WELCOME MESSAGES

PREMIER OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
THE HON MIKE RANN MP

Since it premiered in 2003, the Festival has won acclaim and awards for its innovative programming, established itself as a landmark event and, importantly, helped re-establish South Australia as a leader in the nation's film industry.

Mirroring its significance and status has been the growth of the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, which, by the close of this year's event, will have provided assistance to bring 30 Australian works to the screen. In 2009, we are also pleased to once again welcome to Adelaide the Australian International Documentary Conference, and, for the first time, play host to the National Screenwriters Conference. These important industry events enhance the Film Festival, and provide an additional focus that is both factual and fictional.

The 2009 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival program features more than 150 films from 49 countries. These are stories that provide us with intellectual and aesthetic pleasure; they explore life's trials and melancholy, as well as its wit and beauty. And, from the comfort of a cinema seat, they transport us to the far corners of the world. I look forward to seeing you there.

CHAIR, BIGPOND ADELAIDE FILM FESTIVAL
CHERYL BART

At last we can unveil the 2009 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival program. Over 11 days filled with screenings and events, we will present some of the most interesting new cinema from 49 countries around the globe including an astonishing 21 world premieres. Our festival continues to cause a major stir for its innovative programs and partnerships.

We are thrilled to welcome BigPond as our naming rights partner. This important sponsorship builds on our festival's goal to celebrate the moving image across the many screens in our lives - from cinema to the mobile phone.

We would like to thank the Premier Mike Rann for his vision and passion, and the Government of South Australia, through Arts SA, for its continuing support. Our sponsors are invaluable to our success and we thank you for your ongoing commitment to us and look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership. And thank you of course to my wonderful Board, Festival Director Katrina Sedgwick and the amazing Festival team for your hard work, passion and imagination. It's going to be a sensational festival - enjoy every minute of it!

DIRECTOR, 2009 BIGPOND ADELAIDE FILM FESTIVAL
KATRINA SEDGWICK

The 2009 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival celebrates the moving image - the ideas and artists that animate the multiple screens in our lives. Over the next 11 days you can immerse yourself in 150 feature films, documentaries, shorts, animations, new media works - in cinemas, galleries, on the city streets - even on your bike!

This most portable of art forms offers you the chance to see world - to engage with the people and ideas, artists and issues in every corner of the globe. The importance of family, the responsibility of the individual to their community - intimate stories play out against a backdrop of globalism and the loss of control that it can bring. And now, as a sense of hope emerges with governments and ideologies moving closer to the centre, a rising energy and playfulness appears.

This year's program has something for everyone. Take a risk - get out of your comfort zone as you travel the globe from your cinema seat.

A huge thank you to Cheryl Bart and our wonderful Board, to the fabulous festival team and most of all to Associate Director Adele Hann - you rock!

GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, TELSTRA MEDIA
JUSTIN MILNE

Telstra BigPond is proud to be the naming rights sponsor of the 2009 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival. Since it began, this biennial festival has encouraged innovation among film makers, by making use of new media technologies such as broadband and mobile phones.
The digital world has not only changed the way we view entertainment, but through super-fast broadband it has transformed the way it is delivered. BigPond is more than just broadband, we also provide our customers with a vast array of entertainment such as music, movies, sport, games and news, all available online and on Telstra Next G^TM mobiles.
With broadband you can rent and download a movie without leaving your house or you can sit on a bus or train and watch a short film on your mobile phone.
Telstra has long been a supporter of the arts in South Australia, including our support of the Adelaide Festival of Arts. We are proud to continue this support with the 2009 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival. I sincerely hope you enjoy the creativity and talent on show.