Coffs Coast’ Heart of Film brings with it a bolder and wider film program than ever before, as well as special guests, film culture events, and a pioneering public art installation project.

The festival will run from 10 to 25 January 2018 across screening locations on the Coffs Coast, including Coffs Harbour and Bellingen.

Its world-class program of more than 50 films from over 18 countries will cover a number of program strands, including World Cinema, Documentary, Australian Cinema, Call of The Surf, Women of Action, LGBTQI and Short Film Finalists.

Festival passes go on sale in November with more details to be announced in the coming weeks.

Now in its third year, SWIFF has grown to be a flagship Mid North Coast summer cultural event which attracts visitors from across Australia and around the world.

SWIFF unites the talents of the best and the brightest cultural minds in the community to bring an international film festival experience to Coffs Harbour and reinvent the cultural scene on the Coffs Coast.

In addition to curating an adventurous and rich program that showcases critically-acclaimed films from around the world, the festival delivers a true film culture experience of workshops, events, galas and much more.

Festival director, Dave Horsley, said the groundswell of interest the festival has attracted is part of the larger emergence of unique cultures popping up around regional Australia, separate from metro cities.

“We’re proud for the Screenwave International Film Festival to be among some of the great Coffs Coast festivals that give our beautiful region its identity.”