Forum 6 cinema manager Craig Lucas said the iconic festival first started in the 70s. 

“The first ever film festival got started when the oraganiser turned up with the films in the boot of his car,” Mr Lucas said. 

“We were the beginning of it outside of Sydney, and now we get to see it every year.” 

Mr Lucas said the festival offers regional film buffs an opportunity to see something new. 

“They deliberately pick films we haven’t played and some we may continue to play afterward, depending how successful they are.” 

“It’s a group of films that normally wouldn’t come to Wagga, in a festival type atmosphere which means you get your fix over a single weekend.”  

Mr Lucas said the cinema was expecting to sell out on opening night, with strong numbers throughout. 

“This kind of event adds variety to the cinema line up,” Mr Lucas said. 

“We’ve tried to change the regional variety over the years and do a number of festivals and add mature products to our line up.

“The digital age kicking off does make it a bit easier to get your hands on a different type of product.” 

Primarily aimed at adults, the festival starts on March 31 and finishes up on April 2. 

Mr Lucas said he recommended the opening night film, The Eagle Huntress. 

“I thought it looked really interested, it’s something a bit different,” Mr Lucas said. 

“It’s a real eye opener to how other people live across the world.” 

Top film picks: 

The Eagle Huntress: A rite-of-passage movie about Aisholpan, a 13-year-old nomadic Mongolian girl who is fighting to become the first female eagle hunter in twelve generations of her Kazakh family. Narrated by Star Wars’ Daisy Ridley.

David Stratton: A Cinematic Life: Australian Directors Guild Award nominee Sally Aitken’s portrait of the renowned film critic, broadcaster, previous director of the Sydney Film Festival and founder of the Travelling Film Festival, David Stratton. The poignant and affectionate documentary explores the story of Australian cinema through the eyes of our most revered critic.

Moonlight: The eight time Oscar nominated drama and winner of the 2017 Golden Globe’s Best Drama Motion Picture, is a ground breaking portrait of black gay masculinity in America, based on the book In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.

Single adult tickets can be purchased for $14, concession for $12 and student and kids for $10, with ten and five film subscriptions available.