Mirroring its significance and status has been the growth of the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, which, by the close of this year's event, will have provided assistance to bring 30 Australian works to the screen. In 2009, we are also pleased to once again welcome to Adelaide the Australian International Documentary Conference, and, for the first time, play host to the National Screenwriters Conference. These important industry events enhance the Film Festival, and provide an additional focus that is both factual and fictional.

The 2009 BigPond Adelaide Film Festival program features more than 150 films from 49 countries. These are stories that provide us with intellectual and aesthetic pleasure; they explore life's trials and melancholy, as well as its wit and beauty. And, from the comfort of a cinema seat, they transport us to the far corners of the world. I look forward to seeing you there. The Hon Mike Rann MP, Premier of South Australia.

The 2009 Bigpond Adelaide Film Festival runs from the 19 of February to 1 March 2009.

For more details, check out the website at www.adelaidefilmfestival.org

• Website: www.adelaidefilmfestival.org
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• Address: 12 King William Road, Unley, South Australia,
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