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Official Competition
Program Strand
Awards

You’ll see audacious, cutting-edge, and courageous films in the 2026 Official Competition as we celebrate 18 years of the prestigious Sydney Film Prize – with $60,000 to be awarded to the winning filmmaker. 

Most Popular

Selling Fast
1
The Invite
Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton exchange barbs, flirtations and truths in this hit Sundance dinner party dramedy, directed by Wilde (Booksmart, SFF 2019).
Selling Fast
2
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Direct from Cannes, Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson electrify in this camp, bloody psychosexual horror from queer maverick Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow, SFF 2024).
Selling Fast
3
Fjord
Internationally acclaimed director Cristian Mungiu returns with his English-language debut, a thought-provoking family drama starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve.
4
Sheep in the Box
Direct from the Cannes Competition, Kore-eda Hirokazu's (Shoplifters, SFF 2018; Monster, SFF 2023) Sheep in the Box is a moving drama about bereft parents turning to AI to rebuild their family.
5
Fatherland
Paweł Pawlikowski (Ida; Cold War, SFF 2018) returns with this sensational snapshot of writer Thomas Mann (Hanns Zischler) and his daughter Erika (Sandra Hüller) in post-war Germany. Cannes Competition.
Selling Fast
6
Leviticus
In this bold, breakout Sundance hit from Australian Adrian Chiarella, two teenage boys contend with an evil force that takes on the form of the person they desire most: each other.
7
Parallel Tales
Asghar Farhadi delivers a layered, complex drama about a writer using surveillance for inspiration, with an all-star French cast of Isabelle Huppert, Vincent Cassel and Catherine Deneuve. Cannes Competition.
8
Minotaur
The much-anticipated new film by Russian master Andrey Zvyagintsev is a brave, taut and explosive thriller that brilliantly melds the personal and the political. Direct from the Cannes Competition.
9
Gentle Monster
An incredible Léa Seydoux stars in Corsage director Marie Kreutzer's gripping, emotionally charged study of a wife and mother forced to confront the unthinkable. Cannes Competition.
10
Dead Man’s Wire
Gus Van Sant (Milk) directs Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery and Al Pacino in this thrilling, true account of a 1977 hostage standoff. Venice 2025.
11
I Want Your Sex
Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman and Charli xcx star in Gregg Araki's enjoyably outrageous, risqué sex-comedy, set in the Los Angeles contemporary art scene. Sundance 2026.
12
Rose
Sandra Hüller won the Berlinale Silver Bear for this towering performance as a 17th century soldier who claims an inheritance only to have his identity brought into question.
Selling Fast
13
Silent Friend
Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Léa Seydoux star in the wondrous latest from Ildikó Enyedi (On Body and Soul, Sydney Film Prize 2017), following three era-spanning stories connected by a tree.
14
The Man I Love
Direct from the Cannes Competition, Ira Sachs' new film is a moving and sensual romantic drama set in 1980s New York, starring Rami Malek, Tom Sturridge, Luther Ford and Rebecca Hall.
15
Colony
Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho reignites the zombie genre with this propulsive action film that sees a rapidly mutating virus unleashed. Direct from Cannes Midnight.
Selling Fast
16
The Samurai and the Prisoner
Veteran auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Cure, SFF 1998) delivers his first-ever samurai film with this majestic, Cannes-selected epic set in Japan's Warring States period.
Documentary
17
The History of Concrete
A hysterical debut and instant classic from the genius behind How To with John Wilson. An unexpected meditation on politics, celebrity, religion and urbanism. Sundance 2026.
18
Erupcja
Charli xcx gives an impressively raw and real performance in this tale of messy modern relationships, following a couple’s getaway to Warsaw gone awry. Toronto 2025.
Selling Fast
19
The Fox
Jai Courtney and Emily Browning star alongside Olivia Colman as a talking fox and Sam Neill as a magpie in this absurdly comic Australian folktale from Dario Russo (Danger 5). SXSW 2026.
20
No Good Men
In this sparkling political romantic comedy from Afghanistan, a camerawoman disillusioned with love is surprised to find herself drawn to the country's leading journalist.
21
Mile End Kicks
Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria) stars in Chandler Levack’s (I Like Movies, SFF 2023) black romantic comedy about a music journalist self-sabotaging her dream assignment for a new fling.
22
Pressure
Andrew Scott and Brendan Fraser star in the incredible true story of one meteorologist's mighty impact on D-Day. An edge-of-your-seat view of a world-changing event.
23
Yellow Letters
Winner of the Berlinale Golden Bear. A family descends into turmoil after a simple act of disobedience triggers authoritarian persecution. A searing critique of our times.
24
The Death of Robin Hood
A superb Hugh Jackman stars alongside Jodie Comer in this radical and brutal reimagining of the Robin Hood tale in which he's anything but a hero. Directed by Michael Sarnoski (Pig).
25
Dao
A swirling epic, Dao is a life-affirming journey into a wedding and memorial ceremony, across Guinea-Bissau and France, reality and fiction, and a world of love, sadness and joy.
Selling Fast
26
French Girls
A young woman enters the uniquely absurd world of modelling in this Sydney microbudget marvel. The impressive debut feature of Hyun Lee (Asian Girls, SFF Dendy Awards 2018).
27
The Birthday Party
Straight from the Cannes Competition, this taut thriller stars Hafsia Herzi and Monica Bellucci as neighbours whose plans for a pleasant birthday party go badly awry.
28
The Blood Countess
Decadence and depravity rule in this vampire delight starring Isabelle Huppert from director Ulrike Ottinger and writer Elfriede Jelinek (The Piano Teacher). Berlinale 2026.
29
Ben’Imana
Direct from Cannes Un Certain Regard, this emotionally powerful exploration of a reconciliation process following the Rwandan genocide is set to be one of the year's most acclaimed debuts.
30
Maddie’s Secret
Comedian John Early balances satire and earnest melodrama in this acclaimed debut inspired by 1950s golden age Hollywood, campy daytime movies, and the ’90s classic Showgirls.

Next Sessions Today:

JAFAR PANAHI: CINEMA IN REBELLION

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Direct from Cannes

Selling Fast
Fjord
Internationally acclaimed director Cristian Mungiu returns with his English-language debut, a thought-provoking family drama starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve.
Fatherland
Paweł Pawlikowski (Ida; Cold War, SFF 2018) returns with this sensational snapshot of writer Thomas Mann (Hanns Zischler) and his daughter Erika (Sandra Hüller) in post-war Germany. Cannes Competition.
Sheep in the Box
Direct from the Cannes Competition, Kore-eda Hirokazu's (Shoplifters, SFF 2018; Monster, SFF 2023) Sheep in the Box is a moving drama about bereft parents turning to AI to rebuild their family.
Selling Fast
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Direct from Cannes, Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson electrify in this camp, bloody psychosexual horror from queer maverick Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow, SFF 2024).
Selling Fast
The Samurai and the Prisoner
Veteran auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Cure, SFF 1998) delivers his first-ever samurai film with this majestic, Cannes-selected epic set in Japan's Warring States period.
Gentle Monster
An incredible Léa Seydoux stars in Corsage director Marie Kreutzer's gripping, emotionally charged study of a wife and mother forced to confront the unthinkable. Cannes Competition.
Colony
Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho reignites the zombie genre with this propulsive action film that sees a rapidly mutating virus unleashed. Direct from Cannes Midnight.
Parallel Tales
Asghar Farhadi delivers a layered, complex drama about a writer using surveillance for inspiration, with an all-star French cast of Isabelle Huppert, Vincent Cassel and Catherine Deneuve. Cannes Competition.
Ben’Imana
Direct from Cannes Un Certain Regard, this emotionally powerful exploration of a reconciliation process following the Rwandan genocide is set to be one of the year's most acclaimed debuts.
The Dreamed Adventure
Valeska Grisebach's (Western) Cannes Competition contender is a mysterious and intoxicating journey following a woman on a mission in the rough Bulgarian borderlands.
The Birthday Party
Straight from the Cannes Competition, this taut thriller stars Hafsia Herzi and Monica Bellucci as neighbours whose plans for a pleasant birthday party go badly awry.
The Man I Love
Direct from the Cannes Competition, Ira Sachs' new film is a moving and sensual romantic drama set in 1980s New York, starring Rami Malek, Tom Sturridge, Luther Ford and Rebecca Hall.
Minotaur
The much-anticipated new film by Russian master Andrey Zvyagintsev is a brave, taut and explosive thriller that brilliantly melds the personal and the political. Direct from the Cannes Competition.
9 Temples to Heaven
Produced by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, this serene tale accompanies a family's pilgrimage to nine temples in hopes of healing their ailing mother. Cannes Directors' Fortnight.
Everytime
Direct from Cannes. A mother, daughter and a teen boy reckon with the aftershock of a tragedy in Sandra Wollner's tremendous, intriguing drama, set between Berlin and Tenerife.
I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning
A buzzy young British cast light up this tale of five childhood friends from Birmingham, now navigating the trials of adulthood. Direct from Cannes Directors' Fortnight.
Documentary
Once Upon a Time in Harlem
Footage of a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of Harlem Renaissance legends in 1972 is revealed in this exquisite and lauded documentary. Sundance; Cannes Directors' Fortnight 2026.
Strawberries
Strawberry picking turns sour in this rousing Spain-set drama, charting the fate of a group of exploited female Moroccan migrant workers. Direct from Cannes Un Certain Regard.
The Invite
Selling Fast
australian premiere
Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton exchange barbs, flirtations and truths in this hit Sundance dinner party dramedy, directed by Wilde (Booksmart, SFF 2019).

Special Presentations

Árru
In this powerful, song-filled drama, a Sámi reindeer herder confronts a mining project threatening her ancestral lands and way of life. Berlinale 2026.
The Birthday Party
Straight from the Cannes Competition, this taut thriller stars Hafsia Herzi and Monica Bellucci as neighbours whose plans for a pleasant birthday party go badly awry.
Colony
Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho reignites the zombie genre with this propulsive action film that sees a rapidly mutating virus unleashed. Direct from Cannes Midnight.
Dead Man’s Wire
Gus Van Sant (Milk) directs Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery and Al Pacino in this thrilling, true account of a 1977 hostage standoff. Venice 2025.
Documentary
Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie
Oscar winner Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, SFF 2008) charts author Salman Rushdie's unbelievable recovery after being stabbed 15 times, using footage filmed by Rushdie's wife.
The Man I Love
Direct from the Cannes Competition, Ira Sachs' new film is a moving and sensual romantic drama set in 1980s New York, starring Rami Malek, Tom Sturridge, Luther Ford and Rebecca Hall.
Pressure
Andrew Scott and Brendan Fraser star in the incredible true story of one meteorologist's mighty impact on D-Day. An edge-of-your-seat view of a world-changing event.
Rays and Shadows
Based on true events, Xavier Giannoli's sweeping drama stars Oscar winner Jean Dujardin (The Artist) in an epic tale of collaboration and compromise in Nazi-occupied France.
Rose
Sandra Hüller won the Berlinale Silver Bear for this towering performance as a 17th century soldier who claims an inheritance only to have his identity brought into question.
Selling Fast
The Samurai and the Prisoner
Veteran auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Cure, SFF 1998) delivers his first-ever samurai film with this majestic, Cannes-selected epic set in Japan's Warring States period.
Selling Fast
Silent Friend
Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Léa Seydoux star in the wondrous latest from Ildikó Enyedi (On Body and Soul, Sydney Film Prize 2017), following three era-spanning stories connected by a tree.
Sundays
Bright 17-year-old Ainara surprises everyone by trialling convent life in this piercing drama about faith and family. Winner of Best Film, San Sebastián Film Festival 2025.
Selling Fast
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Direct from Cannes, Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson electrify in this camp, bloody psychosexual horror from queer maverick Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow, SFF 2024).
Documentary
The Valley
A meditative cinematic portrait of a place and community, Kangaroo Valley, about two hours south of Sydney. World Premiere directed by Ian Darling (The Final Quarter, SFF 2019).

Freak me out

Dawning
This riveting psychodrama follows three sisters who gather at a family cabin in Norway, where disturbing news and an ominous stranger awaits them. Fantastic Fest, Sitges 2025.
Ghost in the Cell
A vengeful demon runs amok inside a high security prison in this gleefully gruesome horror-action-comedy spectacular from Indonesian genre ace Joko Anwar. Berlinale 2026.
Imposters
Scream queen Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day) stars in a mind-bending sci-fi horror about the apparently miraculous return of a couple’s missing child. SXSW Midnighter 2026.
Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant
The gross-out dial is turned up to 11 in this hilarious debut feature from Kiwi duo Thunderlips. The truth-in-advertising title says it all. Sundance 2026.
Never After Dark
A travelling psychic’s routine job turns into a terrifying ordeal in a scary and stunningly executed J-horror set at a remote hotel. Audience award, SXSW Midnighter 2026.
The Peril at Pincer Point
A sound recordist is sent to a strange island in this spectacularly eccentric British comedy-horror-fantasy delight made in marvellous monochrome. Auteur Award, SXSW 2026.
State Theatre
Sydney cbd
Dendy Newtown
inner west
<p>Sydney Film Festival 2024 &#8211; Premiere of &#8220;A Horse Named Winx&#8221; at Ritz Randwick Cinemas, Randwick &#8211; Friday 7th June, 2024<br /> Photographer: Belinda Rolland © 2024</p>
Ritz cinema randwick
eastern suburbs

International Documentaries

Documentary
32 Meters
Women aren’t allowed in the local shooting contest in Halime’s small Turkish village. So, she creates her own in this bold, hilarious and moving documentary. Hot Docs Festival 2026.
Documentary
The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist
An AI future seems inevitable. Oscar winner Daniel Roher (Navalny, SFF 2022) and Charlie Tyrell break open all the promise and perils in this illuminating doc. Sundance 2026.
Documentary
American Doctor
Three American doctors travel to Gaza, risking everything to save lives – in turn exposing the reality of the war and the endurance of human compassion. Sundance 2026.
Documentary
Baby Jackfruit Baby Guava
A Vietnamese family confront their past, present and imagined future with the impending arrival of baby Guava in this startlingly intimate directorial debut. Hot Docs 2026.
Documentary
Birds of War
This unbelievable love story uses 13 years of personal archives to chart the evolving romance between a Lebanese journalist and a Syrian cameraman. Award winner, Sundance 2026.
Documentary
A Child of My Own
A woman fakes a pregnancy and goes to extreme lengths to sustain the lie in this thrilling new doc from two-time Oscar nominee Maite Alberdi (The Eternal Memory, SFF 2023).
Documentary
Closure
One of the top-reviewed documentaries at Sundance, Michał Marczak (Fuck for Forest, SFF 2013) delivers a powerfully emotive portrait of a father's search for his missing son.
Documentary
Crocodile
The astonishing story behind the Nigerian filmmaking collective The Critics, whose handmade science fiction films have taken the world by storm. Berlinale 2026.
Leviticus
Selling Fast
australian premiere
In this bold, breakout Sundance hit from Australian Adrian Chiarella, two teenage boys contend with an evil force that takes on the form of the person they desire most: each other.

Australian Stories

Selling Fast
The Fox
Jai Courtney and Emily Browning star alongside Olivia Colman as a talking fox and Sam Neill as a magpie in this absurdly comic Australian folktale from Dario Russo (Danger 5). SXSW 2026.
Selling Fast
Leviticus
In this bold, breakout Sundance hit from Australian Adrian Chiarella, two teenage boys contend with an evil force that takes on the form of the person they desire most: each other.
Documentary
The Piano Tuner
On a rescue mission to save the piano, a passionate piano tuner meets a diverse mix of owners and their pianos – revealing their stories and relationship with the instrument.
Documentary
Mockbuster
An Australian filmmaker documents his struggle to fulfil his dreams via the notorious profit-driven production house The Asylum (Sharknado) in this hilarious audience award winner.
Body Blow
A cop goes undercover in Sydney's neon-lit gay nightlife, but danger lurks when he falls for a seductive bartender. A slick erotic thriller featuring Paul Capsis (Head On).
Selling Fast
French Girls
A young woman enters the uniquely absurd world of modelling in this Sydney microbudget marvel. The impressive debut feature of Hyun Lee (Asian Girls, SFF Dendy Awards 2018).
Boss Cat
A rousing World Premiere about family, friendship and the power of krumping. A heartwarming Sydney production made with an inclusive cast and crew from Bus Stop Films.
Series
The Killings at Parrish Station
Bridging past and present, a shocking massacre at a remote research station is investigated by two detectives. Series World Premiere, starring Mia Wasikowska and Xavier Samuel.
Documentary
Phenomena
A psychedelic odyssey into the fabric of the universe, complete with hyper-real imagery, immersive practical experiments and ambient music from Nils Frahm and Rival Consoles.
Selling Fast
Documentary
Whistle
An offbeat Aussie crowd pleaser following the world’s greatest whistling competition, from the eccentric competitors to passionate devotees, as egos clash and notes soar. Toronto 2025.
Documentary
Yumburra
A lyrical portrait of Bruce Pascoe in the aftermath of Dark Emu living on his riverside farm, recharging and reflecting, as he tests out the theories proposed in his book.
Yesterday Island
Hapless Amos is tricked onto an island with a time loop where the day never ends. Who can he lure to take his place? Let's start with the ex-wife. A quirky, dark Aussie comedy.

CLASSICS RESTORED

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Fjord
Selling Fast
australian premiere
Internationally acclaimed director Cristian Mungiu returns with his English-language debut, a thought-provoking family drama starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve.

Famous Faces

Erupcja
Charli xcx gives an impressively raw and real performance in this tale of messy modern relationships, following a couple’s getaway to Warsaw gone awry. Toronto 2025.
Selling Fast
The Invite
Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton exchange barbs, flirtations and truths in this hit Sundance dinner party dramedy, directed by Wilde (Booksmart, SFF 2019).
The Good Boy
Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough star as a couple who kidnap a young delinquent with the aim of training him to become a 'good boy'. Toronto and BFI London 2025.
Late Fame
Former poet, now postman, Ed (Willem Dafoe) has his work rediscovered by a group of NYC poseurs in this clever and engrossing film, also starring Greta Lee. Venice, NYFF 2025.
Rose of Nevada
George MacKay (The End, SFF 2025) and Callum Turner (Eternity) star as a pair of lost and bewildered fishermen in this beguiling time travel mystery. Venice 2025.
The Man I Love
Direct from the Cannes Competition, Ira Sachs' new film is a moving and sensual romantic drama set in 1980s New York, starring Rami Malek, Tom Sturridge, Luther Ford and Rebecca Hall.
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass
Zoey Deutch stars alongside a stacked comedic ensemble as a hairdresser on a quest to sleep with her celebrity sex pass: Jon Hamm. From the creators of Wet Hot American Summer.
The Death of Robin Hood
A superb Hugh Jackman stars alongside Jodie Comer in this radical and brutal reimagining of the Robin Hood tale in which he's anything but a hero. Directed by Michael Sarnoski (Pig).
Selling Fast
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Direct from Cannes, Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson electrify in this camp, bloody psychosexual horror from queer maverick Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow, SFF 2024).
Selling Fast
Silent Friend
Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Léa Seydoux star in the wondrous latest from Ildikó Enyedi (On Body and Soul, Sydney Film Prize 2017), following three era-spanning stories connected by a tree.
Selling Fast
Fjord
Internationally acclaimed director Cristian Mungiu returns with his English-language debut, a thought-provoking family drama starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve.
Dead Man’s Wire
Gus Van Sant (Milk) directs Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery and Al Pacino in this thrilling, true account of a 1977 hostage standoff. Venice 2025.
Documentary
Jack Johnson: SURFILMUSIC
Follow the sea-sprayed evolution of Jack Johnson from O’ahu grommet, to filmmaker, to the world famous musician behind hits like “Upside Down” and “Banana Pancakes”. SXSW 2026.
Gentle Monster
An incredible Léa Seydoux stars in Corsage director Marie Kreutzer's gripping, emotionally charged study of a wife and mother forced to confront the unthinkable. Cannes Competition.
Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie
australian premiere
Oscar winner Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, SFF 2008) charts author Salman Rushdie's unbelievable recovery after being stabbed 15 times, using footage filmed by Rushdie's wife.

Talks & Events

Festival Hub
Event
Masterclass with Kleber Mendonça Filho
Join recent Oscar nominee for Best Picture (The Secret Agent) and this year’s jury president Kleber Mendonça Filho for an in-depth masterclass on his distinctive approach to storytelling.
Event
Refused Classification
Margaret and David are two of the biggest reviewers in Australia. They get to watch as many movies as they want. Everything is going awesome… until the government tries to ban a little film called Ken Park at the 2003 Sydney Film Festival.
Event
The Academy Awards: A Deep Dive
“What’s your favourite season? - Awards.” The Oscar race may be over—but with the first major premieres at Cannes, it’s just beginning again. Join us for a lively deep dive into everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the Academy Awards and more.
Selling Fast
Event
In Conversation with Peter Weir – The 2026 Ian McPherson Lecture
Presented in partnership with the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), this year’s Ian McPherson Lecture is a landmark celebration of a lifetime of screen achievement.
Event
Australiaarrghh! Horror’s Moment in the Australian Sun
Australian horror has emerged as a defining force in contemporary cinema, with films like The Babadook, Talk to Me and Relic signalling both creative and commercial momentum. This panel explores why the genre is thriving now—and what gives Australian horror its distinctive edge. Join filmmakers from Leviticus, and Saccharine. Moderated by Freak Me Out curator Richard Kuipers.
Event
Dendy Awards Ceremony and Celebration
Following a screening of all short films nominated for the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films at Event Cinemas, find out who are the winners of five prestigious cash prizes, and celebrate alongside Australia’s most exciting filmmakers.
Sydney Opera House
Sydney cbd
Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace
North Shore
<p>Sydney Film Festival 2024 &#8211; Premiere of &#8220;A Horse Named Winx&#8221; at Ritz Randwick Cinemas, Randwick &#8211; Friday 7th June, 2024<br /> Photographer: Belinda Rolland © 2024</p>
Palace Norton St
Inner West
Aboriginal FlagTorres Strait Flag

Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.

We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

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