Darwin International Film Festival

We had a great time during the festival - but how was it for you? 🎥

Complete the DIFF Audience Survey and you'll be helping us to improve the festival next year, and you'll have a chance of winning a full pass for next year!

Take the survey here : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5wKcR5cXJoT7q-S6dzKMMs3LoGWev8vWMMUwAwVixHl_QoA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Deckchair Cinema Darwin's iconic outdoor and independent cinema, operated by not-for-profit Darwin Film Society.

A special thank you to Lisa You and Erin Lucas, the 2023 DIFF Operations Managers. The festival ran like dream this year thanks to all of your hard work! 😊

Special guests Rolf de Heer and Mwajemi Hussein lit up the cinema for the NT Premiere of The Survival of Kindness! Host Mahi Garbas was our fantastic host for the evening, facilitating one of the best post film Q&A's for the festival. Check out the photos from the night 😊

This is just a selection, but you can see and download any/all of the photos from the night here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/135BHaaJasAJPvXD09wgkPodYhlZogsFT?usp=sharing . Please make sure you credit Paz Tassone our excellent photographer and tag the Darwin International Film Festival if you share them on socials!

Paz Tassone Yogi's Way Umbrella Entertainment

Photos from the Our Voice Our Heart with Märrma Wänga premiere during the festival!

A huge thanks to our special guests Laurens Gould, Justin Grant and Jaxon De Santis - what a great night and a fantastic Q&A!

A huge thanks to Simon Upton, Tarlisa and Gwen Gaykamangu and all of the people behind Märrma Wänga - a truly stunning short!

This is just a selection, but you can see and download any/all of the photos from the night here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1voXf-Ltgo6owapI9sWDBN4XclJfl8Sgb?usp=sharing . Please make sure you credit Paz Tassone our excellent photographer and tag the Darwin International Film Festival if you share them on socials!

Paz Tassone Yogi's Way Trade Creative Simon Upton Photography

Thanks to everyone who attended The Mother of All Lies - Kadib Abyad and Hopeful Romantic on Tuesday the 19th of September ❤ We raised $989 for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) who are on the ground helping with the earthquake relief in Morocco!

Bus Stop Films

Photos from DELIKADO 🥳 We welcomed Special Guest Tom Bannigan who was DOP for Delikado to the Deckchair Cinema on a beautiful evening! Environment Centre NT were at the cinema to host the screening, and talk with Tom at a Post Film Q&A. The Filipino Australian Association of the Northern Territory ("FAANT") supported the screening, and were at the cinema enjoying the evening. Before the main feature we had Mamirnikuwi - a short film about the formation of the first women's Tiwi Rangers group. Therese Bourke, a Tiwi leader and Barossa campaigner was at the cinema to introduce the short.

A perfect evening.

This is just a selection, but you can see and download any/all of the photos from the night here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-2gkbqB4mCVSEdNPCRO-HpbgD3fwkWz2?usp=sharing . Please make sure you credit Paz Tassone our excellent photographer and tag the Darwin International Film Festival if you share them on socials!

Yogi's Way

Photos from NT Premieres of Hopeful Romantic and Mother of All Lies 🥳

We were so excited to host our special guests Rae Pastuszak, Chris Bunton and Tracey Corbin-Matchett OAM from Bus Stop Films in Darwin for the NT Premiere of Hopeful Romantic. The reception from the audience for the film was fantastic, such great guests.

Mother of All Lies, winner of the Official Competition at Sydney Film Festival, was a revelation. Such a unique way to tell the story, completely excellent and unexpected.

We had a welcome surprise with Samantha Brown's Places to Love dropping into the Deckchair Cinema to shoot some footage for the next season of the popular American TV Show.

This is just a selection, but you can see and download any/all of the photos from the night here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vokM4ZgxbCszepq9EthJB8Oitd4cmd6b?usp=sharing . Please make sure you credit Paz Tassone our excellent photographer and tag the Darwin International Film Festival if you share them on socials!

Paz Tassone Paz Tassone Three Mums Kitchen
Samantha Brown

The DIFF Photos are in 🥳 We'll share them all over the next few days. Here's the SPARK FILM SHOWCASE photos, what an incredible night it was🔥

Four teams of emerging filmmakers presented their newly finished projects for the very first time. The films had just arrived at the cinema in time, with final touches completed by The Post Lounge in Melbourne. The Deckchair Cinema was sold out, with a long queue of eager customers waiting for the gates to open for the World Premiere. It was amazing to see the teams on stage before each film, and then again at the end for the group photo. One of the highlights of the festival!

This is just a selection, but you can see and download any/all of the Spark photos here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vsy6gXrkZ_9-Ps-maOYLdAt8Vkcpi7ah?usp=sharing . Please make sure you credit Paz Tassone our excellent photographer and tag the Darwin International Film Festival if you share them on socials!

Paz Tassone Yogi's Way Screen Territory

DIFF closed on a high with with the NT Premiere of THE ROOSTER presented by Director Mark Leonard Winter, Producer MahVeen Shahraki and Actor Hugo Weaving AO!

The Deckchair Cinema was packed to the rafters, the night sold out weeks before the festival even started. Dave Garnham was rocking on the stage as everyone enjoyed the prefilm buzz of the final night. When the guests arrived there was a line up to shake hands and get pictures with the guests.

At the end of the film Darwin's own Annie Gaston hosted a Q&A. Over 400 stayed back to hear more about the process behind the making of the film. A great night all round.

Big thanks to our guests, it was a pleasure hosting you in Darwin. Thanks to Paz Tassone for all of the fantastic photos this year. Thanks to the staff, volunteers and everyone involved ❤

Deckchair Cinema Paz Tassone Off The Leash
Bonsai Films

Special guests for tomorrow arriving ❤️. Hugo Weaving and MahVeen Shahraki from our closing night film The Rooster just touched down at Darwin International Airport

Bonsai Films .territory

We have released a small number of tickets for SPARK on tomorrow (Friday) night! Head over to www.diff.net.au or www.deckchaircinema.com🔥📽👏

PSA - selling fast! PAST LIVES is one of the best reviewed films of the year. Make sure you book ahead :)

PSA folks - tickets for this Saturday's NT Premiere of Past Lives are selling fast 🔥 We strongly recommend booking in advance for this one.

"The performances are impossibly strong and awards-season ready. Anything other than a best actress Oscar nomination for Lee will be criminal." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Kevin Maher, Times (UK)

"A transcendent debut for South Korean-Canadian filmmaker Celine Song, this romantic drama is a masterclass in slow, simmering storytelling. It will stay with you, maybe even into your next life." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Nick De Semlyen, Empire Magazine

"A quietly devastating drama, Past Lives might be one of the early contenders for next year’s Oscars, and is certainly one of the best films you’ll see all year. Watch it before the awards season chatter begins." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Victoria Luxford, City AM

"It is highly recommended as a touching and always subtle film about old memories, old friendships and contemporary realities." ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - David Stratton, the Australian

Special Guest in Focus - Mwajemi Hussein 🔥

We are so excited to be hosting the star of Survival of Kindness, Mwajemi Hussein. Mwajemi will be here to present the screening, and meet the audience at a post film Q&A alongside director Rolf de Heer 👏

Mwajemi has an inspirational background, having fled the war in Democratic Republic of Congo, she then spent 8 years in a refugee camp in Tanzania before coming being granted asylum in Australia as a refugee with her family. When she arrived in Adelaide 18 years ago she spoke no English.

Fast forward to today, Mwajemi has seven children, works as social worker in Adelaide, and manages to fit volunteering and english lessons into her busy schedule. When she auditioned for The Survival of Kindness she had never been to a cinema, and couldn't have imagined that she would be walking the Red Carpet in Berlin!

The film won the FIPRESCI Award at Berlin, and was nominated for the Golden Bear for Best Film, an amazing achievement for a debut performance!

The Survival of Kindness screens at Deckchair Cinema on Thursday (21st) of September - more info and tickets can be found at www.diff.net.au

Mwajemi Hussein DASSAN Multicultural Council of the NT Melaleuca Australia

Special Guests in Focus - Rolf de Heer!

We are excited to be hosting the maverick Australian filmmaker Rolf De Heer - the mind behind Dingo, Bad Boy Bubby, The Tracker, Ten Canoes, Charlie's Country and his latest award winning film - The Survival of Kindness!

He worked extensively with the legendary actor David Gulpilil, finally working with Molly Reynolds to co-write the powerful 2021 My Name is Gulpilil, released after the actor's passing.

For Dingo Rolf worked with the legendary Jazz musician Miles Davis who starred, notably, in his first and only speaking film role.

In 2023 Bad Boy Bubby turned 30 years old ad was celebrated with the release of a 4K remastered version. Not for the faint of heart, Bad Boy Bubby still holds its own as one of the best Australian dark comedies of the 90's. A brilliantly dark side to Rolf's portfolio!

Rolf's is one of our favourite directors at the festival. His films have had extensive time in the festival and on the Deckchair Cinema screen. We can't wait to see the next chapter of his work - The Survival of Kindness - which promises to be unlike anything you've ever seen.

For more info and tickets head over to www.diff.net.au

*Rolf's film credits are much more extensive than this. The list is too long to fit nicely into a facebook post so we settled for some highlights!

Woohoo - photos from Opening Night are here! What a night it was 🙂

You can see all the photos and download them here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dcRV0_1LtRtecRmj-UIadIMF0Ykcltx_?usp=sharing

Please ensure to credit Paz Tassone (our photographer) and Darwin International Film Festival if you share them.

❤📽🎞 We have a packed week of film premieres lined up for you! 🥳

Deckchair Cinema Screenings:

⭐ Mon 7pm - The hard hitting environmental documentary DELIKADO with special guest Tom Bannigan ACS & the formation of the Tiwi Island Womens Ranger Group in MAMIRNIKUWI with Special Guest Rebecca Parker

⭐ Mon 9.40pm - Malaysian coming of age horror TIGER STRIPES with NT Filmmaker Isaac Elliot's DON'T COME IN... YET

⭐ Tues 7pm the beautiful, inclusive short film HOEFUL ROMANTIC with special guests Tracey Corbin-Matchett, Rae Pastuszak and Chris Bunton followed by THE MOTHER OF ALL LIES

⭐ Tues 9.10pm - Estonia's entry into the Academy Awards this year - SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD

⭐ Wed 7pm - Winner of the biggest prize in film, the Palme d'Or, ANATOMY OF A FALL in Partnership with the Alliance Francaise de Darwin

⭐ Wed 9.45pm The exceptional crime thriller from China, ONLY THE RIVER FLOWS

⭐ Thurs 7pm Winner of the FIPRESCI Award for Best Film at Berlin this year, THE SURVIVAL OF KINDNESS with Special guests Rolf de Heer and Mwajemi Hussein

⭐ Thurs 9.40pm - winner of best screenplay at Cannes, MONSTER

Then onto the major weekend events - Spark, Past Lives, The Rooster and more...

Alliance Française de Darwin Only the River Flows Bus Stop Films Savvusanna sõsarad / Smoke Sauna Sisterhood Anatomy of a Fall Delikado Film

Special Guest in Focus - Tom Bannigan ACS

We are excited to be welcoming Tom Bannigan ACS to Darwin to present Delikado on Monday Night! Tom will also be hosting a DIFF Craft Masterclass - Verité Cinematography with Tom Bannigan ACS 10-11am Tuesday 19th at the Mad Snake Cafe Darwin.

Tom is an award-winning cinematographer who has worked in documentary for theatrical and broadcast. He has won a number of cinematography accolades including most recently the Golden Tripod for his documentary work from the Australian Cinematography Society. Tom specialises in filming in extreme environments and having trained as a geologist, brings a distinctive aesthetic to his work. He has filmed a wide range of content from expedition trips to the ultimate rock-climbing zone of Balls Pyramid, the creation of a secular democracy in former ISIS strongholds of Northern Syria, character driven films in remote Indigenous Australia, the criminal underworld of Peru, Afghan women worried about a resurgent Taliban, and treks with scientific expeditions in the Solomon Island highlands.

During the filming of Delikado Tom was DOP, and was essentially embedded with the environmental crusaders and vigilantes in the Jungle of Palawan. He relied on his years of experience filming in extreme environments to get the perfect shots, and keep himself out of harm's way.

Delikado Film Tom Bannigan

Special Guests in Focus - Rae Pastuszak, Chris Bunton and Tracey Corbin-Matchett OAM! Rae, Chris and Tracey are travelling to Darwin to present the NT Premiere of Hopeful Romantic on Tuesday night before the screening of the Sydney Film Festival Winning The Mother of All Lies at Deckchair Cinema

Rae Pastuszak is an actor who has appeared in various TVC, online campaigns and photo shoots, and is best known for Look the Part. Rae stars alongside Chris as the leads in Hopeful Romantic. Rae is keen to see more people with intellectual disabilities represented on our screens.

Chris Bunton is an actor who has had roles across film and TV and is best known for Lone Wolf (2021). Chris has a background as a gymnast, disability advocate, dancer, gymnastics coach and a coordinator. Chris believes that inclusion and diversity is an important aspect that can break down barriers and that people with disabilities experience.

Tracey Corbin-Matchett OAM is the CEO of Bus-stop films, advocating for inclusion through . Tracey has interests in gender equity, inclusion, arts & media, sport, social justice and advocacy. Tracey is hard of hearing and an active and proud member of the Deaf community. Tracey is the Includability Ambassador to the Australian Human Rights Commission, has won the Aspire Award - for Individual Best Achievement in The Arts. Nominated by Women in Film and TV Australia 2021 and won the Elle Magazine, Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Award: Community Service – 2000.

Just 3 days ago Tracey received an Order of Australia, an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service, congratulations 🥳👏

Three incredible guests for the festival - thank you so much for coming to Darwin to meet our audience and present Hopeful Romantic!

Bus Stop Films

We are excited to announce that the incredible JURAN will be performing an acoustic set at Deckchair Cinema before Our Voice Our Heart tomorrow (Sunday) Night! 🥳

We have a huge weekend of premieres ahead of us!

At Deckchair Cinema:

⭐️7pm Saturday we have the multi-award winning Indonesian film, and Indonesia's entry into the Oscars this year, Autobiography. The Indonesian Consulate are supporting the screening with some free Indonesian snacks - authentic Indonesian cuisine is available to purchase from Sumatra Cafe.

⭐️9.30pm Saturday we have the NT Premiere of Against the Tide, winner of the Sustainable Future Award at Sydney this year. In india, two fishermen, brothers who have decided to fish in different ways - one opting for the traditional methods, and one using modern methods, come to terms with the impact of overfishing and pollution on their way of life.

⭐️7pm Sunday we have the world premiere of Our Voice Our Heart with special guests Laurens Gould, Jason De Santis and Justin Grant - a politically neutral film about the voice that travels across the Top End and beyond. We also have the World Premiere of Marrma Wanga, a beautiful film shot in Arnhem Land by Simon Upton.

⭐️9.25pm Sunday we have the NT premiere of Joyland - winner of the Q***r Palme and the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes this year. The Northern Territory AIDS & Hepatitis Council will be at the cinema to supporting the screening.

At Bcc Casuarina (box office open 30 mins before the movie starts):

⭐️3pm Saturday we have the NT Premiere of Robot Dreams - a beautiful animation from Pablo Berger. When a lonely dog needs a companion he builds a robot, quickly becoming best friends.

⭐️3pm Sunday we have The Best of Annecy Kids - a fun filled smorgasboard of all the best short kids animation from around the world packed into 90 minutes!

Indonesian Consulate in Darwin Trade Creative Annecy International Animated Film Festival

Thank you to our opening night guests! ❤ What a great night it was at Deckchair Cinema! You couldn't meet nicer people, it's been an absolute pleasure hosting you.

Left to right - Producer Duncan Graham (Dipped in Black / Marungka Tjalatjunu), Actor Osamah Sami (Shayda), Director / Actor Derik Lynch (Dipped in Black / Marungka Tjalatjunu)

We've just dropped them off at Darwin International Airport to fly home. Come visit again soon.

Bring on the next 10 days of films, events and special guests! 🥳

Madman Films Darwin International Airport

Tonight we have the NT Premiere of Scarygirl kicking off the DIFF Family program at Deckchair Cinema!

Scarygirl features an all star voice cast including Jillian Nguyen, Sam Neill, Deborah Mailman, Tim Minchin and Darwin's own Rob Collins. Based on the popular comic book, Scarygirl follows Arkie, the girl with the te****le arm, on a quest to rescue her father from space bandits and saving the planet!

The Family program continues over the weekend with 3pm screenings of Best of Annecy Kids on Saturday and Robot Dreams on Sunday at Bcc Casuarina

Next weekend we have the swim-in sessions at the Darwin Waterfront Wave Pool with the family classics Jurassic World, Ice age 1 and Finding Dory!

Tickets and more - www.diff.net.au

Darwin Waterfront .waterfront Madman Films

❤The first of the DIFF guests, here to present the opening night feature Shayda, just touched down at Darwin International Airport this afternoon!

Osamah Sami is a multi talented star of the stage and the screen. He's been to Darwin before to present Ali's Wedding which he wrote and starred in in 2016, and he starred in award winning local playwright Mary Anne Butler's play, The Sound of Waiting at Brown's Mart in 2017.

Fantastic to have you back Osamah, can't wait to see you in Shayda! 😊

Shayda Brown's Mart Darwin International Airport Darwin International Airport

To celebrate the two amazing Korean Films in DIFF this year Bannsang Darwin are giving ticket holders 20% off their bills! Simply show your ticket to COBWEB or PAST LIVES on the night of the screening to receive your discount 😊

Bannsang cemented their place in the foodie scene, taking home the Gold Plate for The Best Asian Restaurant at the 2023 Hospitality NT Awards 🏆 🥇 ! The restaurant is in the Darwin Waterfront - so just a short walk from the Deckchair Cinema where the screenings are taking place.

Valid movies:

⭐ Cobweb - 9.30pm on Friday the 22nd of September
⭐ Past Lives - 7pm on Saturday the 23rd of September

👉 Tickets - www.diff.net.au

Bannsang korean restaurant

We were saddened to hear of the devastating earthquake in Morocco on Friday night. In response the festival will donate 100% of the ticket sales from our screening of the Moroccan feature "The Mother of All Lies" on Tuesday the 19th of September to Doctors Without Border (Also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres).

The Mother of All lies won best film at Sydney Film Festival, and is a beautiful and thought provoking documentary. Also screening on the night is the short film Hopeful Romantic with special guests Rae Pastuszak, Chris Bunton and Tracey Corbin-Matchett.

There will be more information at the cinema on how to donate to relevant charities who are on the ground helping in Morocco. Here's a handy ABC article on how to donate: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-10/morocco-earthquake-how-to-help-donation-fundraiser-charity/102837780

The photo on this post is taken from the Doctors Without Borders donation page:https://msf.org.au/article/statements-opinion/morocco-earthquake-msf-teams-mobilise-assess-needs

💪 Hard yakka this morning at the Deckchair Cinema getting ready for the festival. Thanks, everyone! ❤️

One Mile Brewery

It's a hard life when you work at Deckchair Cinema. Here's operations manager Erin working hard, picking her films for program 4.

Deckchair Cinema program 4 is out now 😁

Program 4 has arrived - still hot from the press 🔥 Ops manager Erin's marking her diary with her 'must see' films. Programs will be appearing in all good cafes and shops over the next week ❤

The final program for the year is packed full of special events, fundraisers, premieres and special guests!

We've filled the school holidays with family favourites - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Disney and Pixar's Elemental, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Kiki's Delivery Service Movie - which is also free for 12 - 25 year olds and the first 100 through the door get a free popcorn thanks to LAUNCH Darwin!

As for premieres we have Dadirri on 26th of September with special guest Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann. Twenty to the Mile on 28th of September with special guests historian Derek Pugh OAM and filmmakers Jennifer Richards, Ian Richards and Andrew Hyde and then Sailau on 12th October with special guest Thor F. Jensen.

There are some amazing fundraisers to see out the season - we've raised about $45,000 for local not for profits this season so far, let's hit the $60K mark!

1 October - Mamma Mia! - The Snakebean Community Garden
8 October - The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Darwin Fringe Festival
15 October - Grease - Cancer Council NT
22 October - The Sapphires - Milkwood Steiner School Darwin
29 October - Barbie the Movie - Nightcliff Netball Club Darwin
5 November - Gran Turismo - Garuda FC Darwin

Other big special events to look out for;

9 October - On the Adamant - Screening in partnership with the Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition
18 October - Banff Mountain Film Festival - Australia's Radical Reels

Soo much happening! We close on the 12th of November - make the most of the cinema before it is packed away again for the wet!

An award winning restaurant for an award winning film - Moorish Cafe will be our caterer for the opening night gala!

The nineteen time gold plate award winning restaurant will be serving up their signature tagines at the Deckchair Cinema for the screening of Shayda with Dipped in Black next Thursday, the 14th of September.

For the early arrivers, there will be some canapes to enjoy with your bubbles as the sun goes down.

A perfect way to kick off the film festival!

Due to a change of circumstances we've had to change the caterer, thanks so much Moorish Cafe for coming on board.

Special guest in focus: Osamah Sami - Opening night gala screening of Shayda

Our opening night guest is the charismatic Osama Sami, a writer, actor and one of the stars of the opening feature Shayda. Far from the youthful innocence of Ali's Wedding, this time around we get to see Osamah as the villain!

Osamah is no stranger to Darwin having starred in the award winning local playwright Mary Anne Butler's The Sound of Waiting at Brown's Mart Theatre back in 2017. He also made the journey north with Ali's Wedding the previous year (2016) - a film that he both wrote and starred in, presenting it at the Deckchair Cinema. (Second photo - a beautiful Q&A with Adam Steer back when the deck was a brand new addition to the cinema!).

Born in Iraq to Iraqi parents, Osamah spent his teen years studying Arts at Kanoon Pavaresh Fekri in Iran. In 1995 his family emigrated to Australia where he has become a regular feature in the arts - writing blogs and books, plays, films and tv series and acting on the stage and screen.

Osamah will be at the Opening Gala Screening of Shayda and will take part in an Q&A with Darwin's Adam Steer after the film. Hang back at the end of the night and say hello to Osamah, it's always great to meet the audience at these events.

🍷🧀😋 Fancy a glass of French wine paired with some cheese and a Palme d'Or winning film? Salut!

We are excited to be partnering with the Alliance Française de Darwin for the screening of Anatomy of a Fall. The Alliance will be at Deckchair Cinema serving French wine by the glass and plates of French cheese and grapes. Alliance members can also access the members price for this screening online and at the box office ❤

Anatomy of a Fall tells a story of family tragedy and suspicion. Set in a remote mountain chalet in the French Alps, we meet Sandra, a German writer, who lives with her husband Samuel and their visually impaired son Daniel. When Samuel mysteriously falls to his death, suspicion surrounds Sandra as authorities investigate whether his death was by su***de or foul play. Ultimately, murder is the charge and Sandra is arrested. The ensuing trial puts her tumultuous relationship with Samuel, and her personality, under the microscope. Putting pressure on her relationship with her son, doubt starts creeping in between them when it is Daniel’s turn to take the stand.

Hang back for the late film screening of Only the River Flows, a Chinese crime thriller. Together with Anatomy of a Fall, this creates a film pairing that perfectly juxtaposes investigations in the East and the West.

Australia's official entry for the 2024 Academy Awards is 🥁.... our opening night feature Shayda!

Noora Niasari’s film has been taking the festival circuit by storm, Premiering and going on to win the coveted Audience award at Sundance Film Festival, opening the Melbourne International Film Festival, closing the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, officially selected for Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and in competition at CinefestOZ - not bad for a debut feature! 👏

Catch Shayda at the DIFF Opening Night on September 14th!