The Sydney Film Festival wrapped up a memorable two weeks of international and Australian films this weekend with the presentation of the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Film, the Urban Cinefile Audience Awards, as well as the FIPRESCI Award for Best Documentary. The awards were followed by the slick closing night film Thanks for Not Smoking, starring Aaron Eckhart as spin doctor Nick Naylor who works for the Academy of Tobacco Studies. Spiked with black humour (Nick dines every week with the ...

The theme for Friday’s Sydney Film Festival’s opening night was Sparkle! and it certainly did. The State Theatre, already dazzling with its marble staircase, mirrored and tapestry-covered walls, and second largest cut crystal chandelier in the world suspended over the three-tiered auditorium, provided the perfect venue for the red carpet entrance, accompanied by bright lights, snapping flash bulbs. And…pink diamonds, worn by some of the festival guests and provided by the night’s sponsor...