BBFF2020 Media Kit October 2020 - www.bbff.com.au

www.bbff.com.au

                                BBFF2020
                                 Media Kit
                         October 2020
While Film Festivals around the world have been forced to create virtual editions
for 2020, the team at the Byron Bay International Film Festival have created a
unique Covid response – developing a hybrid experience comprising of physical
screenings, a star-studded Film Competition and the opportunity to experience a
screening at Byron’s iconic lighthouse from anywhere in the world.

BBFF2020 will run from October 23rd to November 1st.

You can read more about our planned activities in the pages ahead.

In this kit:

   • BBFF History
   • BBFF 2020 Activities

   • The Team

   • Venues

   • Image Gallery

   • Media Releases

   • Social Media

The program of events and tickets will be rolled out in the coming weeks.
To be added to our media list email: lyn@bbff.com.au
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information and interview opportunities.

Lyn McCarthy/Media Manager
lyn@bbff.com.au | +61 419 800 484
                            Background Information

BBFF History
Established as a community event in 2005 with only 55 Australian films, the Byron Bay
International Film Festival grew exponentially into a 10-day event, expanding across
new digital platforms, attracting world-renowned industry leaders and international film
stars.

The Festival has become a favourite of filmmakers world-wide. The Festival’s
trademark ethics and selectivity have developed a unique culture and flourishing
international reputation that sees both esteemed international filmmakers and
emerging artists all vying for a place in its program.

Embracing a down-to-earth, relaxed, warm and inclusive vibe, the Festival has
become a hub for celebrities and industry professionals at all stages of their careers
to come along, be themselves, mingle, spark ideas, and collaborate.

Over the years the Festival has joined forces with other large events and
organisations, including the Cannes Film Festival, the Gold Coast Film Festival and
Vivid and has delivered BBFF events at venues including Sydney’s Event Cinemas,
the MCA, the Gold Coast’s HOTA and the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in
Cannes.

In 2019 the Festival spanned across the region’s five cinemas, three towns and a

host of satellite venues hosting parties, workshops and unique Virtual Reality
Experiences. The Festival was an early adopter of Virtual Reality, first introducing the
technology to Filmmakers in 2014, before developing a strong program of Virtual
Reality events, which included the first Federally-funded VR arts program ncube8 in
2016.

Since then, each October, the Byron Bay International Film Festival has been a hub
for Virtual and Augmented Realities. Each year Australia’s most innovative and
cutting-edge storytellers gather alongside international industry leaders to investigate
and share insight about the latest technological, creative and market developments
and opportunities for their industry and craft.

BBFF2019 Snapshot
75 film sessions,125 Films, 15 VR Experiences, 20 Music Videos, Entries From 50+
Countries, 19 World Premieres, 70 Australian & NSW Premieres, 2 x Gala Red Carpet
Events, Filmmaking workshops, panels and forums, Virtual Reality and new
technology events, Music Video Showcase Event at the Beach Hotel, Nightly
networking, Live performances, 7000+ attendees both industry and general public, five
Cinema partner venues across three towns, Parties and events at more than six Major
venues in and around Byron Bay.
BBFF 2020
The team behind the 14th Byron Bay International Film Festival have decided to
create a unique hybrid program of events across the Festival’s planned dates. With
social distancing regulations limiting social activities and venue capacities, they have
reinvented the festival, keeping their eye firmly on the goal of continuing to support
and highlight film talent.

COVID Safety
The wellbeing and comfort of our attendees and teams is our number one priority.

The team at BBFF, and our exhibition partners Palace Cinemas and Byron Theatre,
take standards of hygiene and cleanliness very seriously and are committed to
provide a safe event for all patrons, staff and partners.

We have been closely monitoring the current COVID-19 Australian Government,
Australian Health Department, NSW State, and Byron Shire Council advice and
restrictions, and any additional regulatory requirements will be implemented
accordingly.

To ensure a safe event we will be implementing measures including ensuring surface
and hand sanitising is completed on a regular basis. Hand sanitiser will be available at
the food outlets and hand washing stations at each venue. It is at the patron’s
discretion whether to wear a face mask to any of the screenings or events.

We also ask patrons to maintain social distancing and practise good hygiene. If any

patron, staff or partner feels unwell or has been exposed to COVID-19, they must
not attend the event and remain at home. Our aim is to make sure we are doing
everything we can to help reduce COVID-19 community transmission and to ensure
the event is as safe as possible.

With all this in place, we encourage you to leave the isolation of home and join in the
communal experience of watching stories that were meant to connect with us on the
big screen, in the company of like-minded film lovers.

Screenings
The Festival will be rolling out the red carpet and presenting a select season of films at its
two Byron venues, Palace Cinemas and Byron Theatre. The Festival team are hoping to
increase the number of sessions being shown in the festival program, depending on
demand, but the intention is to create ‘A Taste of BBFF’, whetting film lovers’ appetites for
a 2021 return and a full program of events.
A highlight of the festival will be the NSW Premiere of Firestarter – The Story of
Bangarra – A feature documentary co-written and co-directed by Nel Minchin (Making
Muriel, Matilda & Me) and Northern Rivers local Wayne Blair (Cleverman, The
Sapphires). Marking Bangarra Dance Theatre’s 30th anniversary, Firestarter tells the
story of how three young Aboriginal brothers —Stephen, David and Russell Page took
a dance company in its infancy and turned it into a First Nations cultural powerhouse.
Through the eyes of the brothers, Firestarter explores the loss and reclaiming of
culture, the burden of intergenerational trauma, and – crucially – the power of the arts
as a messenger for social change and healing.
For the full program of films including dramatic features, documentaries and
competition nominees, go to: http://www.bbff.com.au

BBFF’s VR Theatre
For those locked out of Australia and NSW you’ll still get the opportunity to visit Byron
and experience the Festival, as the BBFF team have built a Virtual Festival experience
unlike any other.
The Festival has been introducing Virtual Reality to Filmmakers since VR first re
emerged about six years ago – and so while other festivals go ‘Virtual’ through
Zoom and VOD, BBFF is taking the idea of a Virtual Festival to the next level.
An immersive magical full moon big screen theatre at Byron’s lighthouse has been
created in VR. Although created in VR you won’t have to have to have a VR helmet to
transport yourself to Byron; this session can be accessed on your phone, tablet or
computer, through Facebook. Those armed with the right technology can, however,
jump in and experience it in its full 360° glory.
The Festival will use this unique virtual theatre to share the work of the 10 nominees
for its Young Australian Filmmaker of the Year Award. A centerpiece of the Festival
since 2007 this category celebrates the work of Australian Directors under the age of
25.

Past finalists and winners include Neil Triffett, Madeleine Parry, Charlotte Mars,
Hayley MacFarlane, Jo-anne Brechin, Genevieve Clay-Smith, Julian Shaw, Sam Lara
and Natalie Erika James.

The Byron Bay International Film Festival’s 2020 Awards
For 14 years the Byron Bay International Film Festival has been shining a light on
emerging film talent – championing their creativity, their collective efforts and their
stories. In 2019 the Festival restructured their awards to return to one of the key
roles of film festivals – focusing nominations on the films without Australian
distribution, thereby helping to give them the profile and attention they need from
distribution companies.
Prized by filmmakers, the awards span across 15 categories including Best Short
Film, Music Documentary, Surf Film, Environmental Film, Cinematic VR Experience,
Interactive VR experience and Best Screenplay.
The Byron Bay International Film Festival awards allows the Festival to inspire
and support Filmmakers, the Film Industry and Film lovers in this time of
uncertainty.
At a much-needed moment, the competition will encourage and recognise the work of
some of the very best global and Australian independent filmmakers and their work.
A growing list of impressive heavy-weight judges, many of whom have attended in
previous years, have signed up to support the festival and to help decide the winners
including actors Jack Thompson, David Wenham and Madeleine West, film critic and
historian David Stratton, television and radio presenter Richard Wilkins, two-time
Emmy Award winning artist and filmmaker Lynette Wallworth, one of Australia’s
brightest rising stars Joel Jackson, Surfing royalty Layne Beachley, Bob Hurley and
Paige Alms as well as musicians Jon Farris, Bernard Fanning, Natalie
Bassingthwaighte and the supremo of Frontier Touring Michael Gudinski, who said:
“I am thrilled to be asked to judge the music category awards for The Byron
Bay Film Festival 2020. Through difficult times, we all have a part to play and
need to work together on the road to recovery and the Byron Bay International
Film Festival is paving the way”.
The nominees will be highlighted online in the lead up to the Festival dates with at
least one winner being announced on each of the Festival’s 10 days.
BBFF 2020 Team

Festival Director – J’aimee Skippon-Volke

Born in Australia, J’aimee Skippon-Volke
has
developed a truly international perspective,
spending much of her upbringing travelling the
globe. Her father worked in television and moved
the family from Australia to New Zealand and then
to Thatcherite Britain, where the curtains opened
on J’aimee’s love of underground cinema. As a
teen growing up in Covent Garden in central
London she discovered the cinematic offerings at
the Institute of Contemporary Arts, a hub of raw
talent for contemporary arthouse film. Her appetite
for film was further fuelled by the infamous Scala
Cinema in Kings Cross and its all-night marathon
screening of cult classics.
 J’aimee went on to work with producers and executive producers in the television
industry. After a stint in the US, she settled in Byron Bay, Australia, to raise her family,
and became actively involved in the community. Starting out behind the scenes of
BBFF, she stepped up to the role of Festival Director and in 2007 expanded the
Festival to international status to match Byron Bay’s international community.

Technical Director – Osvaldo C Alfaro
Realtime electronic immersion, film & future
enthusiast.
Throughout his life Osvaldo has had a passion for
the
synthesis and capture of imagery utilising multiple
techniques and mediums. He has been active in film
and television production, post production and VFX
since the late 80s, culminating more recently in
creating immersive virtual reality experiences.
His experience in traditional film and digital cameras
has allowed him to innovate specialised camera capture rigs that push the immersive envelope.

His passion for these immersive capture techniques is only paralleled by his passion
to nurture traditional cinema culture. In 2005 he co-founded the Byron Bay
International Film Festival utilising his strong skills to meet the Festival’s challenging
and evolving needs.

Location and Venues

Byron Bay

With world-class beaches only a short stroll from Festival venues, World Heritage
rainforests, and national parks a short drive away, Byron Bay provides a glorious
backdrop for BBFF2020. A history of open-mindedness and creativity has firmly
placed Byron Bay on the world map as a destination for people seeking a positive
change in lifestyle or perspective.
A progressive place where new technologies and practices are embraced, and green
awareness and eco living are promoted, Byron is a place where quality of life sits high
on the community’s list of priorities.
On the surface Byron Bay offers the tropical beauty of a Pacific island, although at its
core the appeal of Bryon comes from the vibe. It’s the kind of place that you can catch
the perfect set in the morning, soak up the live music along the streets, refine your
yoga practice at sunset and enjoy an incredible meal with the colourful community.

                            Festival Venues with Character

Palace Cinema – Byron Bay

When Palace returned to Byron in
                                           2019 it became the new home for BBFF’s
                                           Red Carpet Opening Night Gala and 18 of
                                            Festival’s 75 sessions.

                                            The cinema had been closed for a number
                                             of years, undergoing a multi-million dollar
                                             refurbishment which saw the facilities
                                             going from 3 cinemas to 9 smaller boutique
                                           screens all armed with luxurious
handcrafted seats and state-of-the-art digital projection and sound
technology.

Byron Theatre – Byron
Community Centre

Byron’s largest single
screen cinema and the
venues Conference facilities
have been home to the
Festival since the inaugural
Festival in 2006.

The venue’s facilities have
recently undergone a major
digital sound and screen
upgrade.
Trailers and more

For official Trailers and BBFF2020 clips head to

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-s5khrpMtbhSI-oPAMnP6w

Press Kits and Images

For more information and specific image requests please contact lyn@bbff.com.au.

Media Releases

Click http://www.bbff.com.au/media to read some of our most recent Media Releases.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Here are our social media handles, we’d love to be tagged whenever possible to ensure we can
amplify your activity.

Twitter @byronfilmfest #BBFF2020
Facebook @ByronBayFilmFest
Instagram @byronbayfilmfestival #bbff2020