We all feel the heavy strain of the working week and often all we need is some entertainment to relieve the tension. Well lucky for you we have got your fix of the coolest things to do this weekend in Sydney.
Mardi Gras Film Festival
In 1993 a group of queer filmmakers began a movement during Sydney Mardi Gras to evoke a queer film and screen culture through the foundations of the city. Today it is one of Australia’s largest film festivals and one of the world’s top LGBTIQ film festivals. With just under a week left there is a vast array of independent LGBTIQ films that are sure to inform, provoke and entertain.
When: February 26 – March 3
Where: Event Cinemas George Street Sydney CBD 2000
Alliance Française French Film Festival
As the first stop on the Australia-wide French Film Festival tour this year’s festival will please all crowds both young and old, cinephiles and cinema laic’s, romancers and thrill seekers.
The festival opened on Tuesday with C’est la vie! from directors Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache who brought you The Intouchables and will close with rom-com 50 is the new 30.
The festival will include 47 feature films, two documentaries and one television series over the month’s period and for the first time will feature various films from queer cinema in again another inclusion of marriage equality.
For those like myself that have not yet mastered the French language, fear not as all films will come with subtitles and will even be featuring familiar faces such as Academy awarded actress and actor Marion Cotillard of La Vie En Rose and The Artists Jean Dujardin. For something a bit different but always moving and entertaining be sure not to miss the Alliance Française French Film Festival.
When: Tuesday February 27 – Tuesday March 27
Where: Various Cinema Locations
Rumble in the Jungle
Lets face it everyone’s place needs an injection of Mother Nature and the best place to find it this weekend is the Jungle Collectives Rumble in the Jungle. Rumble in the Jungle is an exhibition in horticulture with thousands of indoor plants taking over a warehouse in St Peters. The two-day event is free and features on-site horticulturalists to assist with each person’s specific planting needs as well as music all day. So get down and find the plant you never knew you needed.
When: Saturday March 3 – Sunday March 4, 8.00am – 4.00pm
Where: 3C/1-7 Unwins Bridge Rd, St Peters NSW 2044
Art Month Chippendale and Redfern Precinct Night
As the Sydney Art Month begins its time to grab your friends and head down through Chippendale and Redfern on what can only be described as a art gallery crawl of fantastic proportions. Immerse yourself in artwork from local, national and international artists while basking in the beauty of the Sydney nightlife. After weaving from gallery to gallery for two hours make a final pit stop at the Lansdowne for the Sydney Art Month official opening party which will feature some of the hottest talent in music and art that Sydney has to offer including, Slim Set, Get to Work, Kieran Butler, Jason Phu, and Chanel DJ.
When: Thursday March 1, 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Where: Japan Foundation Gallery; Home@735; Verge Gallery; VANDAL; Galerie Pompom; Nada/Hobbs; and The Bearded Tit; UTS Gallery.
Official Opening of First Ellery Archive Outlet in Sydney
Australian fashion designer Kym Ellery is set to open her first permanent archive outlet store in Roseberry this Friday. The outlet store is set to feature ready-to-wear pieces from her previous collections at reduced prices of up to 80% as well as one-off runway pieces and never before seen merchandise. Having just recently showcased the labels new line at Couture Fashion Week this outlet opening is a must for any fashion enthusiast and as an extra incentive for the first two days of the opening all stock will be reduced by an extra 20%.
When: Friday March 2, 10.00am
Where: 33 Dunning Avenue in Rosebery
Gentlemen of a Certain Reputation exhibition
Award winning artist Guy James Whitworth has curated a selection of current works from his favourite Australian queer artists. ‘Gentlemen of a Certain Reputation’ is both an exploration and challenging of identity, reputation, sexuality and gender in today’s society. The exhibition is sure to get you inspired and in the mood for the downright liveliness of the Mardi gras parade.
When: Wednesday February 28 – Tuesday March 6
Where: m2 Gallery, 4/45 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills
Surry Hills Markets
Taking over the streets of Surry Hills on the first Saturday of every month, the Surry Hills Markets bring together the best locally designed and vintage clothes, as well as antiques and handmade crafts. The markets are sure to have something for everyone and guarantee to pull the right thread for people of all styles.
When: Saturday March 3
Where: Shannon Reserve Crown Street, Surry Hills 2010
Twilight at Taronga feat. The Preatures
Boasting as one of Australia’s premiere open-air events Twilight at Taronga has seen an unforgettable lineup of artists in 2018 including the likes of Neil and Liam Finn, Paul Dempsey, The Jezabels and Dan Sultan, and it continues this weekend with Nationally renowned band The Preatures, making their debut at Taronga. Supported by Crease, this promises to be an evening not to miss.
When: Friday March 2, 6.00pm
Where: Taronga Zoo, NSW
Robert Mapplethorpe: The Perfect Medium
Robert Mapplethorpe was a photographer who pushed boundaries, provoked debate and controversially shaped an era. His work was both stylistically and contextually unique and ultimately brought a significant level of validity to the idea of photography as both commentary and art. This exhibition will allow audiences to explore both the life and artwork of Mapplethorpe and is a must see for photography enthusiasts.
When: Monday February 26 – Sunday March 4
Where: AGNSW, Art Gallery Road, Sydney
All About Women 2018
Following the success of All About Women in 2017 it returns again in 2018 following a year that evidentially shook the foundations of gender equality and gender expectations. This event will include an incredible line-up of influential and prominent females. Speakers such as Vanity Fairs Contributing Editor Fran Lebowitz, the US-based founder of the #MeToo campaign Tarana Burke and Manal al-Sharif will be speaking on issues concerning transgender politics, disability and intersectionality, Trump, global justice and more.
When: Sunday March 4th, 10.30am
Where: Sydney Opera House, 2 Macquarie Street, Sydney.
Is there some other place you’d rather be this weekend? Drop us a line below!
