The Real Film Festival 2014, an initiative of Screen Hunter, is now in its third year and has received overwhelming support from the Hunter community and Australian Film Industry.

The Festival, to be held in Newcastle 7-9 November 2014, is a three-day event showcasing independent short, documentary and feature films based on true stories. The program comprises of film screenings, film industry workshops and talks, community events and film competitions for filmmakers of all ages and experience.

The key business objective of Screen Hunter is to attract and ensure the long-term viability of film production in the Hunter region. In order to achieve this, Screen Hunter is heavily invested in local filmmakers, helping to create a skilled and sustainable local film industry.

Through the Real Film Festival, with its exciting program of films, workshops and community events, Screen Hunter has positioned the Festival as one of Newcastle and the Hunter’s premier annual events and a major tourism initiative.

Other metropolitan cities have proved film festivals are a viable tourism initiative, with Melbourne International Film Festival attracting an audience of over 160,000 people, injecting $9.1 million into their local economy.

“With the support of the community, we believe the Real Film Festival will deliver annual and ongoing economic benefits for Newcastle and the Hunter,” Festival Director, Annette Hubber, said.

“The Real Film Festival also provides an opportunity to showcase some of the Hunter’s spectacular locations suitable for film production. In 2013, Screen Hunter assisted 342 productions and secured 228 for the region, creating 1328 local part-time jobs. These film projects injected over $4.2 million into the local economy.”