The Antenna Documentary Film Festival has announced an extensive line-up today, for what promises to be a killer festival. Although it deserves to be trawled through itself, and the diversity of the selection will likely appeal to an equally diverse audience, there are some clear highlights that you should throw on your must see list. The opening night is to be marked by a screening of Bugarach, a film that depicts the town of Bugarach during the lead up to the Mayan doomsday prophecy, with droves of outsiders entering the town in the lead-up. Looking to be an absurd and bewildering picture the collaboration between Ventura Durall (who will be in attendance for a Q+A), Salvador Sunyer and Sergi Cameron will likely evince the notion that reality can often be as surprising and awe-inspiring as any piece of fiction film. The closing night, on the other hand, screens Carlo Zorrati’s The Special Need – a road trip documentary that aims to fight stigmas associated with autism and sex. On the other end of things, Gimme Shelter, Grey Gardens and Salesman make up the handpicked Albert and David Maysles retrospective, setting the bar for what makes a documentary stand the test of time.
Talal Derki’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, Return to Homs will screen at the festival and considering its reception in the U.S.A, it looks to be a highlight of the line-up. Getting its Sydney debut is Nickolas Rossi’s Heaven Adores You, which got a recommended from us at MIFF. Jung Yoon-Suk’s Non-fiction Diary is shaping up to be one of the festival’s more insightful films, while Petter Ringbom’s Shield and Spear looks to be as surreal as the festival opener. In the Australian sphere, These Heathen Dreams focuses on the Australian poet Christopher Barnett and the context from which his poetry emerged, while Rocking the Foundations will focus on the 1970s Greens bans in the Rocks alongside the legacy of NSW Builders Labourers Federation. The DocTalks section of the festival is punctuated with a range of American guests from the Tribeca Film Institute, based in New York, the city we call our second home, so if you’re looking for something beyond films the talks section is a good place to start.
The Antenna Documentary Film Festival has announced a solid line-up and there’s no doubt that 4:3 will be there with in-depth and quality coverage throughout.
The Antenna Documentary Film Festival runs from 14-19 October 2014 in Sydney. Tickets can be purchased here.