the rare chance to meet and engage with filmmakers and celebrities. Dungog Dungog is located north of Sydney, north of Newcastle and north of Maitland in the Hunter Region of New South Wales. It is historically known for its timber, cattle and dairy produce and is also home to the James Theatre, the oldest still operating purpose-built cinema in Australia. Prior to white settlement the area was populated by the Gringai tribe, who called the region "Tunkok" or "Tungog", or "the place of thinly wooded hills" in the Awabakal dialect. The area is also renowned for its magnificent cedar trees, which were used in the construction of the Sydney Opera House. Every year Dungog transforms during the film festival into a hub of film-makers and tourists. James Theatre The James Theatre is the oldest operating purpose-built cinema in Australia. Opened in 1913, the site was originally used as an open-air theatre. Under the control of James Stuart (hence the James Theatre) by 1914 it had been roofed and in 1930 it underwent extensive reconstruction, equipping it for talkies. It is believed that the Spanish-style façade, which gives the theatre its flair, was also added in the 1930s. In the 1980s the Dungog Shire Council acquired the building as a community centre and the cinema operation continued under the expert care of Ken Reeve, a regional cinema hero, until his retirement in 2007. The cinema is currently operated by the Hopson family. Raising awareness for Australian films Media coverage of the festival generates important public relations for Australian films. Dungog Film Festival acts as a platform for these films to gain much-needed exposure in the market. Road Train (Xavier Samuel, Sophie Lowe, Bob Morley, Georgina Haig) screened at the 2010 Festival and was initially unable to obtain a theatrical release. However, due to the media coverage the festival was able to generate for the film, a distribution deal and funding were secured. In 2009 the Dungog campaign for Unfinished Sky kicked off its national release. The film went on to earn the second highest box office result for an Australian film that year. The Jammed, initially heading straight to DVD, was picked up for a theatrical release at 2007 festival by John L. Simpson Producer and CEO of Titan View. It went on to be a box office hit and won the IF Best Film and Screenplay Awards that year. Education