The Big Screen festival, now in its eighth year, brings programs of contemporary and classic Australian films to regional, rural and remote Australian communities. First launched in 2001 as a Centenary of Federation project, the festival has played to close to 140,000 Australians in more than 50 towns.
Reflecting the NFSA's commitment to increasing access to Australian content, the 2008 tour will continue to visit remote centres such as Burnie in Tasmania and Karratha in Western Australia. Big Screen has also expanded through satellite programs such as a tour from Broken Hill through Silverton, Wilcannia, and Ivanhoe.
The 2008 program will feature the latest Australian releases including The Black Balloon, Cactus, Death Defying Acts, Disgrace, Forbidden Lie$, Not Quite Hollywood and Unfinished Sky.
The 2008 Big Screen tour kicks off at Mildura including special guests Bryan Brown and director Jasmine Yuen Carrucan presenting the local premiere of Cactus, along with a selection of films at the Deakin Cinema and under the stars at the Mildura Wentworth Arts Festival.
Regional, rural and remote locations for Big Screen festivals this year include Broken Hill, Port Macquarie, Nambucca and Gunnedah in NSW, Nanango, Blackbutt, Cairns and Pomona in Queensland, Darwin in the Northern Territory, Broome, Port Hedland and Karratha in Western Australia, Bendigo, Traralgon, and Briagolong in Victoria, Mallacoota, Quorn, Port Augusta and Woomera in South Australia and Burnie in Tasmania.
In 2007 over 16,000 people in 27 regional, remote or rural parts of Australia experienced Australian features films, short films and documentaries at a Big Screen festival and this year is expected to be just as big. Films screened on the 2007 tour include Rogue (world premiere in Darwin), Razzle Dazzle, Clubland, Lucky Miles, Noise, Bra Boys and Romulus, My Father.
School Screen organises free school screenings and include films such as Dot and the Kangaroo, The Magic Pudding, Hildegarde, Opal Dream and the newly restored Storm Boy. School Screen has its own web pages on the NFSA website.
The schools program features a selection of some of the best graduation films from students of the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). AFTRS classified the films specifically for Big Screen to cater for high school students studying English, media and communications in years 10, 11 and 12.
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Tara Morice and her daughter in Port Augusta
Actor Ningali Lawford Wolf introduced Ten Canoes on opening night
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