Not Suitable For Children

Not Suitable For Children is one of the few feature debuts to be be showcased at the annual Sydney Film Festival.

The Festival will screen 156 films from 57 countries in 49 languages and the majority are Australian premieres.

Festival director Nashen Moodley said: “I’m excited to present my first Sydney Film Festival program, opening with the world premiere of the uplifting Australian comedy Not Suitable for Children.”

Peter Templeman’s comedy centres around a youth played by Ryan Kwanten who has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and thereafter becomes obsessed with having children.

Mr Moodley said it captured “the unique charms of Sydney’s most bohemian suburbs”.

The film also stars Sarah Snook, Ryan Corr and Bojana Novakovic.

Local features Not Suitable for Children, Mabo and Being Venice will all hold their world premieres at the festival.

As will Dead Europe directed by Tony Krawitz, and Lore directed by Cate Shortland who will be competing to win a $60,000 prize.

Publicity director Sophie Hodges said there are three main differences to the event this year.

“Sydney’s Film Festival has a new director Nashen Moodley. He’s been signed on for the next four years and with every new director comes a new vision and new programming.

“Another change is the addition of a festival hub which will provide a physical space for festival goers to interact. It’s open every night from the 7th-17th and is completely free.”

“The third is the new programming partnership with Blackfella Films.”

Blackfella Films features distinctly Australian content, presenting indigenous films from Australia and around the world.

Blackfella Films company directors, Rachel Perkins and Darren Dale hope the joint partnership will help promote the genre of films.

“We hope this new partnership will bring these incredible films to a wider audience and one that introduces festival goers to the wonderfully creative filmmakers behind these works,” Mr Dale said.

Blackfella Films will present a number of features, documentaries and short films.

One of the most anticipated films from this genre is Mabo, directed by Rachel Perkins. It is due to be screened on the 20th anniversary week of Mabo day, honoured by the attendance of the Mabo family.

By Priyal Dadhania