REAL stories are the best stories and it’s the telling of these stories that the Real Film Festival is all about.
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Now in its sixth year, the festival will see the screening of Australian and international films, including features, shorts and documentaries, in Newcastle.
Eight of the films are made by Hunter-based filmmakers.
“Everybody has a story and the festival is about encouraging people to tell their stories through film,” festival director Annette Hubber said.
“This year there is a focus on local films to encourage Newcastle and Hunter filmmakers to keep making them.”
In something of a coup, this year’s festival will offer two advance screenings.
The first is a US-made film Jungle staring Daniel Radcliffe, of Harry Potter fame.
The film is based on the story of an Israeli backpacker, Yossi Ghinsberg, who left a safe future behind at just 22 years of age to chase an improbable dream in the mysterious depths of the Amazon jungle.
“It’s a harrowing film, a chilling thriller,” Ms Hubber said. “And it’s actually a true story.”
It will be screened on October 27, 6.45pm at Tower Cinemas.
The second advance screening will see Only the Brave brought to the screen. It is the heroic, true story of a crew of 20 firemen from Prescott, Arizona, known as the Granite Mountain Hotshots.
The film is due for release in the US in November.
It will screen on October 28, at 8pm, at Tower Cinemas, and will be followed by a question and answer session with local firefighters.
The educational component of the festival was unique, Ms Hubber said. For budding auteurs and lovers of film alike there will be workshops and masterclasses.
“We just want to help local filmmakers to keep making films,” Ms Hubber said.
Worskshop highlights include: comedy and screen writing, with Adam Khamis; special effects make-up for film, with Paige Badenoch; and advances in iPhones that will change filmmaking, with Jason van Genderen.
The festival will be opened by Newcastle councillor Carol Duncan, with a performance by Sarah Stone, of the 2017 series of The Voice.
The opening Gala is at the White Room, above Endota Spa, King St, Newcastle. The after party is at the Silo restaurant. The gala kicks off at 5.30pm on October 27.
An initiative of Screen Hunter, The Real Film Festival was first held in Newcastle in 2012 to foster and develop the art of telling true stories through film.
The festival is on October 27 – 29.
For the full screening program and tickets: realfilmfestival.com.au