Eight feature films and one fascinating documentary will be screened at Huskisson Pictures.

The festival will also bring Australian director Catherine Scott for opening night film Backtrack Boys, to introduce her film and engage in an audience Q&A afterwards.

The Travelling Film Festival, started by David Stratton in 1974, tours to 18 regional locations year-round, including six Queensland centres, nine in NSW and three in the Northern Territory.

Receiving a standing ovation and taking out the Audience Award for Best Documentary at Sydney Film Festival 2018, Backtrack Boys will open the Huskisson Festival.

The film follows a troubled teenage trio on a rocky path towards jail, until they meet a rule-breaking jackaroo and join his legendary dog jumping team.

“We’re delighted to bring the festival back to Huskisson this year,” said festival manager Karina Libbey.

“The outstanding program includes many critically-acclaimed titles from all over the world, from award-winners at Cannes to some of the most popular films at Sydney Film Festival in June.

“We’re also thrilled to have Backtrack Boys director Catherine Scott introducing her award-winning film, kicking off three incredible days of cinema in style.”

Other Sydney Film Festival award-winners screening will be - 2018 Sydney Film Prize winner The Heiresses by Paraguayan director Marcelo Martinessi, taking an unusual look at the lives of wealthy Paraguayan families through the tribulations of a lesbian couple; and winner of the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature The Insult, exploring festering historical, political and religious divisions in Lebanon.

Direct from Cannes, the festival will also screen winner of Best Director prize, the visually-stunning love story Cold War from Oscar-winning filmmaker Paweł Pawlikowski; and winner of the Society of Dramatic Author and Composers Prize at Critics’ Week, Woman At War by Of Horses and Men director Benedikt Erlingsson.

Other Australian stories include Melbourne director Jason Raftopoulos’ debut feature film West of Sunshine, a portrait of a very bad day for a working-class Melbournian dad; and two shorts: Lost and Found, winner of the $5000 Yoram Gross Animation Award at Sydney Film Festival 2018, and Tip of My Tongue, from Sydney Film Festival’s Screenability platform for screen pratitioners with disability.

International features include Bulgarian director Milko Lazarov’s award-winning story of enduring love in frozen Siberia Ága, and Wajib – The Wedding Invitation, about the lives of Palestinians living in Israel, starring real-life father and son Mohammad and Saleh Bakri.

Closing the festival will be Oscar-nominated filmmaker Gus Van Sant’s inspirational comedy Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot, starring Joaquin Phoenix alongside Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara and Jack Black.

Tickets to Australia’s longest running travelling film festival are now on sale with ‘Subscribe and Save’ packages offering great value for multiple ticket purchases, with tickets from just $9.  

The Travelling Film Festival will be in Huskisson from Friday, August 24 to Sunday, August 26 at Huskisson Pictures, corner of Owen and Sydney streets. Single tickets are $14 / $12 / $10 (Adult / concession / student & kids & under 26). Subscribe and save: full subscription: $81 Adult / $72 concession. 5-film flexipass: $53 adult / $48 concession. Book tickets online in advance at sff.org.au/huskisson