The film, described as Wolf Creek-lite, was shot at Murrurundi, Nundle and the Liverpool Plains and residents were cast as extras including Viv Carter of Murrurundi.

Mr Carter, a musician who played the part of the hermit, was among the audience of 120 who enjoyed spotting local landmarks such as the Eye of the Needle rock formation in Paradise Park, the Willow Tree Inn pre-renovation and coal trains.

“That’s my car,” said the man sitting behind me.

The M rated film was selected for both the Cannes and London independent film festivals in 2010.

“In London they were amazed to see an Australia that wasn’t desert,” Mr Boland said.

“When you do low-budget you’re always told to stay in one location to save on costs but the diversity of the landscapes in our region means we had a lot of beauty and contrast to play with,” Ms Simmonds said.

“It was made for the cost of Tom Cruise hairdressers’ trailer,” said Mr Boland, who praised the support given by the Upper Hunter Shire and Liverpool Plains councils.

The size of the Quirindi crowd surpassed the producers’ expectations and Ms Simmonds said it was the biggest audience to see a film shown in the renovated theatre.

“This means more than showing it in Cannes,” said Ms Simmonds at the Quirindi screening.

The Backpacker was funded by private backers.

The independent filmmaking couple divide their time between Murrurundi and Sydney where their company, Embassy Pictures, is based at Fox Studios.

They are working on another film that may also be shot in the region.

The Backpacker will screen in Tamworth for a week from June 2.