PRESS RELEASE: DIFF brings in the waterworks to celebrate its big 10

The grand finale and celebration of the Darwin International Film Festival’s tenth edition will see a brand-new medium brought into the mix. The Water screen, which will be presented in partnership with Darwin Waterfront, will treat audiences to a truly spectacular display of specially sourced and curated film content to send the festival out with a bang.
Over its 10 years, DIFF has changed and evolved immensely. From 9 films over 5 days in 2010 to 26 films over 11 days in 2019. The festival has brought new and innovative ideas to the Darwin audience with every edition.
Each year has seen new initiatives introduced. Workshops from 2015, Capricornia Film Awards and NT Screen Summit from 2016, Spark from 2017, with the large up-scale of Spark and the introduction of an industry pass for the Festival in 2019. All of these have been enhancements to the local community and bring huge value to the screen culture and film industry within the NT.
Blandine Ruffo, Festival Manager of the Darwin International Film Festival says,
“Launching an international film festival in Darwin almost 10 years ago was an ambitious, innovative and risky project for the Darwin Film Society. The festival wouldn’t have grown without a supportive and faithful audience, nor without the incredible local talent that we’ve seen grow throughout the past decade. This has given DIFF the power to continue to be bold. With this brand-new water screen show, we’ll be going full circle, bringing a big ambitious project that is sure to be a treat both for our beloved audience and for local creatives.”
DIFF is merely catching a wave where emerging talent and strong demand for local stories have converged.
The water screen steps this up a notch in 2019, combining one of the city’s most prominent natural elements with the digital landscape.
The water screen, which will be running from the 20th to the 22nd of September down at The Darwin Waterfront, will showcase a number of local and international films and animated art. While this is a new medium to the Darwin film festival, we are making it every bit our own.
The 30-metre-wide, water-based screen will be set up and projected in the water at Darwin Waterfront Lagoon on the final weekend of the film festival. This free screening will be an absolute treat for all Darwin locals and visitors who have enjoyed the Darwin International Film Festival.
Darwin Waterfront Corporation spokesperson, Paola McCarthy says,
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Darwin International Film Festival in this new program addition and be involved in an event where locals and tourists alike can enjoy the Waterfront space in a strong community atmosphere. The water screen uses the Lagoon space to its best advantage and we are excited to see it come to life in such a unique and captivating way.”
Laservision is an Australian owned, world record-breaking company, experts in using media to create incredible sensory experiences. They will be bringing the water screen to Darwin for the first time for DIFF 2019. This will be a custom-made show, celebrating the Northern Territory, its people and its screen culture.
Shannon Brooks, CEO of Laservision says,
“The Darwin International Film Festival is a great opportunity for LASERVISION to share our water screen and projection technologies with Territorians for the first time. We are excited to bring these stories to life for the community and festival attendees at the beautiful Darwin Waterfront Precinct.”
The callout is now open for artists who are interested in displaying their work through this dynamic platform, connecting with a Darwin Audience and bringing a new dimension to their films. For more information and to submit your work, please email [email protected]
Since first embracing NT film talent at DIFF the results with audiences have been loud and clear. Each best-attended screening since 2016 has gone to NT made films, including the ever-popular Spark Film Initiative which resulted in 2 short films sent to Flickerfest this year.
The addition of the Water screen to the 2019 program is an extension of DIFF’s commitment to involving the local community, strengthening the NT film industry and enriching the screen culture in Darwin. Local filmmakers and artists are encouraged to get in touch with DIFF management to take part in this exciting event. More info can be found on diff.net.au
Together, let’s create our very own jaw-dropping show at DIFF2019!

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