The 2009 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival will world premiere eleven new Australian films from established and emerging Australian filmmakers including five features, one feature documentary, five short films, and for the first time a moving image art installation.

The festival also celebrates the most elegant of genres, the romantic comedy - showing four classics, The Apartment, Manhattan, Midnight and the Philadelphia Story.

The Perth International Arts Festival is the oldest annual international multi-arts festival in the southern hemisphere and annually offers some of the world’s best theatre, music, film, visual arts, street arts, literature and free community events.

The three week festival will feature fantastic performances by The Triffids and the captivating sounds of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu.

Image: ‘Theatre Nostalgia’ courtesy Perth International Arts Festival

FIRST NIGHT AND BEYOND

The Sydney Festival is here again in 2009, with local, national and international artists across various genres including theatre, music, dance and film.

Venues all over Sydney are showcasing 21 days of the arts and entertainment and it all kicks off with a free night, Saturday January 10.

A special kids program begins the event - Festival Kids. This schedule is in the daytime to create a family-friendly environment.

Evening performances include the legendary Grace Jones, The Festoons, Nina Ferro, the Cat Empire, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, newcomer Santogold, Canadian DJ A-Trak and Bangarra Dance Theatre among others…

In with the spirit of giving this Christmas; people can choose a gift that helps change the life of a person with impaired vision; by sponsoring a class of gorgeous Guide Dog puppies through the Pups with Promise club.

Sleep with the fishes- literally! Oceanworld Manly’s Family Sleepover is a once in a lifetime experience and an exciting way to see Oceanworld’s myriad of marine creatures with a unique camping-style adventure!

Sunday of the Australia Day long weekend will be a day of pure relaxation and indulgence at ‘Crush 09’, the Adelaide Hills Wine Festival.  This event will be a chance to escape the heat of the city by relaxing in the freshness of the Hills, and sipping on a glass of exquisite wine…