ABOUT US, The Darwin International Film Festival
ABOUT US
The Darwin Film Society
In 1964, a group of film buffs established the Darwin Film Society in Australia’s tropical North. The original purpose for DFS was to screen a broad range of films that were not available at other Darwin cinemas.
As a not-for-profit, the sustainability of DFS relies on the relentless care of its board of volunteers and its recognition by the wider community.
DFS’ main operations are the Deckchair Cinema, Flix in the Wet, and more recently launched the Darwin International Film Festival.
Deckchair Cinema opened its gates in 1994 to carry out DFS mission to the largest audience and has been screening a unique mix of Australian, family, foreign, popular and classic films every dry season ever since. The iconic outdoor cinema is both a local staple and a visitors’ must-do. Standing along the Arafura sea, “the Deckchair” offers stunning sunset views to its patrons before it’s dark enough to turn to the big screen!
Today the Darwin Film Society counts 10 committee members, employs 20 people (casual and permanent) and has an active and growing membership base of more than 1,000 people.
The DIFF Team

John Schier / Management Committee
The tenth anniversary of DIFF amazes me as I have been associated since Day 1. In this time we have to thank several artistic directors, support from all the seven DFS managers, many volunteers and many committee(d) people who have all contributed to make this festival what it is today. I only dreamed we would have the support Screen NT (NT Gov) support of the industry and the many generous sponsors who have made this festival one we can all be proud of.

James Parker / Management Committee
Bio pending.

Blandine Ruffo
/ General Manager
Blandine has been part of the DFS family for 6 years. After studying films and film production in her home country France, she roamed the globe for a few years until Darwin found her. Blandine has discovered a vibrant filmmaking community in the Top End through her work as the local content coordinator for DIFF and continues to carry this important mission of industry support in her new role as festival manager. She has found in Darwin what so many have found before her: a sense of belonging… and a pretty sweet lifestyle.

Neil Ludvigsen
/ Programming Committee
In 1968 two events made me take cinema seriously. Firstly, I saw a Catherine Deneuve double of Belle de Jour and Repulsion followed a couple of weeks later by a Japanese retrospective of Kurosawa films among which were Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood and Rashomon. I never again saw films as mere entertainment.

Caro Macdonald
/ Programming Committee
Caro is a filmmaker, visual artist and anthropologist working out of Darwin, with a deep and long-standing love of cinema. As a DIFF programmer Caro has a particular passion for the plethora of talent and films emerging from the Northern Australian and Southeast Asian regions.

Thomas Midena
/ Programming Committee
Thomas is a performer and filmmaker based in Darwin. Thomas has completed a Bachelor of Film & TV at Swinburne University, creating several short films and winning awards in acting, writing and directing. Last year two films Thomas worked on screened at the Deckchair Cinema, You Do You and We’re Family Now.

Adnan Reza
/ Programming Committee
Adnan Reza, 24, international student (Bachelor of Creative Arts) at CDU. He loves to watch movies, he loves to make movies.