30th Festival 1983

This was David Stratton’s last year as Festival Director and he spent his foreword to the program looking back at his tenure:

…Inevitably, I find myself thinking of the past 18 years and some of my own favourites from that period. But, more particularly, I find I have to talk about some people now. About Jan McPherson, who first introduced me to the Sydney Film Festival in 1963 by co-opting me onto one of its many subcommittees, and whose enthusiasm, dedication and devotion were overwhelming. About Jan Klava, my predecessor as Festival Director, who was really the man responsible for starting to bring a more professional touch to an organisation that had, before him, been run largely by enthusiastic amateurs. About Erwin Rado, whose formidable reputation preceded him; he had been the Director of the Melbourne Film Festival for many years already, and I knew that his ideas and his energy had helped shape the Sydney festival too. I’d been warned about this irascible Hungarian before we first met, but I think we hit it off from the beginning and we became, and still are, friends. I didn’t always agree with his choice of films, but it’s been a privilege to know him.

Look down the list of Honorary life Members at the back of this programme book and you’ll see the names of other people who shaped the festival over the years. Frank Bellingham and Dug Merry were, with lan McPherson, presidents before the irreplaceable Ross Tzannes burst on the scene; Ross has been a constant source of support and inspiration ever since. John Burke and Kevin Troy were at different times festival treasurers in those crucial years (and John’s wife, Beverley, was there to correct my faltering grammar). And there was Dorothy Holt, another pillar of strength of unbounded optimism. Modesta Gentile was for many years as much as part of the festival as I was, and for a long time the only other staff member. Did we really manage to put it all together with just two people working full-time for so many years?

Now I’ve started on this, it’s hard to know where to stop, because there’s an endless list of dedicated people who should be named but obviously can’t be. The festival has always been wonderful in that respect; everyone involved has been deeply and unselfishly involved in our rather idealistic endeavours. The last name I’ll mention belongs to a man who never came to Australia, but whose influence over the festival was enormous. Gene Moskowitz, who for years wrote reviews in Variety under the pseudonym ‘Mosk’, was a Hungarian American Jew who lived in Paris and knew everything there was to know about world cinema. We became close friends more than 15 years ago, and Gene would regularly suggest films for the programme (always wisely) and take great delight in criticising the final selection. His death in December last year robbed the international film community of a much-loved figure.

I endorse Ross Tzannes’ welcome to Rod Webb, my successor, and wish him every success; he knows that in all his endeavours he will have my fullest support. Finally, may I express my appreciation to festival subscribers past and present, especially, of course, the ‘regulars’. I’ll be joining you, next year, in the stalls.

For the first time, a cash prize from the Australian Film Commission accompanied the Rouben Mamoulian Award. The Ian McPherson lecture was delivered by AFC Chief Executive Joseph Skrzynski. A tribute to John Heyer’s 50 years in the industry was also held.

For the second time in festival history, Buster Keaton’s The General was screened (it first screened at the inaugural festival in 1954), this time as a special family screening. Retrospectives held this year included the films of Peter Greenaway and the casualties of censorship – a fitting theme for Stratton to depart on.

Opening Night Film: The Draughtman’s Contract (directed by Peter Greenaway)

Closing Night Film: The King of Comedy (directed by Martin Scorsese)

Award Winners

Greater Union Award for Australian Short Films (General):

Serious Undertakings (directed by Helen Grace)

Greater Union Award for Australian Short Films (Fiction):

Stations (directed by Jackie McKimmie)

Greater Union Award for Australian Short Films (Documentary):

First Contact (directed by Bob Connolly and Robin Anderson)

Rouben Mamoulian Award:

Helen Grace (director of Serious Undertakings)