SUFF pops up everywhere!

SUFF staff love to travel - whether it's film making in Canada, film festival hopping in the USA or searching for film makers in Germany... and so on...

This was a quick stickering in Berlin while on a tour (stickering *is* a legal form of street art in Berlin, with provisions) - hopefully we'll get some better ones later on. Our apologies to El Bocho!

The Turin Horse - screening at Sydney Film Festival soon

Sydney Film Festival is screening the stunning THE TURIN HORSE. This grand work of apocalyptic minimalism from Hungarian director Béla Tarr won a Special Jury Prize at the Berlin Film Festival. One of our recommended films.

Read more on this film and other Push Me To The Edge films here.

SUFF screens at Rosnay Organic Farms in Canowindra, Central West NSW

The rain poured down as we drove through the farm gate. Pulling up close to the house after hours of driving, we looked around uncertainly. We were supposed to be screening here, but hadn't counted on the weather. And where was everyone? Kath dashed to the house to find someone while the rest of us waited in the relative warmth of the car. She came back quickly. No-one there!

With our phones uselessly out of range, we were wondering what to do next when an eerie feeling caused me to looked up. A sillhouette in the doorway of another building! Uncertainly, Kath jumped out again to speak with the stranger, while we contemplated our chances of getting out alive... this was just a little too much like a B-grade horror... *

...and then back to reality when the sillhouette turned out to be the lovely Sam from Rosnay. Yes, we had arrived at Rosnay Organic Farms, one of SUFF's supporting partners. He gave directions to our new screening destination.
Only slightly disappointed that we weren't starring in our own horror flick, we headed to the hall to screen some of the shorts which featured in this year's festival.

While the numbers were lower than expected due to the rain and fears of flash flooding, we can safely say that everyone present had a ball! With dinner cooked and served by Florence and the Rosnay wines flowing freely, there was no chance of anything other than a good time to be had. In contrast to the weather, our hosts and the locals were completely warm and welcoming.

But the country hospitality didn't end there. After the screening we headed back to the Rosnay farm to the cottage they rent out (from $150 per night for 2 people up to $350 for six in case you're wondering). Totally gorgeous! And as were were to find out the next day, the views were as stunning as the location was peaceful. So much for our horror film scenario.

Canowindra (for some reason pronounced ca-NOWn-dra, took us city folk a while to get that one right!) is a picturesque little town around 45 minutes' drive south-west of Orange. We decided to check out Canowindra's main street and raid the local op shops.

Later we were shown around the vineyard and then invited to have dinner with Sam and his beautiful family in their home, a straw bale house they'd built themselves. Inspirational!

All in all, with the screening, the wines, the location but most of all the company of the locals, this visit was one that we'll remember for a long time.

You can check out our photos here!

*This and the preceding paragraph may not be entirely factual, in the interests of a good story.

THE SYDNEY UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL TO SURFACE IN CENTRAL WEST NSW

The best of the Sydney Underground Film Festival is heading to the Rosnay Winery, located near Cowra in Central West NSW, to celebrate independent filmmaking and organic wine with the local community.

Members of the public are invited to bring a picnic rug, sit back and relax with quality, independent films under the stars. Guests will also be invited to try Rosnay’s quality organic wines or their world-class olives and figs.

The Sydney Underground Film Festival (SUFF) showcases unique and entertaining films that challenge the conservative conventions of filmmaking and supports filmmakers who push their filmmaking practice in both form and content.

SUFF’s 2010 festival at the Factory Theatre recently screened 89 films to sell-out crowds over one huge weekend, and the Rosnay event will showcase a number of the award-winning films from the 2010 festival.

SUFF is a natural partnership for Rosnay who are long-time supporters of the arts and have previously sponsored events such as the Peats Ridge Festival as well as events for artists, galleries and musicians.

WHERE: Rosnay Winery - Rivers Road (4 km from the turnoff on the Cowra Road, outside Canowindra)

COST: $15 for films only. $30 for films and dinner. Tickets available at the door.

TIME: 5.30pm for music, drinks and dinner (RSVP only). Films commence from 7.00pm.

RSVP (for dinner): Monday 11 October

ALCOHOL: Cellar Door is licensed: No BYO

BRING: Folding chair, rug, cushions etc For more information contact: Belinda Worsley - Kabuku Public Relations T: 0415 686 014 E: Belinda@kabukupr.com.au

THE SYDNEY UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL TO SURFACE IN CENTRAL WEST NSW

The best of the Sydney Underground Film Festival is heading to the Rosnay Winery, located near Cowra in Central West NSW, to celebrate independent filmmaking and organic wine with the local community.

Members of the public are invited to bring a picnic rug, sit back and relax with quality, independent films under the stars. Guests will also be invited to try Rosnay’s quality organic wines or their world-class olives and figs.

The Sydney Underground Film Festival (SUFF) showcases unique and entertaining films that challenge the conservative conventions of filmmaking and supports filmmakers who push their filmmaking practice in both form and content. SUFF’s 2010 festival at the Factory Theatre recently screened 89 films to sell-out crowds over one huge weekend, and the Rosnay event will showcase a number of the award-winning films from the 2010 festival.

SUFF is a natural partnership for Rosnay who are long-time supporters of the arts and have previously sponsored events such as the Peats Ridge Festival as well as events for artists, galleries and musicians.

WHERE: Rosnay Winery - Rivers Road (4 km from the turnoff on the Cowra Road, outside Canowindra)
COST: $15 for films only. $30 for films and dinner. Tickets available at the door.
TIME: 5.30pm for music, drinks and dinner (RSVP only).
Films commence from 7.00pm.
RSVP (for dinner): Monday 11 October
ALCOHOL: Cellar Door is licensed: No BYO
BRING: Folding chair, rug, cushions etc


For more information contact: Belinda Worsley - Kabuku Public Relations
T: 0415 686 014 E: Belinda@kabukupr.com.au

Interviews with Sydney Underground Film Festival staff #1 - Stefan Popescu

We'll be putting a few mini interviews forward here so you can get to know us a little better over the coming weeks.

First off the rank is one of the festival Directors, Stefan Popescu:

When did you start SUFF, and why? 2007 - mainly because there was no forum for alternate film in Sydney. All the cool cinemas were dying out, the major festivals were busy securing future years' funding by being super safe and commercial, and frankly we couldn't get our fix of cinema culture beyond the usual McMovies that were being pushed. So we got off our butts and started the Sydney Underground Film Festival, knowing that there was a community that would respond and support us.

What got you interested in underground film? Watching horror films at the age of 7. At seven years of age I learnt that moving image = fiction, and what you see on screen is very different from reality. So, for me cinema is a safe forum to explore, celebrate difference, experience strange things and venture to the outer crevices of your psyche - and I think alternative and underground cinema does this.

What have been some pitfalls that you've learned from in running a festival like this? Don't tell your friends that you program the festival, because when you don't select their film you'll find out that they are not really your friend after all.

What have been your highlights? Aiding a culture of cinematic difference to exist and being part on an international community of wonderful filmmakers and cinephiles! Filmmakers are beautiful, generous and fun creatures! And the more disturbing their films are the nicer the filmmakers are.

Welcome to the first post!

Helllooooo out there! Welcome to our blog!

The 2010 festival is only 3 months away (9-12 September 2010) and we thank you for your interest in our festival! Your grassroots support is always welcome so please spread the SUFF love and keep in touch with us in the following ways...

Via the website (www.suff.com.au), blog (you are on it!), FB (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sydney-Underground-Film-Festival/13013644783) and twitter (http://twitter.com/sufilmfest).

Also please be aware FILMMAKERS - final entries are due in June so get entering via WITHOUTABOX (https://www.withoutabox.com/login/5828) or contact us for an entry form (you can enter via PAYPAL, direct deposit or Australia Post money order). Entries close June 11 or if you really need an extension - plead your case to kath@suff.com.au :)

Much love from SUFF

info@suff.com.au