Here is Festival Coordinator Jacqui North's report on the first ever Big Screen in Yamba.

The first Big Screen in Yamba 26-29 April was a success, with over 1,000 people from all age groups attending the surf- and dance-themed festival.

Cinema owner Debbie McCredie said a crowd turned out for the gala opening night on Friday to see the premiere of a newsreel from the National Film and Sound Archive covering 100 years of surf lifesaving, plus the iconic surf film Crystal Voyager, featuring local identity Nat Young. MP Steve Cansdell dropped by to celebrate. “I think the nippers thought it was quite funny to see the way it used to be done,” he said. “Those kids would never have seen anything like that.”

Yamba Surf Lifesaving Club has requested use of the newsreel for its 100-year anniversary next year.

A high-quality 35mm print from the National Film and Sound Archive of The Picture Show Man was well received on Saturday, with many Woodford Dale residents making the trek to see the locally filmed classic. Over 60 people enjoyed the film including the family who owned the land where part of the film was shot. “They absolutely loved it. We had a lot of people there from the area who said part of the movie was shot on their property,” Debbie McCredie said.

On Saturday night more than 100 people attended the local premiere of Bra Boys, but rumours circulating Yamba that ‘the Boys’ would be in town for the screening proved untrue!

The most popular film Razzle Dazzle had many attendances from local dance schools. Twins Natonya and McKeeley Purcell-Williams travelled from their home at New Italy to see the film. They thought the dance moves were mad and the costumes were cool!

I was delighted with the community’s response to the festival, particularly the enthusiasm of Clarence Valley school students. Due to demand the usual two sessions of free school screenings were expanded to four sessions. Over 666 primary and high school students from as far afield as Harwood, Chatsworth and Maclean travelled to Yamba to see No Worries, Bra Boys and Crystal Voyager, paired with the short films Us Deadly Mob and Black Beach by Indigenous filmmakers.

The festival had extensive media coverage in local newspapers, and interviews with Tara Morice and director/producer David Elfick were carried on ABC radio from Newcastle to Tweed Heads.

The two new release films, Razzle Dazzle and Bra Boys, were so popular that cinema owner Debbie McCredie decided to do a commercial season of both. Debbie was pleased with the turnout and hopes Big Screen will return in 2008. The festival brought many local people into the cinema that hadn’t attended before, and candy bar sales were very high for the weekend.

Brendan Smith, Cultural Development Coordinator from the local sponsor Clarence Valley Council, looks forward to the return of the festival in 2008.

As the Big Screen Coordinator I would like to thank Debbie, Brendan and the very supportive local media - they were all part of creating the success of this first Big Screen in Yamba.

Big Screen is Australia’s most comprehensive travelling regional film festival, connecting rural and regional audiences with Australia’s rich celluloid history. Since 2001, over 132,000 Australians have enjoyed the Big Screen cinema experience. Join us and come along to Big Screen!

Jacqui North, Festival Coordinator