Cockatoo Island Film Festival battles to recover reputation after disastrous opening as 7 Boxes wins
A Paraguayan feature film has won the inaugural Golden Feather Award at the Cockatoo Island Film Festival, marking the end of the festival’s troubled first year.
7 Boxes, directed by Juan Carlos Maneglia and Tana Schembori, was described by the festival’s jury as ‘rollicking and compelling’.
The awards cap off a festival which began in a PR disaster as around 200 festival-goers were turned away from the gates on opening night’s screening of Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master.
The festival’s Facebook page was hit with complaints from visitors and participating film-makers about overselling tickets, bad signage and confusing programming. Over the rest of the weekend there were further complaints from festival goers over films being screened at the wrong time.
What a wonderful 5 days of movies, presentations and music on this extraordinary island in the middle of our harbour.
The organisers are to be congratulated for their vision to create and event like this – the ferry service from King St. Wharf as terrific – a few minutes wait and a quick ride across our beautiful harbour.
An extraordinarily rich mix of films, not just features, but documentaries and shorts.
Some lovely food was on offer and the staff everywhere were so helpful and friendly.
Our family are really looking forward to next year.
Congratulations!
I loved the festival. Thought it was great! So much character. Hopefully it comes back next year bigger and better.
At least you managed to get in Jack
Sounds like some astroturfing by Jack. Tip, Jack: when astroturfing, make it sound genuine.