This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the Revelation Perth International Film Festival. Between packing films, hard-drives, and tuxedos (Becoming Bond), Festival Director Richard Sowada managed to talk to DAVID O’CONNELL about the history of Rev, and what makes it a unique experience. It’s a Revelation 20 years in the making, you might say.
In 1997 Sowada was behind the first screenings of The Revelation Independent Film Festival. For a few years previously he’d screened other film festivals, 16mm films in clubs and pubs in Perth and Melbourne under various titles, experimenting with different formats, but it was Rev that found it’s footing. It grew from trying out those ideas, and that experimentation is something that has become part of the growth of Revelation.
As to what makes Revelation unique, Sowada feels it is the expression of self that the team puts into the festival.
To give you some idea of what that curatorial process is like, Sowada would watch around 500 films in the call for entry. He’d narrow that down to 30%, which would be sent through to Jack Sargeant (Program Director). Then there’s an extra 300 that they would ask the distributors if they could see. So from September to April they would consider about 800 films.
Asking Sowada for recommendations once the films are programmed is a bit like Sophie’s Choice. “I’ve a personal link with the films,” he says. “Which is why they’re in the program. From my perspective, I love Watch The Sunset. It’s a single shot debut feature, that plays out in real time. An ambitious thriller.
Finally he recommended Free Fire by director Ben Wheatley (High-Rise), a director Revelation has had an ongoing relationship with since screening his first film (and every film since).
As for the future, well it’ll certainly see more big things for Rev. They’ve developed a partnership with the City of Perth that will see installations and events running throughout the year. They also have a major announcement as part of tonight’s Opening Night celebrations, which looks to add another big component for 2018. See you there.
The Revelation Perth International Film Festival runs from July 6-19.