Red carpet rolls out for third North Bellarine Film Festival

The third annual North Bellarine Film Festival (NBFF) attracted large crowds to the three-day event, beginning on Friday (November 15) at Drysdale’s Potato Shed.

More than 100 film buffs from across the Bellarine Peninsula, Geelong, Bendigo, Melbourne and interstate arrived for a red-carpet reception on the opening night.

Festival director Vi Ryall said he was enthusiastic about this year’s program which featured several new attractions including a world premiere film and film award.

“We also screened six short films at Federation Square, Melbourne, running simultaneously with the festival on Saturday night (November 16).

“The weekend screened six feature films and 40 short films at the Potato Shed – the festival hub, and at its satellite venue – the former Portarlington Neighbourhood House – where an Animation/Experimental/Avant-Garde program was presented.”

Mr Ryall said esteemed film critic David Stratton opened the festival with a video message, and audiences across all sessions were bigger than previous years.

“We have had very positive feedback from our regular supporters and those new to the festival.”

Tadji Ulrich, a 17-year-old student from Upwey, received the inaugural Emerging Victorian Filmmaker Award for his film When We Were One, which screened before the opening night’s feature film The Party.

Black Garden, a film made in Geelong and on the Bellarine Peninsula by local filmmakers, Shaun Wilson and Tammy Honey, premiered to a full house.

Mr Ryall said many of the cast and crew attended and took part in a question and answer session after the screening, while this year’s event featured multiple works by women directors.

“The program also attracted a contingent of filmmakers from Melbourne.

“It was curated by local filmmaker David King while other local filmmakers, Taylor Adams, Jesse Leaman and Clive Whitworth had their short films screened over the weekend.

“Although the lights have now dimmed on this year’s highly successful event, the festival team is already planning for 2020.”