Flower children out in force for film festival opening

YOU could be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped back in time to the 1970s last weekend, with attendees donning their best hippie outfits for the Byron Bay International Film Festival’s opening night screening of the documentary Aquarius.

Celebrities including Jack Thompson and Delvene Delaney, filmmakers and local politicians were among the 300 people who attended the event at Palace Cinemas Byron Bay, which was followed by an afterparty at nearby immersive art and light experience OTHERWORLD.

Festival director J’aimee Skippon-Volke said the opening night film, which reveals how the 1973 Aquarius festival transformed the town of Nimbin and its surrounds from a dairy farming community into Australia’s counterculture capital, was the perfect fit for the event.

“A few people wouldn’t have looked out of place walking down the main street on a Saturday night,” she said.

Arakwal-Bundjalung woman and newly elected Byron Shire councillor Aunty Delta Kay, who runs Explore Byron Bay Indigenous tours, gave the welcome to country, and new Greens mayor Sarah Ndiaye also made a speech.

Ms Skippon-Volke said it was great to see the festival making a comeback.

“We suffered a lot of setbacks because of COVID,” she said. “We used to always have a big opening night with an afterparty and a closing night party, and whilst we’re not having a closing night party this is the first time since 2019 that we’ve brought back an afterparty, which shows we’re well and truly on the road to recovery.”

Ms Skippon-Volke said bookings for the festival were strong, with people embracing the chance to see fresh content.

“We’re screening a number of films that we’ll probably see up for awards at the Oscars, including Black Dog and Porcelain War,” she said.

The BBFF runs until October 27, with events at Palace Cinemas Byron Bay, Lennox Head Cultural Centre, Brunswick Picture House, and Ballina Fair Cinemas.

For more information and tickets, visit bbff.com.au