Special filmmaker guest for the festival in Port Macquarie is Malinda Wink, the executive producer of the controversial Adam Goodes documentary The Final Quarter.

Earning an impassioned standing ovation at its world premiere at Sydney Film Festival, The Final Quarter documents AFL champion footballer and Indigenous leader Adam Goodes' call-out against racism and Australia's heated response.

The film's social impact has been massive - since its premiere, it has reignited crucial discussion on Goodes' treatment from both supporters and detractors. Ahead of the premiere, the AFL also issued an official apology to Adam for their lack of action against the racial abuse, after years of silence.

Wink will introduce the screening and take audience questions in a Q&A post-screening.

"We are very excited to bring the festival back to film fans across the Mid North Coast," festival manager Sanam Rodrigues said.

"The Port Macquarie program is jam-packed with the most electrifying films from the Sydney Film Festival, from Oscar-nominated epics to outstanding audience favourites."

The festival will open in Port Macquarie with charming Australian rom-com Standing Up for Sunny.

The festival will close in Port Macquarie with Daffodils, a delightful musical romance from New Zealand starring George Mason (Home and Away), Rose McIver (iZombie) and pop star Kimbra.

Port Macquarie exclusives include Kursk, a gripping true story of the Russian submarine disaster starring Colin Firth, Matthias Schoenaerts and Léa Seydoux; Slam, in which Sydney based director Partho Sen-Gupta uses the rhythm of a poetry slam (with verses written especially for the film) in this powerful look at race and gender relations; and Yuli, a moving and unusual fusion of biography and dazzling dance of Cuban ballet luminary Carlos Acosta who became the the first black principal dancer to join the prestigious UK Royal Ballet.

Additionally, this year all short films included in the TFF Mid North Coast program (Deluge, Magnetic and Prone To The Drone) are part of a Create NSW initiative to boost participation of underrepresented groups in the screen industry and grow participation with a range of industry professionals, showcasing films by filmmakers with disability in a festival context.