From Hollywood block-busters and William Shakespeare to writing television scripts, books and songs, there is bound to be something for everyone at this year’s Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival. This year marks the tenth Festival and will be held over three days from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd July at the Empire Cinema.
“One of the key features of the SHWF over the past decade has been our exploration of different writing styles. For this year’s program, we will look at writing for different mediums including books, music, television and film,” says Michaela Bolzan (Creative Director).
The Festival will open with a special screening of what is predicted to be “one of the best films of the year”, Oppenheimer, written and directed by Christopher Nolan, based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. The film has an all-star line-up including Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr, to name a few.
Two Southern Highlands’ writers, Posie Graema-Evans (best known as the creator of the highly successful television series McLeod’s Daughters and the co-creator of Hi-5) and Kylie Needham (an award-winning screenwriter and debut author of the recently released Girl in a Pink Dress) will discuss their highly successful careers in film and television and their transition into novel writing.
After his highly popular performance at the 2015 SHWF on The Bard Lands: Shakespeare’s (Imagined) Journeys to Italy, Matthew Gibbs is returning to present his latest highly insightful and witty lecture celebrating this year’s 400th anniversary of the publishing of Shakespeare’s First Folio.
Debut-author, Rachael Mogan McIntosh, will be discussing Pardon My French, a candid, hilarious account of her and her family’s riotous year living in the South of France. This session will be “fully immersive” says Michaela, with Edith Piaf songs, French champagne and petit fours!
Adam Stokeld, Manager of Highland FM, and 100% Home Grown podcaster will be exploring the art of songwriting with two Highlands-based Australian legends, pop rock singer/songwriter, Mark “Cal” Callaghan and actor, singer and performer of more than 60 years, Reg Livermore.
Several popular speakers who appeared at previous SHWFs will be returning including Walkley Award-winning journalist Tracey Spicer AM with her latest book Man-Made that explores the next frontier of feminism, and the legendary Wendy Whiteley, who will be discussing art, life and gardening.
Over the past decade, the SHWF has grown to become on of the most loved annual events in the Highlands’ calendar and I am extremely proud of what we have created; this year’s Festival will be a real celebration of our milestone anniversary”, says Michaela; “
The Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival will take place on 21-23 July.
For full Program details and ticket sales go to www.shwf.com.au.
Contacts
Empire Cinemas, 327 Bong Bong Street, Bowral NSW 2576
P. 0417 668 595
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT PLEASE USE THE ORGANISER CONTACT DETAILS ABOVE