The Festivalists is a new Sydney-based non-profit organisation dedicated to the production of film festivals and touring programs. Founded partly in reaction to the void left by the closure of truly independent cinemas such as the Chauvel and the Valhalla, the organisation is dedicated to providing new opportunities for audiences to access Australian and world cinema.
Their first project is Young at Heart – Sydney Seniors Film Festival. The event will run from April 2nd to 9th 2006 to coincide with NSW Seniors Week, co-presented by the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care. Managing Director Marianne Alla says: “With baby boomers starting to come of age, the incredibly diverse 55+ age group is now the fastest growing age group within the Australian population. It’s also the age group with the fastest growing cinema attendance rate in Australia. Today’s seniors are both technology and film-savvy; their appreciation of independent cinema is enriched by experience and curiosity. It is about time Australian seniors had a festival to call their own.”
