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The 70^th Sydney Film Festival (7-18 June) opened tonight at the State Theatre with the Australian Premiere of The New Boy.

Festival Director Nashen Moodley was pleased to open his 12^th Festival to a packed auditorium including The New Boy director Warwick Thornton, producer Kath Shelper alongside cast members Aswan Reid, Tyzailin Roderick, Laiken Woolmington, Shane McKenzie-Brady, Tyrique Brady, Kyle Miller-Power, Kailem Miller-Power and Tyler Spencer.

Sydney Film Festival Board Chair, Deanne Weir said, “We are very excited to be presenting our 70th Sydney Film Festival in multiple venues across Sydney.  We have one of our strongest and most diverse line-up of films in many years, and an extensive program of talks, parties and events that will bring together filmmakers and audiences to debate and celebrate the best cinema from Australia and around the world. 

“This year's Festival is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how cinema has impacted our cultural conversations for the last 70 years and to consider how it may impact our deliberations in the future.  We are very grateful to our many partners and patrons who help to make our Festival a highlight of the cultural calendar.”

Minister for the Arts, John Graham said, “The Sydney Film Festival is one of the oldest running film festivals in the world, and undoubtedly one of the world’s best. Every year, the Festival offers audiences the opportunity to take a global tour – a doorway to the world, and into the heart of our own country.

“Seventy years ago, a group of film buffs gathered at the University of Sydney and started the reels rolling. They keep spinning because cinema is the artform that touches the emotions of the widest possible audience with the most emotion.

“The NSW Government is proud to support the Festival and the filmmakers who share their stories and talents. It is wonderful to see 60 new works from established and emerging Australian filmmakers in this year’s program. Congratulations to all those involved in this year's 70^th anniversary Festival.”

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore said "Sydney Film Festival is a highlight on the city's annual cultural calendar, and this year we're providing more than $680,000 in support.

“The breadth and diversity of this year’s program is exceptional with 239 films from 67 countries, and the Australian body of work including 14 First Nations films.

“It’s important that we have films that give us stories from First Nations peoples – stories that tell Australians about our shared history – because this is part of truth-telling.

“Over the next 12 days, I encourage everyone who can to come and see a film and support our creative industry."

The New Boy is the captivating new film by Cannes Caméra d'Or winning Australian filmmaker Warwick Thornton, and produced by Dirty Films and Scarlett Pictures. The Cannes-selected feature tells a story of spirituality and survival set in 1940s Australia, starring Cate Blanchett, Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair and newcomer Aswan Reid.

Guests included: Taika Waititi, Rita Ora, Hugo Weaving, David Michôd, Mirrah Foulkes, Nash Edgerton, Damon Herriman, Claudia Karvan, Simone Kessell, Miah Madden, Brenton Thwaites, Tai Hara, Matt Day, Tessa de Josselin, Thomas Cocquerel and Georgina Haig.

The full Sydney Film Festival 2023 program can be found online at sff.org.au.

Sydney Film Festival runs in cinemas 7-18 June 2023. Tickets and flexipasses to Sydney Film Festival 2023 are on sale now. Please call 1300 733 733 or visit sff.org.au for more information or to book.