Mr Muller will launch the Film Festival at 6pm, at the Classic Cinema, Centenary Hall, Halls Gap. The Festival runs through to Sunday.

Following the official launch, the first movie on the weekend's program will be screened at 8pm tonight, a German film called Peaceful Times.

The Halls Gap Film Festival has an impressive line-up of commercially unreleased films from Australia, Germany, Ireland, Canada, United States and United Kingdom.

Other weekend highlights include a 1960s newsreel, short silent documentaries from the 1920s featuring rare footage of the Grampians courtesy of the National Film and Sound Archive, and short films by local schools.

The Festival will be presented by the Halls Gap Film Society and Halls Gap Tourism.

Cost is $85 for all movies, $12 for multi-pass, $13 for single show or $11 for the late show on Saturday night. Tickets available at the door or by contacting 5356 4448 or hallsgapfilmfestival@hotmail.com. Further information, including a full program can be found at www.visithallsgap.com.au/filmfest ival