Couture and cinema collide at Bangalow Film Festival

FASHIONISTAS donned their finest designer threads for the Bangalow Film Festival’s glamorous closing night on Sunday, celebrating the screening of Milano, a film that delves into the rise of Italian fashion.

“So many people came in beautiful outfits and embraced the night,” festival director Christian Pazzaglia, who was born in Italy, said.

“Some were really slick, and others were more creative and quirky. There were young people and 90-year-olds all looking fabulous. It was such a buzzy night — it felt like there was a real need to have a big party.”

The event at Bangalow A&I Hall capped off a vibrant program of screenings. While acclaimed filmmaker Rolf de Heer was unable to attend the showing of his multi-award-winning film The Tracker due to a back injury, he provided a pre-recorded introduction and joined a panel discussion via video link.

Former 730 host Kerry O’Brien also attended to introduce No Other Land, the Oscar-winning documentary about the destruction of Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces.

Director Mara Jean Quinn was on hand for the screening of Andamooka, her film about a woman’s 30th birthday in the remote opal mining town. Pro bodyboarder Shane Ackerman also made an appearance for the showing of his movie Astronaut in the Ocean.

Mark Swivel, principal of Barefoot Law, introduced I Am the River, The River is Me, a documentary about New Zealand’s Whanganui River, created in close collaboration with its Māori custodians.

One of the festival’s most moving moments came courtesy of visiting Māori artist Whaia, who has spoken at several UN events, who spontaneously offered to speak before the screening. “She ended up singing a song in Māori,” Pazzaglia said. “People were crying; it was incredible.”

After being postponed due to Ex Tropical Cyclone-Alfred in March, Pazzaglia said he was relieved the five-day festival was such a success, with several sessions selling out.

“We’ll be back,” he said.