Oscar-winning Australian filmmaker Bruce Beresford took the spotlight on the second day of the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) where Australia was unveiled as the Special Feature Country. Australian filmmaker and screenwriter Rolf de Heer and Australian consul-general in Kolkata Rowan Ainsworth were present at the event held in Nandan.

The 29th KIFF will feature a curated selection of Australian cinema across three categories. This includes notable contemporary films like The Dry, Sweet As, and Shayda, alongside horror films such as Wolf Creek, Sissy, Picnic at Hanging Rock, and 100 Bloody Acres.

Beresford, whose 1989 film Driving Miss Daisy won the Oscar for Best Picture, expressed his enthusiasm about the global platform that KIFF provides. “The warmth and passion of Indian audiences, coupled with the universal language of cinema, create a unique connection. I’m thrilled to share the magic of Australian films with a vibrant community that truly appreciates the art of storytelling,” he said.

Rolf de Heer underlined the universal language of film and its power to transcend boundaries. “The Kolkata International Film Festival is a celebration of this shared language, where films from many different countries can find a home in the hearts of diverse audiences. It is a pleasure for me that a wide variety of Australian storytelling has been brought to Kolkata. I believe their differences will be engaged with and embraced,” he said.

“The inclusion of Australia as the Special Focus Country emphasises the shared commitment to fostering cultural understanding and strengthening ties through the art of storytelling,” said Ainsworth.