A special screening in Byron Bay of the new Australian film Holding The Man is set to help raise money to end HIV transmission in NSW.

The pre-release screening of the highly anticipated film will take place at the Palace Cinema in Byron Bay on Sunday 23 August and will be a fundraiser for ACON, New South Wales’ leading HIV prevention, HIV support and LGBTI* health organisation.

The special screening follows the sold out world premiere of the film at the Sydney Film Festival in June and will precede the general release of the film in cinemas nationally on 27 August.

For $25 (or $15 for concession ID holders), guests will also be treated to a glass of sparkling wine on arrival as well as a post-screening Q&A with the film’s producer Kylie du Fresne and leading actor Ryan Corr.

The film is a wonderfully moving love story set in the early years of Australia’s HIV crisis, and is based on the much loved memoir of Timothy Conigrave who worked as a health promotion officer at ACON in the early 1990s, developing HIV prevention campaigns and providing HIV education and support for young gay men.

ACON has teamed up with the producers and distributors of Holding The Man as well as Byron Plantation and the Art House (two local hinterland holiday accommodation venues owned by Peter Waters, a local investor in the film) to present the event and help promote the film’s message of acceptance and inclusion of LGBTI people and people with HIV.

ACON Northern Rivers Manager Marie Reilly says the event will be a special evening for the Northern Rivers LGBTI and HIV positive community: “Holding The Man is one of our community’s most cherished love stories, and it provides a compelling personal insight into the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS during the early years of the epidemic. It’s a beautifully sad, surprisingly funny and ultimately uplifting film with great performances and a terrific soundtrack.

“For all these reasons, we know there’ll be massive interest in this film from within and beyond our community and so we’re extremely grateful to the producers and distributor of the film as well as Byron Plantation and the Art House for their support of the film and this special fundraising screening for our local HIV prevention and HIV support services.

“There’s only limited seating available for this event so I encourage anyone who’s interested in attending to purchase tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.”

WHAT: Holding The Man Byron Bay Charity Gala Screening
WHEN: Sunday 23 August 2015, 6.00pm
WHERE: Palace Cinema, 108 Jonson St, Byron Bay
COST: $25 or $15 for concession ID holders (inc. film + sparkling wine or soft drink on arrival + Q&A)

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*LGBTI = lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex