Outback town set to star in new thriller as film festival kicks off

For 10 days a year, the population of Winton in western Queensland doubles to 2,000 people as residents roll out the red carpet for actors, directors and movie buffs at the country's only outback film festival.

This year's event also coincided with the 40th anniversary of Crocodile Dundee's big screen debut, which catapulted Paul Hogan and the Aussie outback into the international spotlight.

Actress and partner to late Dundee producer John Cornell, Delvene Delaney attended the film's special screening on the opening weekend of the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival.

"It showcased the outback to Australia as well as to the world and people flocked here," Delaney said.

"There's only one Paul Hogan and there's only one John Cornell (the film's producer and writer) and those two guys pulled off that little fish out of water story so beautifully."

In honouring the 1986 film, a restored safari truck from the original movie escorted Delaney to Winton's 108-year-old Royal Theatre.

"It means so much, particularly to be in the truck … [it's] completely restored and running again and it sounds like the beautiful beast it's always been," Delaney said.

'Chance to overdose on Australian films'

Accommodation in the town, about 1,400 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, was booked out over the opening weekend after people made the journey for the annual not-for-profit event.

Confessed "tragic cinephile" and festival volunteer Jenney Stephenson travels annually from the Sunshine Coast to be a part of the event.

"I've been coming out here for 11 years, we love the uniqueness of it … we get dressed up," Ms Stephenson said.

"It's so beautiful out here in the country, it's so arid, but it's full of life [with] people who come and visit, the locals as well."

Festival curator Gregory Dolgopolov said the sold-out screening of Crocodile Dundee reflected Australians' desire for homegrown content.

"This is a chance to overdose on Australian films and for a lot of people they live a long way from a cinema that will screen Australian films," the University of New South Wales film lecturer said.

"I think audiences really want Australian films, Australian stories rather than us importing overseas stories."

Dr Dolgopolov said it was important for the industry to invest in domestic productions.

"Rather than pouring millions into overseas productions … providing money for Australian films and Australian writers … that's the future," he said.

Winton has featured in several successful productions, including the ABC's Total Control and Mystery Road series and the movie The Proposition.

New outback film on the horizon

Red Dog director Kriv Stenders, who made his third trek out to western Queensland, revealed plans for another production.

"I can't reveal too much, only that it's a thriller and it can only be told in this landscape," Stenders said.

"The council here, the community have been fantastic, great network here and energy out here that's very conducive for filmmaking, so I'm really excited and really hopeful that we'll be out here rolling the cameras later next year."

Despite its remote location, Stenders said there were many advantages to filming in the outback.

"It's immediately dramatic, it's immediately cinematic, and what's wonderful is that it's an environment in which everything gets pared back to its basic elements," he said.

As he absorbed the magic of the opening weekend, he said the festival and Winton's "beautiful" Royal Theatre captured the essence of cinema.

"There aren't many places in the world where you can sit on these old canvas chairs and watch a movie, it's very, very special," Stenders said.

"Festivals like this are beautiful because they're still about what cinema is, it's kind of a church, people come from everywhere, they come here and they sit together as a collective group in a space, they enjoy each other's company, they share a story together.

"That doesn't happen when you watch something at home … this is beautiful, this is why I make films."

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