59th Festival 2012

Under the curatorial helm of new Festival Director Nashen Moodley, the 2012 festival had its most successful year ever, showcasing 156 films from 51 countries in 49 languages to record audiences.

A highly diverse Official Competition featured Aussie director Cate Shortland’s acclaimed World War II drama Lore; much-talked-about US indie Beasts of the Southern Wild; The King of Pigs, an animated Korean drama about school violence; Walter Salles’ star-studded adaptation of On the Road and Gangs of Wasseypur, a groundbreaking two-part gangster saga from India. Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom and Michael Haneke’s Amour were among the highly anticipated new titles screened out of competition. Retrospectives highlighted the career of Bernardo Bertolucci and four titles from the famed Japanese exploitation studio Nikkatsu, which was celebrating its 100th anniversary. The festival also had a section focusing on Indian cinema; while guest programmer Richard Kuipers’ Freak Me Out section of midnight and exploitation films continued to be very popular.

Among the highlights was the premiere of Mabo, directed by BlackFella Films’ Rachel Perkins, starring Jim Bani and Deborah Mailman. There was an emotional reception at a packed State Theatre for special guest Bonita Mabo, the real-life wife of the film’s subject, legendary indigenous-rights activist Eddie Mabo.

This year the festival introduced an online and mobile-enabled voting system for the Showtime Movie Channels Audience Awards, which went to Monsieur Lazhar (best narrative) and Death of a Japanese Salesman (best documentary).

This year marked the launch of the Sydney Film Festival Hub @ Lower Town Hall featuring free exhibitions, talks, live music and performances in an innovative event space in the iconic building.

2012 also saw the continuation of the highly successful SFF Talks at the Apple Store.

Opening Night Film: Not Suitable for Children

Closing Night Film: Safety Not Guaranteed

Award Winners

Sydney Film Film Prize: Alps, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

FOXTEL Australian Documentary Prize: Killing Anna, directed by Paul Gallasch

Dendy Award for Australian Short Films (Best Live Action Short): Yardbird, directed by Michael Spiccia

Yoram Gross Animation Award: The Maker, directed by Christopher Kezelos

Rouben Mamoulian Award: Mirrah Foulkes, writer and director of Dumpy Goes to the Big Smoke