The Special Events you can expect to see at SWIFF'21
SWIFF is more than just film screenings, there’s quite the eclectic lineup of special events, from SWIFF Lives, to fine dining experiences, to acting classes!
There’s something for everyone in our special events this year, check them out below.
OPENING NIGHT: THE FURNACE
THU 15 APR · 6.30PM FOR 7PM · JMT
Join us for a night of food, drinks and film as we hail in SWIFF’21, with a screening of the new Australian adventure film The Furnace. There will be a Q&A following the film with select cast and crew members. Opening Night has officially sold out, but you can join the waitlist below for any last minute ticket releases!
SWIFF LIVE: WAKE IN FRIGHT (FEATURING RHYECE O'NEILL BAND)
FRI 16 APR · 8.15PM · JMT
One of the greatest cult films ever made, see Wake In Fright like never before – with an all new soundtrack composed and performed live onstage by rambling bluesmen the Rhyece O’Neill Band.
ASMF SWELL CHASERS - TO SWELL AND BACK
SAT 11 APR · 3PM · CHEC | SAT 24 APR · 3.30PM · CHEC
For the first time in 3 years, the amaysim Australian Surf Movie Festival (ASFM) returns to venues across Australia, and SWIFF is proud to bringing you ASMF Swell Chasers – To Swell and Back, with 5 jaw-dropping films that capture the world’s best big wave surfers battling the biggest waves on the planet.
NEXTWAVE YOUTH FILM AWARDS
SUN 18 APR · 3.30PM FOR 4PM · C.EX COFFS
Australia’s largest regional youth film celebration is at home again on the Coffs Coast! One of the most highly attended events at SWIFF, the Nextwave Youth Film Awards showcases, recognises, and awards young regional filmmakers from across the country.
This year saw the most diverse range of films entered into the competition and on the night we will see the all the finalists’ short films announce the winners.
SWIFF X HILLTOP WINE DINNER
WED 21 APR · 6PM · OSPREY, CHEC
A food and wine celebration comes to SWIFF!
The festival hosts acclaimed executive chefs Richie Dolan and Carla Jones from The Hilltop Store and Hilltop At The Lodge as they prepare a four course plus canapes degustation menu. Paired together with matching wines by Treasury Wine Estates at CHEC’s Osprey Restaurant.
On the evening, guests will hear from the chefs, and winemakers, as guests step outside of their comfort zones for a creative line-up of courses with paired vinos. Be sure to book early.
FILMMAKER FORUM
THU 22 APR · 4.30PM · CHEC GATHERING SPACE
SWIFF and Arts Mid North Coast welcome filmmakers and screen industry workers for a 2-hour session about taking the Coffs Coast film industry to the next level. Attendees will hear about the vision for our future industry, aiming to set up Coffs Harbour as a destination for largescale film productions into the future, and to make the Coffs Harbour film industry infrastructure-ready.
ACTORS CENTRE AUSTRALIA: ADULT MASTERCLASS
FRI 23 APR · 12PM · O BLOCK THEATRE, CHEC
Over five hours, learn professional new tools and unique exercises to create exciting, three dimensional characters, and what it is to connect to a story and other actors.
With a scene partner, you will spend 30 minutes on the floor being directed and working on a scene that has been selected specifically for your group, learning from other pairs as they take the stage in turn. You will learn what it is to breakdown a scene from initial analysis to making choices and taking direction on the floor.
ACTORS CENTRE AUSTRALIA: TEEN CLASS
SAT 24 APR · 9AM · O BLOCK THEATRE, CHEC
Over two hours this session will focus on games and exercises that are the starting point for all actor training.
Fun, energetic and interactive each participant will begin to explore connection, focus, commitment and listening. It is these games and exercises that will create the beginning foundations every actor needs to grow.
ACTORS CENTRE AUSTRALIA: ADULT OPEN CLASS
SAT 24 APR · 12PM · O BLOCK THEATRE, CHEC
Over two hours participants will experience the exercises students in our Bachelor of Performing Arts program explore in the first year of their degree.
It is a progression of the ideas and tools taught in drama classes around the world which create the structures that allow students to grow into professional actors.
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES PARTY
MON 26 APR · 4PM · ELEMENT BAR
Calling all creative industries workers: designers, dancers, actors, musicians, visual artists, writers, hair and MUAs, new media specialists, VR/AR/XR creators, game designers – if you work in the creative industries, this is for you!
A new event for SWIFF! Connect, eat, drink, and share as SWIFF welcomes creative industries artists, arts workers, and arts appreciators for a networking shindig at Element Bar. Attendees will get the low-down on the new creative industries peak body for Coffs Harbour, Blacklight Collective, its vision and projects coming up, followed by light networking in a relaxed, bubbly environment.
SWIFF LIVE: A BOY CALLED SAILBOAT (FEATURING GRIGORYAN BROTHERS)
Acclaimed guitarists Slava & Leonard Grigoryan have expanded their creative output by crafting and recording the soundtrack to the big-hearted, award-winning indie film, ‘A Boy Called Sailboat’, performed as a live soundtrack to the film on stage at SWIFF ‘21.
This charming, delightfully original family tale about culture and inclusion, is set in a small rural town in New Mexico, and was written and developed by Melbourne-based creative team Cameron Nugent and Andrew Curry – starring Academy Award® winning actor J.K Simmons, Noel G, Elizabeth De Razzo, Jake Busey, Lew Temple and newcomer, Julian Atocani Sanchez in the title role.
CLOSING NIGHT GALA & PARTY: MOGUL MOWGLI
Riz Ahmed (Rogue One, Nightcrawler, Sound of Metal) delivers a blistering performance as British-Pakastani rapper, Zed, poised for stardom in Bassam Tariq’s debut feature, Mogul Mowgli – to be followed by a ethnocyberfunk live, world music performance by Coco Varma, Bobby Singh, & Ben Walsh for SWIFF’21’s grand finale.
Spitting truth to power, speaking to his culture as a Pakistani immigrant, British rapper Zed (Ahmed) is about to hit the big time. With a few weeks before his career breakthrough as the support act on megastar Dante’s world tour, Zed returns home to his culturally conservative family to find his roots.