Your guide to the Southern Highlands Writers Festival

The festival, which is in its tenth year, returns from July 21 to 23 at the Empire Cinema.

"One of the key features of the SHWF over the past decade has been our exploration of different writing styles," said SHWF creative director Michaela Bolzan.

"For this year's program, we will look at writing for different mediums including books, music, television and film."

See what events you can look forward to, including two special film screenings.

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In conversation: Racahel Mogan McIntosh (10.30-11.30am)

Journalist and debut author Rachael Mogan McIntosh will talk about her memoir Pardon My French - a hilarious and heart-warming account of her family living in the south of France for a year. There will be petit fours to enjoy, champagne and Edith Piaf songs in the show as well! It explores cultural differences and small-town life.

Film screening: Oppenheimer (6-9pm)

The festival will open with the screening of the highly-anticipated film Oppenheimer, which is based around the development of the atomic bomb. It is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. The cast includes Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jnr, among many others.

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In Conversation: Tracy Spicer AM (12-1pm)

Walkley Award-winning journalist Tracey Spicer exposes the next frontier of feminism in her latest book Man-Made. One comment from her son sparked the idea for the book - to change future bigotry attitudes and who is responsible for them.

In conversation: Ned Manning (2-3pm)

Writer, actor and educator Ned Manning has appeared in Looking for Alibrandi and the Mr Inbetween, among other Australian series and films. He has written more than 30 plays, including ten for the Bell Shakespeare Company's Actors at Work schools program. His debut novel Painting the Light is an Australian historical novel set in the Second World War.

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Writing a blockbuster: Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One (6-9pm)

This session explores how writers have created the Mission: Impossible action spy films, based on the television series of the same name created by Bruce Geller. The series led by Tom Cruise, is one of the highest grossing of all time. The first part of the final installment of Mission: Impossible will be screened with complimentary choc tops.

The art of songwriting with Mark Callaghan and Reg Livermore AO (11am-12pm)

Learn about how to write a noteworthy song and protecting your rights with rock legend Mark Callaghan and actor, singer and theatrical performer Reg Livermore AO. Highland FM's Adam Stokeld will guide the discussion. Mr Callaghan is known for his work The Riptides and GANGgajang, and Mr Livermore has worked in productions such as the Rocky Horror Show and Jesus Christ Superstar.

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In conversation: Wendy Whiteley and Ashleigh Wilson (3-4pm)

Wendy Whiteley and Ashleigh Wilson will discuss Mr Wilson's A Year With Wendy Whiteley. Ms Whiteley is a renowned art figure, who is known for keeping the Brett Whiteley legacy alive, and Wendy's Secret Garden. Mr Wilson is a journalist and Brett Whiteley biographer.

Tickets for each session are $25 and can be purchased through shwf.com.au.

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