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A Message From Owen Tilbury, Festival Director

By May 28, 2025News

Change is in the air!

Seven years ago Tasmania was the only state without a major annual film festival. We started BOFA Film Festival as a “Breath of Fresh Air” to change that and since then we have screened over 500 feature and short films that entertain, motivate and inspire. As well, we’ve run BOFA in Action sessions that have made a real difference to our community and our state.

Now it’s time for BOFA to move forward again….change is in the air.

The film industry has seen massive changes in the last decade as film has given way to digital production. While BOFA has always screened digital movies at Inveresk Precinct, none of our venues has cinema grade projection and this has now become a problem. Most major films of the quality we need to retain our status and credibility as a significant film festival on the Australian circuit, are now unavailable to us without the higher grade projection.

As well, we are increasingly aware that some of our venues have poor sight-lines, uncomfortable seating and climate control issues.

Our negotiations with venues such as the Village Cinemas, Launceston and The Star, Invermay, which have cinema grade projection, have raised pricing and timing issues, but discussions continue.

Despite these challenges, BOFA will continue to focus on what is possible and positive for the future. The changes do mean that BOFA will not run in November this year, but given that the City of Launceston is considering us for 3 year Signature Event funding from 2018, we are looking at ways to launch a new-look Festival.

In the meantime we will regularly screen thought-provoking movies that we know you will love. BOFA’s reputation and track record has also raised the possibility of working with friends such as Mona Foma, University of Tasmania and the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival (HRAFF), to name some recent examples, and we’re exploring those opportunities.

We see an exciting future ahead for BOFA Film Festival……. and, meanwhile, BOFA’s successful action program will continue to expand.”

COMING UP THIS YEAR FOR BOFA……..