The fine folks of film at the Sydney Film Festival have revealed a little bit more of their program ahead of the official launch next week. Six family friendly flicks will join the 2017 festival (7 – 18 June), including the world premiere of Australia’s RIP TIDE, shot in the Illawarra region and featuring Disney star Debby Ryan.
In addition to RIP TIDE, the program will feature the Australian premiere of Canada’s THE SUN AT MIDNIGHT, a mystical First Nations tale about getting lost and finding yourself, set in the Arctic circle during the long days of summer.
Other films on the youth program include MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI, an animated film that has been delighting festivals around the world; MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA, starring the voices of indie heroes Jason Schwartzman, Lena Dunham, John Cameron Mitchell, Reggie Watts, Maya Rudolph, and Susan Sarandon; and Belgium’s superhero crime-fighting adventure PHANTOM BOY. The festival will couple all of this with a Kids Animation Showcase, curated by specialist Malcolm Turner.
Once upon a time the festival was strictly an 18+ affair due to Australian classification guidelines. Since 2016, changes to classification restrictions have made over 50% of the program accessible to audiences 15+. A new Youth Pass will also introduce cheaper tickets to film lovers aged 18-24. Festival films will now cost young people just $72 for a bundle of six-tickets. Tickets for under 18s are just $13.
