The 2013 Blue Mountains Film Festival & Yowie Awards set against the dramatic landscape of the Jamison Valley and Three Sisters, offers a jam packed long weekend of short films, family screenings, public programmes, feature films, awards and celebrations.
Running over 5 days, the evening events hosted at Scenic World will showcase award- winning films by established and emerging filmmakers from Australia and around the world.
The compelling line up includes critically acclaimed short animation 'A Cautionary Tail', voiced by international stars and award winning Australian actors, Cate Blanchett, David Wenham and Barry Otto.
All finalists will be vying for the coveted Yowie Awards & Scenic World Grand Prize of $5,000. Scenic World is the major sponsor of the third annual festival and will be launching a new festival event - Family Film Nights.
The 1.5 hour sessions are set in a relaxed cinema environment, allowing families to share a meal and enjoy a special short film program suitable for school age children.
Festival goers can also upgrade their tickets to adventure down the thrilling new Scenic Railway and explore the Jurassic landscape along the Scenic Walkway. Great value packages are available offering all-day unlimited rides at Scenic World, plus hop-on hop-off bus passes, exploring Leura and Katoomba with Blue Mountains Explorer Bus.
The film festival is unique, incorporating Festival experiences at iconic Mountains venues including The Carrington Hotel, the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre and the historic cinema, Mount Vic Flicks.
In true film industry style, enhanced with Blue Mountains flare, the festival kicks off with a rooftop party at The Carrington Hotel with local band the Mezzaphonics, followed by a bus trip to the Scenic Skyway - gliding across the valley to the first 18+ short film screenings and the festival bar.
Scenic World will also host the Yowie awards presentation, announce its $5000 grand prize, and host the after party on Saturday 5 October, hosted by comedian Corinne Grant.
Other short film highlights include: 'Suspended' written and directed by Damien Walsh- Howling (Underbelly, Ned Kelly), 'The Captain' directed by Nash Edgerton (Director of The Square, Bear, Spider and actor in Zero Dark Thirty, The Great Gatsby, The Wolverine); animation short 'Butterflies', starring the voices of Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters, Six Feet Under, My Best Friend's Wedding), and Nicholas Hope (Bad Boy Bubby, Scooby- Doo)
The Festival program also includes feature films, a panel discussion and forum ('Can animation change the World'); and an intensive comedy writing workshop with Tim Ferguson.
Ticket Package highlights include:
Family Film Nights, October 3 & 4
Family ticket - $42.00 for 2 adults and up to 5 children under 14
Family ticket - $133 includes: Scenic World Unlimited Discovery Pass + Family Screening + Explorer Bus Pass
Festival Opening Party and Short Film Screenings, October 3
Adult Ticket - $39.00 includes: Festival Opening Party on The Carrington Hotel Roof Top, bus transfers to Scenic World and trip on the Scenic Skyway
Adult Ticket - $71 includes: Scenic World Unlimited Discovery Pass + Festival Opening Party and Short Film Screenings + Explorer Bus Pass
For a full list of Festival program events, packages, and to buy tickets visit;
http://www.scenicworld.com.au/event/2013-blue-mountains-film-festival-yowie-awards/
