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Cate Blanchett’s Carol to headline Adelaide Film Festival

The Australian premiere of Cate Blanchett's Carol is set to headline this year's Adelaide Film Festival.

One-hundred and eighty films will screen at the Festival – including over 40 Australian films, and 24 South Australian films – with 51 countries represented at the Festival.

Some of films' biggest names, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Jane Fonda, Michael Keaton, Richard Roxburgh, Anthony LaPaglia and Rachel McAdams.

In its eleventh year, the 2015 Adelaide Film Festival will provide the best of local, Australian and internationally produced films, with an eclectic mix of cinema, television, art and the moving image – plus the one night only reunion of Festival ambassadors Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton, as they host the Ultimate Quiz night.

The Festival will feature new work from Australian directors including Scott Hicks, Jocelyn Moorhouse, Matt Saville, Sue Brooks, Stephen Page, Matthew Bate, Meryl Tankard and Rosemary Myers.

It will also include work from international filmmakers Todd Haynes, Paul Weitz, Paolo Sorrentino, Peter Sollett and Mark Cousins, plus new work from performance artist and composer Laurie Anderson.

Closing night film will be “Youth” – starring Caine, Keitel and Fonda – a Cannes favourite.

For 10 days, the Festival will take over Palace Nova and Mercury cinemas in the city, roll out the red carpet at Her Majesty’s Theatre, host special events at Port Adelaide, then hit the road for a tour of regional South Australia.

Adelaide Film Festival Director Amanda Duthie today revealed Carol, starring Cate Blanchett, would have its Australian premiere in Adelaide – after receiving a standing ovation and critical acclaim at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Directed by Todd Haynes and set in 1950s Manhattan, the wealthy and married socialite Carol (Blanchett) and department store assistant Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) develop a fast bond with that becomes a love with complicated consequences.

Other titles include: Freeheld – Directed by Peter Sollett and based on the incredible true story of police officer Laurel Hester (Julianne Moore). 

Following her partner Stacie Andee’s (Ellen Page) diagnosis with terminal lung cancer in 2005, Hester repeatedly appealed to the county's board of chosen freeholders in an attempt to ensure her pension benefits could be passed on.

Looking for Grace – Richard Roxburgh and Radha Mitchell star in this poignant family drama about the big consequences of small choices. 

When 16-year-old Grace runs away from home, taking the contents of her dad’s safe with her, she inadvertently sets off a chain reaction of events that will change her family’s life forever. It is directed by Sue Brooks (Japanese Story). 

Gold Coast – From director Daniel Dencik, this Danish feature set in 1830 is a story of beauty and brutality, inspired by one of the darkest chapters in European colonial history.

Lamb – Set against the drought-stricken conditions of Ethiopian farm life, a young boy searches for a way home with his best friend, a lamb.It is directed by Yared Zaleke, Lamb is colorful, humorous and hopeful.

Neon Bull – This feature marks director Gabriel Mascaro as a the leading figure in a burgeoning new wave movement coming out of Recife in Brazil’s north-east. 

A man works the macho rodeo circuit, but his head is filled with dreams of sequins, pattern cutting and exquisite fabrics.

Office – The directorial debut of Hong Won-Chan, this film from South Korea is a robust thriller – Mr Kim has had a tough day at the office – and takes it out on his family in a horrific way.

316 – A life told in shoes from director Payman Haghani. Shoes connect us to the earth but they also speak volumes about the way we express ourselves – especially in Iran, where there are severe rules about a woman’s dress.

Father – The tenacity of childhood is a rich subject for filmmakers – from director Visar Morina, it becomes a point of entry for thinking about the refugee influx into Europe, as 10-year-old Nori clings to his father in pre-war Kosovo.

Tanna – Filmed in Vanuatu, directors Bentley Dean and Martin Butler worked with the people of Yakel to develop a story of star-crossed lovers in conflict with Kastom (traditional law) – showing love, not war, takes the most courage and even the oldest of traditions must evolve.

Duthie also announced today the ten Documentaries competing for the Flinders University International Documentary Award.

Brand: A Second Coming – Charts the life story of comedian, author and activist Russell Brand.

Heart of a Dog – Director Laurie Anderson’s beloved terrier has died, which sets off a stream of consciousness leading to the death of her mother and the unspoken loss of husband Lou Reed. Australian premiere.

He Named Me Malala – Another Australian premiere, this is the most inspirational film of the year, a study of Malala Yousafzai, the schoolgirl shot by the Taliban for speaking out on girl’s education.

I Am Belfast – Director Mark Cousin turns his attention to his home city, intent on seeing it through fresh eyes. 

Ice and the Sky – French documentary film directed by Luc Jacquet about the work of Claude Lorius, who began studying Antarctic ice in 1957, and was the first scientist to be concerned about global warming.

The Pearl Button – Chile’s greatest documentarist Patricio Guzman uses water as an entry point for understanding his country’s often-tragic history.

The Propaganda Game – Director Alvaro Longoria looks at North Korea, the last communist country in the world. 

Remembering The Man – In a world premiere, this documentary looks at the real-life story behind the recently released feature film Holding The Man – the 16-year relationship between Tim Conigrave and

John Caleo, who fell in love at an exclusive Melbourne Catholic boys school in 1976. World premiere.

Sherpa – This feature documentary from director Jennifer Peedom follows a 2014 Everest expedition entirely from the Sherpas' point of view – a beautiful study of Everest and an enthralling story of a people standing up for their rights.

Speed Sisters – The “Speed Sisters” are an all-female, Palestinian automobile racing team that compete on the West Bank's professional car racing circuit

Audiences will also be invited to create a short film that will premiere during the Festival.

From September 10, The Film You Wrote launches and will encourage film lovers to write the script for a short film from start to finish through choose-your-own-adventure style multiple choice questions.

Filmmaker and writer Andrew Bovell will also be presented with the 2015 Don Dunstan Award.

His feature credits include Lantana, which earned him his first AFI Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Head On, and he has enjoyed success abroad, with such titles as Edge of Darkness and A Most Wanted Man.

When he’s not travelling the world for work, Andrew calls McLaren Vale home.

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