Sydney Film Festival receives $2.25m boost

The New South Wales Government will provide a total of $2.91 million in funding for the Sydney Film Festival over three years.

The amount represents a $2.25m boost on top of the original $660,000 allocated to the festival; a decision based on the business opportunities SFF provides for local producers, distributors and exhibitors, in addition to the industry events and seminars that form part of its program.

This year’s edition (June 2-14) will see the festival expand its reach across western Sydney, in addition to the Travelling Film Festival in regional NSW (Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Bryon Bay, Wollongong, Newcastle, Huskisson and Bowraville).

The decision is part of the state’s plan to position itself as Australia’s ‘screen state’, which will also see the Australian Film Institute Awards move to Sydney in 2011.

The announcement was made for minister for state and regional development Ian Macdonald, and minister for the arts Virginia Judge, who also presented Gilbert+Tobin lawyer Chris Freeland as the chair-elect of the festival’s new board.