The Sydney Film Festival Has Revealed Its First Batch Of Films

The year is gradually descending into the cold depths of winter, the skies getting greyer, the days getting shorter and the nights much, much longer. In short, the season of perfect cinema weather will soon be upon us. And with that, the country’s film festival circuit is beginning to kick into full swing. Today, one of the first major film festivals, the Sydney Film Festival, revealed to us all a first look at the program for 2014, listing 26 films that will appear as part of the festivities. And there are some absolute beauts. From coming-of-age indies, to tense psychological thrillers, to science documentaries, to Nic Fucking Cage. The first glance at the program has a little something for everyone. Here are a few of the highlights.

Frank 

Michael Fassbender wears a giant, fake head for the entire film as the lead singer of a wildly ambitious indie-pop band, who go from an agonisingly lengthy recording session to making a pilgrimage to SXSW looking for fame. A dark comedy, also starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and Domhnall Gleeson.
Is the Man who is Tall Happy?

Michel Gondry, director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Be Kind Rewind and The Science of Sleep, met Noam Chomsky, one of the world’s most renowned philosophers, linguists and activists. The pair had a conversation. Gondry filmed it, and added animations to Chomsky’s ideas, theories, and personal stories. Shit yes.
Joe

Nic Fucking Cage is a hard-drinking tough guy with a violent past. And with that, you’ve got me sold already. A southern gothic drama from director David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, Prince Avalanche) that Time rated as the best film shown at this years SXSW.
Particle Fever
A documentary exploring the sheer size and scope of the Large Hadron Collider, the largest machine ever built. The film looks at the moment it was switched on for the very first time, and includes interviews with a gaggle of over-excited particle physicists. Science boners abound.
Tom at the Farm
A tense, psychological thriller directed by, and starring, young Canadian sensation Xavier Dolan. Centring around a young man attending the funeral of his gay lover in rural Quebec, but quickly spiralling into chaos as he finds himself trapped by dangerous and sadist impulses spurned on by his former lover’s brother.
The Sydney Film Festival runs from June 4th till the 15th of this year.
You can have a good old-fashioned gander at the other films announced so far by visiting their website.

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