Actor Sam Neill and director Gillian Armstrong will come to Launceston to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of classic Australian film My Brilliant Career during the Breath of Fresh Air film festival.

Festival director Owen Tilbury said each year BOFA brought together international and Australian actors, directors, and producers to educate and entertain.

"It is rare for two icons of the Australasian film industry to be brought together on such a significant occasion as the 40^th anniversary of their ground-breaking and career-defining film, My Brilliant Career," he said.

"We are very proud that they are coming to Tasmania - and to BOFA - to mark this special event."

The film follows the life of Sybylla, played by Judy Davis, an independent woman being courted by two suitors - Frank, played by Robert Grubb, and childhood friend Harry, played by Neill.

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Davis won a BAFTA for her role in 1981.

Alongside the film, Neill is well-known for his role as Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III.

The red carpet cocktail party will take place on Saturday, May 18 from 5.30pm.

The party will take place at Drysdale, and will feature a screening of My Brilliant Career alongside a Q&A session with Armstrong about the film.

This year BOFA will take place in both Launceston and Hobart, and will feature stories and documentaries in eight themes; stories of us, world stories, Indonesian stories, eat/drink/live, star studded, strong women, world of change, and call of the wild.