Town rolls out red carpet

AUSTRALIAN and international films will be coming to the big screen at Buninyong Film Festival this May.

Now in its 29th year, the festival is being held at the Buninyong Town Hall on Friday, 19 and Saturday, 20 May.

Films on the list include Franklin which follows environmentalist Oliver Cassidy on a raft trip down the Franklin River, and David Bowie Moonage Daydream which is about seminal musician’s creative, musical, and spiritual journey.

Also in the agenda is a free historical walk around the centre of Buninyong, complimentary cocktails and dessert, and a dinner at the Shared Table available.

President of the organising committee Lisa Cressey said she is looking forward to event.

“Between sessions on Friday night we put on a free cocktail and an Eton mess dessert and mulled wine which gives people a chance to socialise and talk about the film,” she said.

“It’s really nice to have that and it’s available to people going to either session or both sessions it doesn’t matter.”

Ms Cressey said she hopes the event can bring people into Buninyong.

“We are also encouraging people to go around the village and have lunch in the cafes as there’s quite lovely cafes there,” she said.

As a fan of the artist, Ms Cressey said David Bowie Moonage Daydream is a personal highlight.

“It’s an amazing film about the life of David Bowie and its visually just stunning,” she said.

Those who come along can have a say about the films they see.

“After every session we ask people to put a little token into the star box, so we know what people think about the film and we send those results back to the Federal and Victorian Film Society,” said Ms Cressey.

She said she hopes the festival allows people in regional Victoria to see films they may otherwise miss out on.

“A lot of these films that we choose are highly acclaimed and they are not shown at the Regent or at other places in Ballarat,” she said.

“It’s giving the community access to films that would not normally be seen outside of Melbourne.”

Tickets can be purchased at buninyongfilmfestival.com.au.