it provides the opportunity to immerse in a cultural experience with the rare chance to meet and engage with filmmakers and celebrities.

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