SWIFF’21 Official Announcement

Festival Announcement: Screenwave International Film Festival 2021

It’s a new day for major arts festivals in Australia, with COVID restrictions leading organisers to innovate and adapt to a new, safer festival experience for their audiences.

The Coffs Coast’s Screenwave International Film Festival has today announced it will re-emerge in 2021, confirming a new autumn timeslot, running 16 days of films and experiences from April 14th to the 29th.

Co-presented by lead festival sponsor Ashton Designs, the festival has grown from strength to strength since founding in 2015. Earlier this year, SWIFF set its fifth consecutive attendance record with 10,000 film lovers heading into cinemas to join the film festivities.

With audiences surging another 38% up on the previous year, SWIFF became the most highly attended film festival in regional NSW following its January 2020 festival; a reputation festival organisers intend to build on.

“The new timing brings new opportunities. In a particularly volatile year for the arts and events industry, our team are thrilled to be able to confirm the return of SWIFF for our local and travelling festival audiences”, says SWIFF Festival Co-Director Dave Horsley.

With the full festival line-up announced closer to the festival, SWIFF will host over 100 feature film screenings, spanning the spectrum between entertaining and challenging films, making the festival accessible from casual movie lovers to die-hard cinephiles – and cementing its niche as a movie-watchers festival.

Aside from its new autumn timeslot, SWIFF be announcing new venues, new festival patrons, new events, and new way to experience the festival this year. Also confirmed are the return of the SWIFF Live hybrid performance-screening program, the Nextwave Youth Film Awards, and a reimagined workshop and industry program for filmmakers.

Gift Vouchers and Presale Passes will be available from November, with more announcements to come. For audiences and businesses wanting to connect with the festival, visit www.swiff.com.au.

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