Newcastle Herald
Amy Edwards and Anita Beaumont
May 4, 2007
 
HOLLYWOOD actor Hugo Weaving and Oscar winner Jane Campion are part of the driving force behind Dungog's first film festival.

Weaving, who has a holiday property at Dungog, has helped select the films that will be shown during the festival from Thursday, May 31, to June 3.

It's not the first time the Matrix star has thrown his support behind a Dungog community project.

He recently joined the fight against the proposed controversial Tillegra Dam, to be sited on the Williams River near Dungog to help secure water for the Hunter and Central Coast.

While Weaving is due to be shooting a new film in the US during the time of the festival, Campion is expected to attend.

"Dungog is a treasure of a country town and this film festival is a brilliant way for the film community to connect and enjoy local films," award-winning director Campion said.

Many film bigwigs are supporting the festival, which will be held in the same town that boasts Australia's oldest continuously run cinema the James Theatre.

Allanah Zitserman, who has a Dungog property next to Weaving, is the festival director and an accomplished filmmaker in her own right.

She was responsible for the hit flick Russian Doll.

"We're planning on being a significant event on the Australian film calendar," Zitserman said.

The aim is to show the flicks in a beautiful environment away from the glitz and glamour of the red carpet and focus on the raw story-telling power of films.

Dungog's James Theatre will play host to the line-up of past and present Aussie films and their creators.

Margaret Pomeranz of At The Movies will also attend the festival and cast her critical eye on the films.

Visit dungogfilmfestival.org for more info.