Riveting regional cinema showcased in Far South Film Festival's finalists for 2023

The finalists have been announced for the local film festival that showcases regional creators, and there is something there among its entries for everyone.

The 2023 Far South Film Festival has announced the 14 finalists which will be played at its in-person screening on 19 August in Merimbula.

The festival is returning for its fourth year and shines a spotlight on storytelling in regional Australia.

“The most important thing for us is having films by regional filmmakers, because big film festivals are great, but tend to have a lot of stories from the cities,” festival director Lis Shelley said.

“There’s quite a lot of genres this year, quite a spread.

“Some years we’ve had lots of documentaries, or very dark films during COVID. It’s great to see a lot of comedy films this year.”

The films are from Victoria, Tasmania, ACT and NSW – including the South East – and include new and returning filmmakers.

“It’s nice to see some of the filmmakers coming back again each year,” Ms Shelley said.

“It’s also good to see the development of their work, where they were and where they are now.”

She said the South East’s films included a youth entry titled There Is No Future from Wallagoot, which is a sci-fi about a mysterious object that falls from the sky.

Why So Blue is an experimental film written by youths from the Bega Valley and is about young people going around Bega before something amazing happens.

Then there is Mourning Country, which is from Mollymook Beach, and is an interview with elder Noel Butler on bushfires and looking at the healing of Country.

“It has a more positive outlook than a lot of the films we’ve seen from the last few years around fire,” Ms Shelley said.

There is a music video from the ACT called Follow Your Nose, in which a clown searches for a sense of belonging.

From further afield, Chum is a comedy/suspense film from Broken Hill about when a stranger arrives to help a fiercely independent woman with a vision impairment, with all not as it seems.

Also, Bangay Lore, from Mullumbimby, follows the journey of a young Indigenous Australian dancer as he struggles with acceptance of his culture outside of the theatre.

The screening on 19 August will take place at the Picture Show Man Cinema in Merimbula and audience members can vote for the people’s choice award.

The finalists will be up for the major prize of $1000 for best film as well as a range of other prizes.

The festival organisers say this is a unique opportunity to see independently produced films from regional filmmakers, whose voices and stories present a different point of view.

Attendees can look forward to a variety of films with drama, comedy, fantasy, experimental, documentary and sci-fi genres represented.

The screening sessions will be followed by Q&As with filmmakers and an awards ceremony.

Tickets for the festival will be on sale later in July. For more information and to see the full list of finalists, visit the festival’s website.