The Byron Bay International Film Festival returns in 2020 with a special edition hybrid festival to include select cinema screenings, a competition for independent filmmakers, and a unique virtual reality experience.
Screening at Byron Bay’s Palace Cinemas and the Byron Theatre, the festival will run from October 23 to November 1.
Festival director J’aimee Skippon-Volke says, ‘The 2020 festival will not be a business as usual event. Social distancing regulations will change the atmosphere and scale of what we deliver, but we’re still going to roll out the red carpet and bring audiences the very best of world cinema and screen events’.
Apart from screenings, J’aimee says the festival will still include a competition celebrating the very best of independent filmmaking in 2020 and a special virtual reality experience at Byron’s iconic lighthouse under a full moon.
Celebrity judges for the event include acting legend Jack Thompson, actor David Wenham, artist/filmmaker Lynette Wallworth, rising star Joel Jackson, surfing royalty Layne Beachley, Bob Hurley, and the first female big wave world champion, Paige Alms.
Industry leaders
Acknowledging that this is a tough year for filmmakers looking to get their films noticed, J’aimee says the festival has made sure that BBFF’s 2020 film competition is judged by industry leaders, film buyers and distributors, who will provide opportunities for those nominated, celebrating the independent and creative spirit of filmmaking.
J’aimee added, ‘We decided to go ahead with presenting a Special Edition of BBFF to support our venue partners too, this is a difficult time for them, as social distancing regulations mean capacities have been dramatically lowered. Some thought that we might just sit this year out, but we wanted to continue our work during these uncertain times, enabling us to return with a bigger better BBFF in 2021’.
For more information visit Byron Bay Film Festival.
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