66th Festival 2019

NASHEN MOODLEY

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

“In my films, I always wanted to make people see deeply. I don’t want to show things, but to give people the desire to see.” – Agnès Varda

The idea of seeing deeply, and differently, and sparking a sense of curiosity is very much one that Sydney Film Festival subscribes to: shining a light on subjects, films and filmmakers that are often little explored or seen.

We pay tribute this year to the late Agnès Varda, that most curious and innovative of filmmakers, and her life and cinema. A pioneer in more ways than one, Varda’s ground-breaking work will continue to inspire generations of viewers and filmmakers to come.

The Official Competition this year is a line-up of splendid films, by both debut filmmakers and some of the great names of world cinema. Exploring issues such as gender, the intersection of the political and the personal, the power of art to change lives, and income inequality, these films together make a strong argument for empathy and solidarity.

It is fitting, then, that in this year of the Viva Varda Retrospective, Sydney Film Festival has signed the 5050x2020 pledge, committing the Festival to working towards gender parity and inclusion in film festivals.

Welcome to the 66th Sydney Film Festival, where we invite you to see deeply.