Film Festival poised for second screening

THE Eaglehawk Film Festival is back for its second incarnation from 13 January, with this year’s theme exploring the concept of being alone.

Movies throughout the three-day program – held exclusively at Star Cinema – will cover a range of genres, stretching from the 1930s right through to recent releases.

As Star Cinema’s business manager Martin Myles explained, the festival was established as an entirely new model where it focuses on a different theme each year, with content curated around that.

“Most film festivals focus primarily on brand new content with the occasional retrospective,” he said.

“Events like the Melbourne International Film Festival and others around the world already do this very well.”

“Eaglehawk Film Festival offers something new as an alternative to the standard film festival model.

With each new year and theme, we put together a program of hand-picked titles and include as much diversity as possible in terms of culture, era and genre.”

The opening film of the festival is, quite fittingly, 1997’s Alone starring James Earl Jones and penned by Oscar and Pulitzer Prize winning screenwriter Horton Foote.

The Eaglehawk Film Festival adds to Star Cinema’s growing list of annual events, which includes the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival in April, the Melbourne International Film Festival in August and Bendigo Festival of Australian Film – which has been moved to November for next year.

“I have always had an ambition for Star Cinema that it be known as a festival destination and that we attract people from central Victoria and further afield,” Mr Myles said.

“Some people have asked me, ‘Why Eaglehawk Film Festival, and not Bendigo?’

“There are a few reasons. but mainly, Star Cinema is in Eaglehawk and I want the wonderful Eaglehawk community to embrace this event as their own and be proud of it.

“Come alone or with a group. You might even bring your BFF to EFF! Myself and all the team at Star Cinema look forward to welcoming you.”

To see the full program and to purchase tickets, please visit eaglehawkfilmfestival.com.