Quirky Australian film director Rolf de Heer's film Ten Canoes has opened this year's Sydney Film Festival which runs from June 9 to 25 with local and international films screening daily at Sydney's State Theatre, Dendy Quays and George St Cinemas.

Ten Canoes, which received the special jury prize at the recent Cannes Flm Festival, is narrated by noted Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil. The cast comprises indigenous Australians speaking an indigenous Australian language filmed in the Aboriginal homeland that is Arnhem Land.

For visitors to Australia with an interest in film, this is an ideal time to catch new Australian movies.

Other Australian films screening at the Sydney festival are Solo, The Bet, Burke and Wills, Ra Choi and The Water Diary.

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Photo: Arnhem Land © Australian Tourist Commission