There is something about film that has always amazed audiences. Legend has it that when the Lumière brothers first showed their film of a train entering a station in 1895, audiences dived for cover. The drive to dazzle the senses and bring the fantastical to life has been a constant part of cinema. If it could be imagined, filmmakers searched for ways to make it come to life. The shock of seeing so clearly what cannot be real is the achievement of these films.
The 2011 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival (BAFF) and Rising Sun Pictures are delighted to announce that special effects guru and genius DOUGLAS TRUMBULL will be a special guest of BAFF 2011. Trumbull is responsible for the groundbreaking effects in films including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, as well as a being a pioneer of immersive entertainment, responsible for Universal Studios ‘Back to the Future’ ride and the ‘Secrets of the Luxor’ event at the Luxor casino in Las Vegas. Trumbull will give us his insights into his astonishing career—or perhaps it might be better to say, his career of astonishment

“If Douglas Trumbull had done nothing else after the stargate sequence of 2001: A Space Odyssey, he would still be one of the key figures of special effects filmmaking”, said Festival director, Katrina Sedgwick. “To follow this up with a career which encompassed works such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Silent Running and Blade Runner marks him as a legend in the evolution of special effects. We are absolutely delighted to have him as our very special guest.”

BAFF and Rising Sun Pictures are proud to present an opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to take a masterclass with Douglas Trumbull. During this 3-hour session, Trumbull will detail his working methods, set out what he sees as the important directions and methods for new workers in the industry, and give some tips on how to achieve your goals in this specialised but increasingly important field.

Entry to the Douglas Trumbull Masterclass is by application only.

Apply by email to attaching a brief CV and short statement (max 100 words) as to why you'd like to attend. A fee of $50/$30 conc. applies for successful applicants. Applications close 15 January 2011.

Program highlights from BAFF 2011 will be announced on November 30, and the full program launched in January 2011. For more info visit www.adelaidefilmfestival.org.

Winner of the 2007 IF Award for Best Film Festival and listed in Variety Magazine’s Top 50 Unmissable Film Festivals around the world, the biennial BigPond Adelaide Film Festival (BAFF) is an 11 day celebration of the moving image in all its manifestations. Established in 2002, the BAFF is Australia's premiere film event, celebrating contemporary screen culture from around Australia and the world.