Film buffs have been given the first taste of Sydney Film Festival's 2018 program, with a culturally diverse mix of features and documentaries on offer.
Festival director Nashen Moodley announced on Wednesday the first 26 films that will hit screens from June 6 to 17.
"It’s something we take very seriously, presenting this audience with a wonderful selection of films from all over the world," Mr Moodley told SBS News.
"We love making new discoveries at the film festival, and by established greats of cinema.”
The program includes a documentary on fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, films from acclaimed directors Sebastian Lelio and Debra Granik, and new Australian titles, such as Jason Raftopoulos’ drama West of Sunshine.
The Greek-Australian filmmaker's flick premiered at the 2017 Venice Film Festival.
Filmed in Melbourne in just 18 days, West of Sunshine tells the story of a father who’s addicted to gambling. It explores the theme of love through a father and son’s rocky relationship.
The pair travel through Melbourne while 'Jim', the main character, is forced to come up with $15,000 to pay back a dangerous loan shark.
"In essence what I’m trying to explore in the film is that love is an action in spite of what you feel," Mr Raftopoulos said.
"In our absolute base needs as human beings, connection and love is something that we can all absolutely relate to. Especially in the context of a world where there’s so much noise and so many subjective truths."
In Venice last year, Mr Raftopoulos and producer Alexandros Ouzas were praised for their choice of locations in the film.
"We essentially had to find locations that would really bring the film to life," Mr Ouzas told SBS News.
Source: SBS
One of the film's locations is a leather factory, north of Melbourne’s CBD. It's one of the last leather suppliers of its kind in Australia.
"As the characters enter the location, all the machines are on and turning and it captures the imagination of our young actor," Mr Ouzas said.
"In the film, he’s basically getting an introduction into the adult world. For the character it’s about seeing these different parts of the city he’s not normally exposed to as a young student."
Jason Raftopoulos (left) and Alexandros Ouzas (right) Source: SBS
Mr Raftopoulos also said the film essentially "speaks to is a kind of sense of multiculturalism".
"I really wanted the faces of Australian modern life to be part of the film, and part of my own kind of upbringing in this city," he said.
Mr Raftopoulos said he was inspired by his Greek-Australian background.
"I’m connected to the mythology. I was given a book by my godmother called God’s men and monsters and it was a child’s book of ancient mythology, I read it over and over.
"These kinds of mythological stories which speak to the human condition were really present and resonant in me. That’s what I take forward in all my films."
Mr Ouzas said the film’s name is particularly unique.
"West of Sunshine is a state of mind," Mr Ouzas said.
"It's a place where the sun never sets, so for our main character Jim, it's about his family. For Jim (the main character), the importance for him is to always stay west of the sun, where the sun never sets."
Australian journalist Travis Beard’s documentary RocKabul explores Afghanistan’s first heavy metal band, District Unknown.
"Kabul is not a place really to be in a heavy metal band," Mr Moodley, the festival's director, said.
"It’s really dangerous for them to try and make this music. It’s a wonderful testimony to the compulsion to make art and to create."
Foxtrot, a film by Israeli director Samuel Maoz, is tipped to be a favourite.
The film opens with a soldier’s parents in Tel Aviv receiving news their son Jonathan, serving his time in the Israeli military, has been killed "in the line of duty."
"These films from all over the world around so many different cultures actually dhows how much we have in common," Mr Moodley said.
"Rather than so much that separates us. Our fundamental concerns as human beings are universal."
More than 250 films and documentaries from around the world will come to Sydney from June 6 to17.
The 65th Sydney Film Festival’s full program will be launched on May 9.
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