“FILM festivals are available for audiences and filmmakers alike, without restrictions and limitations of the commercial arena,” said guest director Ivan Sen at this week’s launch of the 15th Canberra International Film Festival.

Sen’s feature, “Toomelah,” had just won the $20,000 Grand Prix for Best Feature at the Meridian Festival of Asia Pacific films held in Vladivostock. He told those present that festivals had played a big part in his career, starting off with short films, into competition at the Berlin Film Festival and eventually, with “Toomelah,” taking a complete cast and the film to Cannes.

Director Simon Weaving, buoyed by the usual round of jokes about how tough it was for him to attend the Cannes Film Festival every year, outlined the films and the  stars, which will include Canberra-born actor, Mia Wasikowska in the opening night film, Gus Van Sant’s “Restless,” as well as Tilda Swinton and Harry Belafonte.

Weaving said another huge feature would be a focus on African films and that the event would close with “Score,” the Canadian musical about hockey starring Olivia Newton John.

In the view of “CityNews” film reviewer, Dougal Macdonald, a planned retro-screening of “Carmen Jones” starring Belafonte would be a sell-out for people of a certain generation.

The 2011 program is made up of 58 films (including 17 Australian premieres) that include family films, comedy, drama and astonishing tales of love and desire.

Weaving praised the festival’s collaboration with the National Film & Sound Archive and added: “I see some wonderful and interesting characters as I sit back and ponder this year’s festival program– from French tomboys and Japanese chefs, to Norwegian troll hunters and unlikely heroes from the back blocks of London.”

Eyes were very much on sponsorship at the launch, with founding partner University of Canberra and for past four years chief sponsor of the festival, TransACT, highest on the list.

TransACT CEO Ivan Slavich said:  “we are big fans… big supporters….our attitude to sponsorship is one where we really get in the role.”

TransACT is running a golden ticket competition for its customers for season passes to the film festival and as for Slavich personally, he’s getting together with Weaving to produce a short film.

The festival runs October 26 – November 6, showing 58 films from 26 countries.
Visit www.canberrafilmfestival.com.au
Those who become a member of CIFF online or at the Dendy will save 40 per cent on tickets.