Australian independent feature film, Violet, is set to celebrate its world premiere at the upcoming Gold Coast Film Festival. Co-written and directed by Derek Yang, Violet follows Arthur, a struggling playwright staging a make-or-break theatre adaptation of The Angel of Amontillado. When he unexpectedly recasts aspiring actress Georgia in the lead role — once synonymous…
Communities across regional Western Australia will soon enjoy greater access to Australian films and filmmaking experiences through CinefestOZ On the Road, a first-of-its-kind initiative in WA launched today. On the Road will deliver free film screenings and creative education opportunities, helping bridge the gap in regional access to screen culture and engagement with the creative…
The 73rd Sydney Film Festival (3–14 June) today revealed a sneak peek of 13 daring new films set to screen this June, offering a taste of the 200+ strong 2026 program ahead of the full Festival announcement on Wednesday 6 May. “Prize winners from Berlinale and Sundance, an immersive World Premiere from Australia, Isabelle Huppert…
Directed by Serge Ou (Ride, Runn, Ford vs Holden, Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks), Under a Bamboo Sky is a previously untold tale of human connection, hope and resilience in the face of great tragedy. Using new technology, it brings to life the unbelievable true story of Australian soldiers held prisoner by the Japanese in…
Written, directed and co-produced by actor-turned-filmmaker Ashley Zukerman, new short film Jason is my Dad follows an Uber driver who finds himself helping a private school kid with a paper route while trying to get a refund for a washing machine that he says never arrived. Ashley Zukerman is most known for his acting work…
Set in a small coastal town, SoundBoy follows Connor (William Ladder), a young fisherman torn between family obligation and a secret life as a music producer. “This film has been a way for me to explore some of my own experiences growing up in a house full of intense male figures, often without a shortage…
Stranger, Brother, the new short film from Naarm-based filmmaker Annelise Hickey, is an intimate story about family, distance and the quiet need for connection. The film follows Adam, a millennial drifting through a carefree life, whose world is disrupted when his 10-year-old half-brother Mose unexpectedly appears at his door. The two are strangers in every…
by MATTHEW EELES Duncan Ragg and Anna Phillips’ Over is a small film with a big heart, plenty of laughs, and fine performances from its two leads, Adam Dunn (Dad) and James Carey, who plays his Damien Leith–obsessed son, James. The film follows a father who’s forced to confront his apathy towards the world’s big…
Renegade independent cinema, like Davo Hardy’s erotic dramedy Mothers, Lovers and Others, is generally not regarded as ‘safe’ for winning the favour of film festivals. This unconventional, dialogue-heavy melodrama opens at an orgy, contains explicit sex scenes and juggles multiple plotlines for a solid 135-minute runtime. Around the quirky ensemble cast of unknown actors, there…
Celebrated Australian actors Steve Le Marquand and Pippa Grandison will present a special acting masterclass at the 2026 WA Made Film Festival. This practical session encourages actors to deepen their connection to the text and to each other through two-handed scene work, using contemporary film, television and theatre scripts. Scenes will be provided in advance,…
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