The 61^st Sydney Film Festival wrapped on Sunday 15 June with the Australian Premiere of New Zealand vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows. The gala evening featured an introduction from filmmaker funny-men and stars Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement and closed with an unforgettable erotic vampire dance from fellow cast member Jonathan Brugh.

The Foxtel Movies Audience Awards, SFF’s people’s choice awards, were today announced. Winner of the Foxtel Movies Audience Award for best narrative feature went to Winter Sleep directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. The Foxtel Movies Audience Award for best documentary went to Love Marriage in Kabul directed by Amin Palangi.

“From the unforgettable Opening Night film 20,000 Days on Earth and the star-studded premiere of David Michôd’s The Rover to the emotional standing ovation at Tender and the warmly received 2014 Cannes Palme d’Or winner Winter Sleep, this year’s Festival truly was one to remember,” SFF Festival Director Nashen Moodley.

“This year’s Festival marked the seventh consecutive year of growth in attendance,” said SFF CEO Leigh Small. “Over 12 days from 4-15 June, we welcomed over 156,000 people to screenings, events and talks across Sydney.”

This year, SFF screened in even more venues including the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, Art Gallery of NSW and, new in 2014, the Skyline Drive-In Blacktown.

SFF also expanded its presence at the Festival Hub at Town Hall, presenting a packed program of talks, exhibitions, performances and over 25 free events both downstairs at Lower Town Hall and upstairs in the beautiful Treasury Room.

The Hub also presented a series of intimate portraits by Hugh Hamilton entitled Rosebud and iconic American Eames furniture in the largest and most comprehensive display of furniture pieces ever to be exhibited in Australia from the Herman Miller Collection, presented by Living Edge.

“Sydney Film Festival is a highlight of the city’s rich arts calendar and plays an important role in the local and national film industry,” said NSW Minister for the Arts, Troy Grant. “The New South Wales Government, through Screen NSW and Destination NSW, is proud to support another successful year for the Festival.”

CEO of Screen Australia, Graeme Mason said “The festival once again presented Sydney with a wonderful celebration of film, on and off the screen.  It was particularly great to see local support of Australian film, with well attended screenings and sold-out workshops.”

All up, SFF presented over 300 sessions across 12 days of the Festival, including 192 films from 48 countries in 57 languages, 15 World Premieres, 122 Australian Premieres and 6 International Premieres.

Six films from this year’s SFF will premiere in Newcastle this weekend when the Travelling Film Festival brings Gabrielle, Rock the Casbah, Boyhood, Human Capital, Once My Mother and Locke to Tower cinemas from Friday 20 – Sunday 22 June.

What: Travelling Film Festival 

When: 20-22 June 2014

Where: Tower Cinemas, 183-185 King Street, Newcastle NSW 2300 PH: (02) 4926 2233

Special Guest Event: 5pm Sunday 22 June: ‘Filmmaker Q&A’ with Once My Mother director Sophia Turkiewicz

Full program details and ticketing information can be found at:

http://www.sff.org.au/public/travelling-film-festival/tff-locations/newcastle/

FOR EDITORS:

The Foxtel Movies Audience Awards are SFF’s people’s choice awards, and reflect the most popular films at the Festival. After each screening, audience members are invited to rate the film via our web, app and SMS-based voting systems. Two audience awards are presented: one for best narrative feature and one for best documentary.

Other 2014 SFF Award winners include:

Out of a selection of 12 films in Official Competition, the Sydney Film Prize was awarded to Two Days, One Night directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.

The inaugural Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary was awarded to the brave and confronting 35 Letters, directed and written by Janine Hosking. Special mention went to Tender directed by Lynette Wallworth.

The Dendy Live Action Short Award went to I Want to Dance Better at Parties, directed and written by Matthew Bate and Gideon Obarzanek. The Yoram Gross Animation Award went to Phantom Limb, directed, written and produced by Alex Grigg. The Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director was awarded to Eddy Bell for Grey Bull.

The Event Cinemas Australian Short Screenplay Award, also new this year, was awarded to Welcome to Iron Knob, directed and written by Dave Wade. Special mention went to Matt Durrant for his short film Pocket Money.

ABOUT SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL

Sydney Film Festival screens feature films, documentaries, short films and animated films across the city at the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, the Art Gallery of NSW, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, the Apple Store, SFFTV at Martin Place, Skyline Drive-In Blacktown, and the Festival Hub at Town Hall.

The Festival is a major event on the New South Wales cultural calendar and is one of the world’s longest-running film festivals. For more information visit www.sff.org.au

Sydney Film Festival also presents 12 films that vie for the Official Competition, a highly respected international honour that awards a $61,000 cash prize based on the decision of a jury of international and Australian filmmakers and industry professionals. Previous Sydney Film Prize winners include: Two Days, One Night (2014), Only God Forgives (2013), Alps (2012), A Separation (2011) – which went on to win an Academy Award, Heartbeats (2010), Bronson (2009) and Hunger (2008).

The 61st Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Screen NSW, the Federal Government through Screen Australia, and the City of Sydney. The Festival’s Strategic partner is the NSW Government through Destination NSW.