'The Master' To Open Cockatoo Island Film Festival

Sydney’s highly anticipated new destination event Cockatoo Island Film Festival have recently announced the internationally acclaimed film The Master will open the five day film festival in the middle of Sydney Harbour next month.

The critically praised film The Master, starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix, makes its Australian debut at the inaugural Festival on Wednesday, October 24.

It’s a drama about a naval veteran who becomes embroiled with a secretive cult, ‘The Cause’, and its charismatic leader. Director Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master took home awards for best director and actor at Venice earlier this month. Joel Pearlman, Managing Director of Roadshow Films, said: “It is a great honour for Paul Thomas Anderson’s critically acclaimed new film to have its Australian Premier at the Cockatoo Island Film Festival. The unique setting of Cockatoo Island will be an amazing way to bring this exceptional film to Australian audiences, prior to its national release on November 8.”

Cockatoo Island Film Festival Co-Director Allanah Zitserman said Cockatoo Island will be transformed into a celebration of films and music where the focus is as much on experiencing the event as being part of it.

“We have a vision to bring to Sydney a world class festival on the scale and with the multi entertainment appeal of other international festivals such as Cannes and Sundance,” he said.

“This will involve many Australian leading lights in film including actors, directors and cinematographers as well as internationally renowned celebrities and musicians.”

With the tantalising theme Transport Yourself, Cockatoos Island’s historic sites will form the backdrop to five digital screens built from the ground up to host new releases and 200 films in competition from all points of the globe.

Another headliner will be Tim Burtons’ Frankenweenie, the maestro’s latest 3D black-and-white stop motion-animated film, which will be screened on Wednesday 24 October prior to its theatrical release.

Forming part of the international program is the highly anticipated 7 Days in Havana where seven of the world’s most dynamic Latin and European filmmakers join forces to present a short work each spanning one week in the Cuban capital. Directors include Benicio Del Toro, Julio Medem and Gaspar Noè.

Frank Khalfoun’s acclaimed thriller Maniac featuring Elijah Wood headlines the festival’s late night screenings. The new Australian sci-fi thriller Crawlspace will also have its debut at the late night screening program.

ABC2 have also partnered with the Festival to present five new short form documentaries from Australian directors under their Opening Shot program.

The full festival program and competition line up will be announced on October 3 at the Official Festival Program Launch.

For more Cockatoo Island Film Festival (October 24 – 28) information and ticket sales go to www.cockatooislandfilmfestival.com. Tickets are on sale now.