By Sharon Bonthuys

Film festival devotees across the region will be thrilled to learn the third annual Gilgandra Film Festival will return to the region in early May.

The Friends of the Gilgandra Film Festival invite those with an interest in film to learn more about the local documentary-focused festival, their vision for the future, and how they can become involved.

“This is our third year, and we want to just keep on going as long as we can, but we can't do it unless we've got your help,” said festival director Sue Armstrong.

Unique rural film festival

British-Australian documentary filmmaker and author Simon Target encouraged people to join him in volunteering for the festival, which is believed to be the only locally-produced documentary film festival in rural NSW.

Mr Target has personally volunteered as the festival’s artistic director since its inception in 2023. Sue and the late Brian Armstrong invited him to come and make a documentary in the Gilgandra area, which he did.

The subsequent film Warrawong: The Windy Place on the Hill was selected for showing at the Krakow and Sydney film festivals in 2022. This led to discussions about showing the film locally in Gilgandra, and the Gilgandra Film Festival was born.

Following successful runs in 2023 and 2024, the festival is back again this year, screening from May 2-3.

Get involved

Sue Armstrong, who now lives in Dubbo, stressed the importance of community involvement in this and future film festival events. People with an interest in film from outside the Gilgandra area are also welcome, she said.

“We want to keep it going but can’t with just a few people,” she explained.

The Friends of the Gilgandra Film Festival are keen to hear from anyone locally and in the wider region with an interest in being involved in this year’s festival.

Readers can follow the event on social media and its dedicated website, and those interested in volunteering can reach out to Sue Armstrong or festival secretary Helen Oates for further information.

“We want this film festival to keep going for a long time,” Sue Armstrong concluded.