The Big Screen National Touring Festival runs from February to November each year, taking a program of Australian films, along with a movie star or two, to audiences in country towns. Whether a light-hearted comedy, a wonderfully sophisticated drama, or an epic, this is often the only time these regional audiences get the opportunity to see and connect with Australian stories.
The most successful festivals are created when the Big Screen team work in partnership with communities, cinemas, community centres, film societies or arts groups, local government and businesses in each town. Local involvement and a collaborative approach to the event, from film choice to marketing and publicity, creates a festival that the whole community can embrace.
For example, Barcaldine in Queensland with its tiny population of 1800 always puts on a great show. In 2006, Puberty Blues received a standing ovation from a large audience who were keen to see this iconic film up on the big screen again. Other films on the Barcy program included The Big Steal, Bad Eggs, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Solo, Oyster Farmer and The Proposition. This last film had the audience intrigued. They had heard so many stories about it from their neighbours in Winton, where the film was shot, and when they got to judge for themselves they just loved it!
At Big Screen Film Festivals, popcorn and soft drinks are often replaced by barbeques, home-made suppers and country hospitality. It's a great mix: seeing an Australian film on the big screen, socialising with your neighbours and often meeting an Australian actor or director after the screening.
For some towns Big Screen is a rare chance to come together as a community, to celebrate and share an experience, whether it be laughter, tears or debate about how we live our lives.
In Karratha, WA, over 280 people turned out to see Rolf de Heer's Ten Canoes, screened under a starry sky on 35mm film at the Walkington Theatre. Everyone loved it.
All Big Screen festivals include free screenings of films to school students, giving children an opportunity to see and discuss Australian films that might not otherwise come to their town. Many festivals include local films or newsreels from the National Film and Sound Archive. Imagine your surprise at seeing Movietone reels of your home town in flood in the 1950s!
On her first tour, Big Screen Coordinator for NSW, Qld & NT, Jacqui North, wrote in her blog "The land itself and the people remind me of our uniqueness, and the necessity of taking Australian films all around this vast nation so that we 'hear our own voices and dream our own dreams.'" [The last part of this quote is from Phillip Adams' report to Sir John Gorton, Prime Minister 1968-71, recommending government funding for film.]
Big Screen can also link communities with opportunities for filmmaking workshops, we screen the resulting films.
Big Screen Director for WA, SA, Vic & Tas, Gordana Bacic, shares some of her experiences in country Victoria:
"One of the highlights of Briagolong Big Screen was the Sharing Stories program from Rural Access Victoria. Before each feature we screened a short film made by people from the Shire of Wellington, describing the stories of their lives. These moving, beautiful stories from people with various abilities and disabilities brought us a little closer to understanding their lives in their community."
"I was in the cinema introducing the film Solo, explaining its Project Greenlight origins and how it was another great film that seemed to have slipped under the radar, when a voice popped up saying the director's [Morgan O'Neill] mother was in the audience. How brilliant, that Big Screen could give Mrs O'Neill & her friends the opportunity to see her son's work in the cinema in their hometown. Priceless!"
Join Big Screen sometime, somewhere, in a country hall, cinema or drive-in, where you will truly see all those great Australian films you missed.
Jacqui North and Gordana Bacic, Big Screen Festival Coordinators
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Jacqui North - Festival Coordinator
Gordana Bacic - Festival Coordinator
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