Join fellow cinema and party lovers at the premiere presentation of the Cannes prize-winning Emilia Pérez, starring Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez, followed by an exclusive after party with Mexican dancers, roving entertainers, Latin DJs, food, drinks and more.
Dust to Dust
Adelaide Fashion Week Premiere
Documentary ·
Feature
Only the second Japanese designer invited to Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, Yuima Nakazato is known for his ethereal designs and dressing music stars like Lady Gaga. With his next collection he is driven to merge his artistic vision with green technology. Starting in the landfills of Kenya, he plans a radical reimagining of fashion.
The Correspondent
Opening Night Gala
Feature ·
Fiction
Based on the true story of Australian war correspondent Peter Greste’s imprisonment in Egypt in 2013, The Correspondent is a gripping biographical thriller, a story about the brutal war on truth. Join special guests at the AFF 2024 Opening Night Gala to mark the world premiere.
Three Days of Fish
Feature ·
Fiction
Gerrie flies home to Rotterdam, Netherlands to reluctantly reunite with his oddball son, Dick. Written and directed by Peter Hoogendoorn, Three Days of Fish is a witty father-son portrait that was presented in competition at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
Green Border
Feature ·
Fiction
One of the year’s most successful ensembles, creates an ‘empathy machine’ to experience the world of refugees, viscerally trapped between hope and despair. Three times nominated Oscar winner Agnieska Holland gives us this doco drama, one of the most powerful works of recent times.
Look Into My Eyes
Documentary ·
Feature
A24’s Look Into My Eyes, directed by Lana Wilson (Taylor Swift: Miss Americana), explores the psychic world through seven New York City psychics. Featuring intimate interviews and client sessions, it delves into their motivations, revealing profound human connections. Look Into My Eyes is a seminal film about the psychic world, not to be missed.
QuadrilateralSelling Fast
Feature ·
Fiction
In Quadrilateral, Daniel Rodríguez Risco crafts a darkly comedic tale where a family of four is thrown into chaos by the arrival of a new baby. Convinced that the ideal family has only two children, the parents ignore the newborn, sparking an absurd battle for survival and belonging.
The Correspondent and the Global War on Truth
Screen Conversation
Talk
Hear Peter Greste in conversation with Kriv Stenders, director of The Correspondent, actors Richard Roxburgh and Julian Maroun, and the film’s producer and former journalist Carmel Travers – moderated by award-winning journalist Hamish MacDonald.
The Wolves Always Come at Night
Documentary ·
Feature
In this intimate hybrid film, a young nomadic couple in Mongolia are in the midst of their animals’ birthing season when a devastating storm strikes. Forced to leave their home they must adapt to their new life in the city without their animals.
Crossing
Feature ·
Fiction
In Batumi, Georgia, Lia is looking for her long-lost niece, Tekla. Together with Achi - a bored, wayward youth looking for any escape from his violent household - they travel to Istanbul in search of Tekla. It's here they meet Evrim, a lawyer fighting for trans rights.
The Colors WithinSelling Fast
Animation ·
Feature ·
Fiction
In this serenely beautiful anime with a charming soundtrack, a trio of sensitive, misfit teenagers all have a secret. Totsuko can see others as a colours, Kimi hides she has dropped out of school and Rui does not want to be a doctor. They form a band, and together write the songs and music, which begins to set them free to be themselves.
Anora
Feature ·
Fiction
Winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes 2024, Anora reimagines Pretty Woman in a thrilling tragicomedy by Sean Baker. Anora, a young sex worker, marries a Russian oligarch's son, only to face his powerful family. Mikey Madison and Mark Eidelstein deliver electrifying performances in this must-see film celebrating womanhood.
Every Little Thing
Documentary ·
Feature
Every Little Thing follows retired writer and teacher Terry Masear over a summer as she takes in and rehabilitates injured hummingbirds. Shot with stunning close-ups of the birds against the backdrop of Masear’s storied life, this film is a mediation on human-animal relationships and our capacity for care.
Pierce
Feature ·
Fiction
A visually stunning debut thriller from Singaporean writer/director, Nelicia Low, set in modern-day Taipei. Shy Zijie (Liu Hsiu-Fu) tries to connect with others through the art of fencing. When his older brother Zihan (Tsao Yu-Ning) is released from prison, Zijie remains intent upon seeing him, despite his mother’s wishes.
Screen Industry Talk moderated by Sandy George
Screen Conversation
Talk
Meet funders and other special guests for industry conversations over breakfast, with a focus on financing and legal models, new directions, and opportunities.
Animation: Contextualising Australia's Mini-Boom
Screen Conversation
Talk
Join Ken Anderson, co-founder of Wild Child Animation, UK, Leela Varghese and various filmmakers in conversation about Australia's animation mini-boom, witnessed by the production of Memoir of a Snail, Magic Beach and Lesbian Space Princess.
Homegrown
Documentary ·
Feature
Homegrown follows three alt-right men determined to see Donald Trump re-elected in 2020. As their frustration escalates after his loss, one joins the January 6th Capitol insurrection. This gripping documentary reveals the dangerous consequences of radicalism and the threat it poses to American democracy.
Documentary: Where Real Life and Cinematic Artifice Meet
Screen Conversation
Talk
Hear how the directors of three feature documentaries in AFF 2024 approached their subject and, in the process, learn about hummingbirds, the Nimbin Aquarius Festival, and making and using songs in films. Join panellists Sally Aitken (Every Little Thing), Shalom Almond (Songs Inside) and Wendy Champagne (Aquarius).
My Favourite Cake
Feature ·
Fiction
Seventy-year-old Mahin lives alone in Tehran since she was widowed thirty years ago. After she opens herself up to new romance with divorced taxi driver Faramarz, what begins as an unexpected encounter quickly evolves into an unpredictable, unforgettable evening.
Aquarius
Documentary ·
Feature
Aquarius is a captivating documentary by Wendy Champagne, delving into the 1973 Nimbin Aquarius Festival. Through rare archival footage and compelling interviews, it showcases how this extraordinary event transformed a community and sparked enduring activism in Australia. A must-see for history and counterculture enthusiasts.
Second Chance
Feature ·
Fiction
Heartbroken and scared, Nia retreats to her family’s summer home in the Himalayas after experiencing the first major trauma of her young life. Amidst the snow-covered mountains, with little phone reception, she turns to the company of the caretaker’s mother-in-law, Bhemi, and her grandson, Sunny. With time, the inescapable ruggedness of nature, and unlikely friendships, Nia begins to heal.
Emilia Pérez
Opening Weekend Gala & Party
Event ·
Feature ·
Fiction ·
Gala
Join fellow cinema and party lovers at the premiere presentation of the Cannes prize-winning Emilia Pérez, starring Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez, followed by an exclusive after party with Mexican dancers, roving entertainers, Latin DJs, food, drinks and more.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Feature ·
Fiction
Mohammad Rasoulof’s defiant indictment of the Iranian regime focuses on a judge with the power of life and death. However, his comfortable life quickly unravels as he faces a generational revolt in this taut political thriller.
Wake in Fright
Feature ·
Fiction
Wake in Fright, now in stunning 4K, follows a young teachers spiral into terror when he’s stranded in a brutal mining town. Lost in a nightmarish world of gambling, violence, and survival, this gripping Australian classic remains as haunting as ever.
Dig! XX
Documentary ·
Feature
More music, more commentary and even more fights in this epic tale of rock ’n’ roll, reworked for the 20th anniversary. Ondi Timoner’s ground-breaking documentation of dueling rock bands The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre is introduced to new audiences in this extended edition of the cult classic, Dig! XX.
I Saw the TV Glow
Feature ·
Fiction
From celebrated non-binary writer/director Jane Schoenbrun (We’re All Going to the World’s Fair) comes the much-hyped I Saw the TV Glow, a hallucinatory fever-dream of a film that allegorises trans-gender experiences while paying homage to 90s cult phenomena such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The Contestant
Documentary ·
Feature
The unbelievable true story of a Japanese game show contestant left naked, alone and starving in a room for 15 months - unaware he was being broadcast to over 15 million TV viewers a week.
Teaches of Peaches
Documentary ·
Feature
Winner of the 2024 Berlinale Teddy Award, this documentary showcases Peaches' talent, activism and influence. Following the 20th Anniversary tour of her album The Teaches of Peaches, the film features stunning live performances and delves into her beginnings. With interviews from Feist, Chilly Gonzales and Shirley Manson, it celebrates Peaches' revolutionary impact.
Don Dunstan Award Talk: Don McAlpine
Screen Conversation
Talk
This year’s Don Dunstan Award recipient, Academy Award winning cinematographer Don McAlpine will be in conversation with AFF Patron, Sophie Hyde at Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas.
Balomania
Documentary ·
Feature
Discover the vibrant, secretive ‘balloon world’ of Brazil in Sissel Morell Dargis's captivating documentary. Follow passionate ‘baloeiros’ as they release breathtaking balloons adorned with iconic figures like Pavarotti and Jesus, in the face of police hostility. This thrilling film offers an intimate look at a unique and creative subculture.
Making Debut Films: Scripts, Risks, Joys and Challenges
Screen Conversation
Talk
Join AFFIF filmmakers Kelly Schilling (With or Without You), Sally Gifford (Kangaroo Island), Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese (Lesbian Space Princess) in conversation about the making of their debut features.
A New Kind of Wilderness
Documentary ·
Feature
Winner of the 2024 Sundance Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema – Documentary, A New Kind of Wilderness follows a family that leaves city life to live off the land in rural Norway. As they embrace a simpler existence, an unexpected event challenges their dream, raising profound questions about modern living.
No Other Land
Documentary ·
Feature
Palestinian activist Basel Adra picks up a camera to document Israel’s mass expulsion of his community in the occupied West Bank. Israeli investigative journalist Yuval Abraham joins him to support his efforts. The unlikely friendship fosters optimism in resistance, while the divide and inequality between their homelands sparks honest late-night conversations.
Triumph
Feature ·
Fiction
A taut, darkly comedic social satire based on the 1990s excavation of the paranormal hotspot, the ‘Tsarichina Hole’ (Bulgaria’s Area 51), Triumph marks the final instalment in Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov’s (The Lesson, Glory) celebrated ‘Newspaper Clippings Trilogy’, starring Julian Vergov, Margita Gosheva and Maria Bakalova.
Crocodile Tears
Feature ·
Fiction
Johan lives on a run-down crocodile farm in West Java with his Mama. When he falls for a girl and starts spending more time in the outside world, Mama spirals out of control. Is she prioritising her son’s best interests, or just mimicking the insincere tears of the creatures she shares such a strong bond with?
Dahomey
Documentary ·
Feature
Mati Diop’s Dahomey, winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlinale, blends fact and fantasy to address cultural restitution. The film follows 26 looted cultural objects from France back to Benin, highlighting the ongoing struggle for justice. It captures vibrant debates among Beninese students on cultural heritage and restitution.
Making Revisions
Documentary ·
Short
Warlpiri painters of Central Australia and British artist Patrick Waterhouse collaborate to revise colonial Australian documents.
Archie Moore in Conversation
Screen Conversation
Exhibition ·
Talk
Join us for a conversation about film with Archie Moore, the 2024 Art and Moving Image feature artist and Golden Lion winner at the Venice Biennale, and AFF CEO and Creative Director Mat Kesting.
Dying
Feature ·
Fiction
Dying, an award-winning Berlinale film, is a searing drama that dives into the complicated relationships of the Lunies family. As the son Tom, a conductor, grapples with his best friend's depression and his ex's request to parent her child, his sister Ellen's struggles ignite a volatile reunion.
Make It Look Real
Documentary ·
Feature
A pioneering intimacy coordinator is hired to guide three actors through the process of simulating sex for a new Australian film, Tightrope.
Union
Documentary ·
Feature
Union is an electrifying documentary that captures the intense struggle to unionize Amazon. Following a fired worker’s fight against the corporate giant, the film unveils the power of collective action and the internal challenges that could make or break their movement. A must-see for its raw, inspiring impact.
Blitz
Feature ·
Fiction
Steve McQueen’s Blitz follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety. George, defiant and determined to return home, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril.
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat
Documentary ·
Feature
One of the most acclaimed and original documentaries of the year, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat explores the events leading to the assassination of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba in 1961. Featuring jazz legends Nina Simone and Louis Armstrong, it intertwines political intrigue with cultural vibrancy, highlighting the era's intense emotions.
Black Box Diaries
Documentary ·
Feature
An audacious documentary weaving together secret recordings and first-person perspective, Black Box Diaries follows Japanese journalist/filmmaker, Shirio Itō, after her allegations of sexual assault are dismissed by Japanese authorities. Refusing to stay silent, Itō writes a tell-all memoir and turns the camera on herself as she investigates her own case.
Australian Shorts
Short
Celebrating local emerging filmmakers, our Australian Shorts strand highlights innovative and passionate local storytelling.
Cordelia, Daughter of the Sea
Fiction ·
Short
A father delivers a wedding speech to his one and only offspring on her wedding day.
Janet Planet
Feature ·
Fiction
Evoking the woozy, sun-baked summer days of childhood, Janet Planet is an intimate portrait of 11-year-old Lacy, a girl out of place, her relationship with her enigmatic mother, Janet, and the lovers who are drawn into Janet’s orbit.
Jason is My Dad
Fiction
A middle-aged Uber driver picks up a private school boy who turns out to be on his paper run.
Luna and The Brain Tuna
Fiction ·
Short
When 8-year-old Luna’s dad tries to tell her he has a brain tumour, her imagination runs wild.
Set Menu
Fiction
Dining solo, Frances is denied access to the coveted set menu at an exclusive restaurant.
The Fix-It Man and The Fix-It Wooman
Animation ·
Short
In the ‘bright lights, big city,’ of Alice Springs two soft sculptures are brought together by their shared talent for fixing things.
Tough Love
Fiction ·
Short
Family trauma and cyclical violence weave their way into a complicated family triangle in Sydney’s inner-west.
Unspoken
Fiction ·
Short
In late 70s Sydney, Croatian born Marina must expose her secret relationship to help her family as an escalating political storm spills into their home.
Ink Wash
Feature ·
Fiction
The debut feature from director Sarra Tsorakidis follows artist Lena (Ilinca Hărnuț) as she recovers from a difficult break up. Commissioned to paint murals during the refurbishment of a luxury brutalist hotel in a Romanian forest, she discovers that the only way out of the woods is by going through them.
Write a Letter
Documentary ·
Short
A young artist in one town shares a letter correspondence with an older artist in another.
All We Imagine as Light
Feature ·
Fiction
All We Imagine as Light, directed by Payal Kapadia, makes history as the first Indian film in competition at Cannes in 30 years, the first by an Indian female filmmaker and the first Indian Grand Prix winner. The film follows two Mumbai nurses who escape relationship pressures and find renewal in a seaside town.
Stress Positions
Feature ·
Fiction
Revel in the chaos of the early days of COVID in Theda Hammel’s queer comedy that was a hit at Sundance. Hammel co-stars with John Early (Search Party) to poke fun at the politics of bougie Brooklynites.
Devo
Documentary ·
Feature
Devo explores the ground-breaking journey of the band behind Whip It, tracing their rise from an experimental group to music pioneers. Directed by Chris Smith, this documentary unveils rare footage and new interviews, showcasing Devo's profound influence on music, art, and pop culture.
With or Without YouSelling Fast
Feature ·
Fiction
With or Without You tells the moving mother-daughter story of Chloe (Melina Vidler) and her free-spirited, alcoholic mother, Sharon (Marta Dusseldorp). When their lives intersect with Dalu (Albert Mwangi), a West African man, they find themselves on a journey of emotional discovery.
Black Dog
Feature ·
Fiction
After a decade in prison, Lang returns to his hometown near the Gobi Desert amid Beijing's 2008 Olympics preparations. Bonding with a dog marked for bounty, he resolves to protect other strays. Eddie Peng's powerful performance anchors this neo-noir western. Winner of Cannes Un Certain Regard, this is a compelling tale of redemption.
Nightbitch
Feature ·
Fiction
A woman, thrown into the stay-at-home routine of raising a toddler, becomes increasingly aware of the bizarre signs that she may be turning into a dog. Starring Amy Adams and based on the acclaimed debut novel by Rachel Yoder.
Went Up the Hill
Feature ·
Fiction
Jack travels to remote New Zealand to attend the funeral of his estranged mother, where he meets her grieving widow, Jill. But his mother’s spirit returns, inhabiting both Jack and Jill - instigating a life-threatening three-way nocturnal dance.
I'm Not Everything I Want to Be
Documentary ·
Feature
A young female photographer escapes the oppressive forces of Soviet-era Czechoslovakia, using her camera as a means of self-expression and liberation. Told through thousands of mostly black and white still photographs and excerpts from her diary, I’m Not Everything I Want to Be captures the spirit of the times.
Flow
Feature ·
Fiction
After winning four awards at Annecy, Flow solidified Gints Zilbalodis as a visionary in animation. This visually stunning and emotionally resonant film follows a cat and other animals navigating survival on a boat post-flood, offering a cinematic experience that will captivate both adults and children alike.
The Pool
Documentary ·
Feature
The Pool, directed by Ian Darling, explores the world’s most photographed pool, Bondi Icebergs. This film beautifully captures the lives of those who gather there, revealing how this iconic space fosters a deep sense of community, connection, and belonging. A visually stunning tribute to the power of shared experiences.
Future Council
Documentary ·
Feature
Filmmaker Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film) takes eight kids on the ultimate road trip across Europe to seek solutions to our greatest ecological challenges. Through heartfelt discussions about eco-anxiety, conversations with CEOs of multinational companies, and playful interactions with nature, both the kids and Damon learn from and inspire one another.
Grove of Giants
Documentary ·
Short
Environmental researchers and passionate volunteer climbers conduct a comprehensive carbon survey of the Huon Valley Grove of Giants.
I Am the River, the River Is Me
Documentary ·
Feature
I Am the River, the River Is Me follows a five-day canoe journey along Aotearoa/New Zealand's Whanganui River, the first river in the world to gain legal personhood. Guided by a Māori guardian, this visually stunning documentary explores the river’s profound impact on Indigenous rights and environmental stewardship.
Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger
Documentary ·
Feature
A compelling love letter to cinema, this documentary charts the careers of the quintessentially British directorial duo Powell and Pressburger. Filled with previously unseen archival footage, Made in England is also a moving portrait of its narrator Martin Scorsese, and a heartfelt account of his love of these films.
Boong
Feature ·
Fiction
With inspiration from pop idol Madonna, Boong plans to surprise his mother with a gift, leaving his home in Manipur taking enormous risks believing he can bring back his absent father. Defying borders, racial tensions and school obligations with his best friend Raju, the two boys set out to reunite Boong’s family.
In the Belly of a Tiger
Feature ·
Fiction
An elderly farmer and his family return home to their village after trying to make money in the city, only to find it destitute and ruled by exploitative employers and a hungry tiger. Both the greedy employers and the tiger are protected by the government, but only the death at the hands of one will provide compensation.
In the Belly of a Tiger is part of the Country Spotlight India program, see pages 28 & 29
In the Belly of a Tiger is part of the Country Spotlight India program, see pages 28 & 29
Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics
Documentary ·
Feature
All plastic breaks down to become microplastics then drifts in the air, floats in bodies of water and mixes with the earth. Acclaimed science journalist Ziya Tong interviews global scientists, confirming we are all becoming plastic!
One Mind, One Heart
Documentary ·
Feature
When a historic Yirrkala bark petition is found in Derby, Western Australia, the community begin the ceremony of guiding its journey back to Yolngu Country. The repatriation provides the opportunity to track the long political campaign — through petition, song, dance, campaigning — to keep culture strong and to have a voice for country.
Grand Tour
Feature ·
Fiction
An intoxicating, at times hallucinatory journey into the past, Grand Tour blends fiction and documentary, past and present. It is 1917. Colonial officer Edward impulsively flees his station in Rangoon, with fiancé Molly in hot pursuit. What follows is a globetrotting adventure across Asia, by turns whimsical, melancholic, and playful.
Simon and Marianne
Documentary ·
Feature
Simon and Marianne is a deeply moving documentary that explores love, loss, and the fragility of life. Through stunning cinematography and raw honesty, the film invites us into the final months of a couple confronting terminal illness, leaving us to reflect on what truly matters.
Lesbian Space Princess
Feature ·
Fiction
Introverted space princess Saira is unexpectedly dumped by her girlfriend Kiki for being too needy. But when Kiki is kidnapped by the Straight White Maliens, they demand the one thing Saira doesn’t have: the most powerful weapon known to lesbian kind – her royal labrys.
Hanlon Larsen Screen Fellowship: Strega Launch Event
Event
Strega launch event with Peter Hanlon and director Tiah Trimboli.
Drinks available for purchase and a chance to view The Gallery installation before formal introductions from Peter Hanlon, Tiah Trimboli and an AFF representative to share details about the Fellowship and officially open the film.
Free admission, bookings required.
Nocturnes
Documentary ·
Feature
Nocturnes immerses you in the hidden world of Eastern Himalayan moths, winning the Sundance 2024 Special Jury Award for Craft. Follow ecologists, scientist Mansi and Indigenous assistant Bicki from the Bugun community, as they study Hawk moths, revealing their mysteries through stunning cinematography and soundscapes. This documentary raises vital questions about global warming and biodiversity.
The Horn
Fiction ·
Short
An adolescent girl tries to understand her mother's obsession with a mysterious horn sound coming from the sky.
Good One
Feature ·
Fiction
17-year-old Sam joins her dad and his oldest friend on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills. While the two men quickly settle into a brotherly dynamic, airing grievances and mid-life crises, Sam observes as the thoughtful “good one”. Against the backdrop of the lush beauty of upstate New York, Sam struggles with her dad’s emotional limitations and slowly becomes disillusioned with her relationship with the two men.
Me & Mazzy Melancholy
Fiction ·
Short
Three lonely souls confront their urban isolation in interwoven portraits evoking Taiwanese New Wave and Wong Kar Wai.
Sasquatch Sunset
Feature ·
Fiction
Featuring Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough as you’ve never seen them - that is, in elaborate bigfoot character makeup - Sasquatch Sunset provides an unhurried, observational portrait of a year in the life of a sasquatch family, deep in the woods of California.
Boy On Fire
Fiction ·
Short
When eighteen-year-old Noah falls in love with his boss’s daughter, he must decide whether to reveal his criminal past.
Finding Jia
Fiction ·
Short
Watching TV from the back of her parent’s store, 8-year-old Mei yearns for the picture of Australian home life she sees on screen.
Graduation
Fiction ·
Short
Dillon, drunk, texts his English teacher, the beguiling Miss Leventis, the night before high school graduation.
Mars Futures
Fiction ·
Short
Ana sees a way out of her existential crisis when she hears of an opportunity to move to Mars.
Strega
Fiction ·
Short
A dance film exploring the vulnerability and complex femininity of the Three Witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
The Hitcher
Fiction ·
Short
A grieving hitchhiker’s self-imposed isolation is interrupted after going viral.
Wishes
Animation ·
Short
Inside every one of us there’s a box of wishes. Most have our name on them... But the most powerful wishes, are those that lie in our hearts but belong to someone else.
Counterpoise
Documentary ·
Short
A stirring dance film created by Restless Dance Theatre together with 29Dong Dance Theatre, Korean Music Project and University of South Australia Connect2Abilities.
Counterpoise & Dancing Against the Odds
Documentary
A double bill by the acclaimed South Australia’s Restless Dance Theatre, together with 29Dong Dance Theatre, Korean Music Project and University of South Australia Connect2Abilities.
Dancing Against the Odds
Documentary ·
Feature
Dancing Against The Odds is the stunning documentary accompaniment to Counterpoise, following the making of the dance video.
Dust to Dust
Documentary ·
Feature
Only the second Japanese designer invited to Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, Yuima Nakazato is known for his ethereal designs and dressing music stars like Lady Gaga. With his next collection he is driven to merge his artistic vision with green technology. Starting in the landfills of Kenya, he plans a radical reimagining of fashion.
Film Concept Lab
Short
Supported by We Made A Thing and UniSA, Film Concept Lab is an initiative that develops and showcases exciting local creative talent. This year’s presentation will showcase the first 2 episodes of Lucy and DiC Season 2.
AFF Youth Primary and Middle School Shorts
Short
Entries to the 2024 AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition from South Australian Primary and Middle School students have been shortlisted by an AFF Youth Jury made up of their peers and the AFF programming team.
AFF Youth Senior School Shorts
Short
Entries to the 2024 AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition from South Australian Senior School students have been shortlisted by an AFF Youth Jury made up of their peers and the AFF programming team.
Becoming Filmmakers Sold Out
AFF Youth Talk
Talk
Hear local filmmakers discuss pathways into making shorts and features films, in this special AFF Youth talk.
The Girl With the Needle
Feature ·
Fiction
In The Girl With the Needle, set in 1919 Copenhagen, Karoline, a pregnant woman, finds work at an adoption agency run by Dagmar. As she delves deeper into the business, she uncovers shocking truths. Directed by Magnus von Horn, this film offers a gripping exploration of morality and survival.
A Daydream with Fini
Short
On a sweltering summer’s day in Izamal, Mexico, two elderly friends talk about work, travel and dreams.
An Odd Turn
Fiction ·
Short
A Buenos Aires museum security guard’s personal and professional life is upended after she predicts a sharp rise in the dollar’s value.
Lea Tupu’anga / Mother Tongue
Fiction ·
Short
A young speech therapist disconnected from her Tongan heritage lies about her Tongan language skills to get a job.
Montsouris Park
Fiction ·
Short
Two filmmakers record the quotidian and the unusual as they scour Montsouris Park for documentary subjects.
Palestine Islands
Fiction ·
Short
West Bank resident Maha hatches a crazy plan to make her blind grandfather believe that a return to his homeland is possible.
Piece by Piece
Feature ·
Fiction
The life of influential music producer and singer Pharrell Williams told through LEGO® animation. Piece by Piece invites you turn up the volume on your imagination and witness the evolution of one of music’s most innovative minds. Directed by Oscar-winning documentarian Morgan Neville.
Toxic
Feature ·
Fiction
Sent to live in bleak, Lithuanian industrial town, statuesque 13-year-old, Marija (Vesta Matulytė), stands apart from the town’s other teenagers. She forms a new friendship with resident hustler, Kristina (Ieva Rupeikaitė), enrolling in a local modelling school that pushes girls to physical extremes in the hope of escape.
AFF Youth Gala
Event ·
Short
Shortlisted films from the AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition will be presented and awarded at the AFF Youth Gala.
AFF Youth is an opportunity for South Australian students and young people to experience the power of film, make industry connections, and share their own stories on the big screen.
AFF Youth is an opportunity for South Australian students and young people to experience the power of film, make industry connections, and share their own stories on the big screen.
Songs InsideSold Out
Documentary ·
Feature
A group of incarcerated women sign up to learn an instrument and write their own songs, as part of a unique music program in an Australian prison. The process opens deep scars around trauma and addiction, but can they prove that music has the universal power to heal, even in the complex world of prison? Join Nancy Bates, members of the Songbirds and ASO for a special performance accompanying the world premiere.
A Crab in the Pool
Fiction ·
Short
Zoe and brother Theo are left to fend for themselves and the two children must try not to lose each other.
Alone
Animation ·
Short
During a lengthy space voyage to a distant galaxy, a solitary maintenance robot diligently tends to the human incubators.
Animated Shorts
Short
A celebration of the best in Animated short filmmaking from Australia and around the world.
Budō
Animation ·
Short
On a lonely widow’s daily trip to the supermarket, she meets a stray cat, who then takes over her home.
Circle
Animation ·
Short
A girl draws a circle on the ground. Passers-by step into it, one by one. Soon the circle is full.
Hurikán
Animation ·
Short
Hurikán rushes to save his favorite beer stand from closure by fetching a new keg to impress the bartender.
Silent Panorama
Animation ·
Short
Two campers follow their clothes as they float away on a stream in the Belgian Ardennes, then people disturb their peace.
The Bleacher
Animation ·
Short
The disappearance of her sock at a local laundromat sends a fragile Rita over the edge.
The Car That Came Back from the Sea
Animation ·
Short
Full of exuberance and frivolousness, six friends drive to the Polish Baltic coast and back in a small, dented car.
Carnage for Christmas
Feature ·
Fiction
A trans true-crime podcaster returns home for Christmas only to uncover a bloody urban legend has come down the chimney to kill again. Alice Maio Mackay’s Carnage for Christmas is a sassy, indie, no-budget spin on holiday horror.
We Bury the Dead
Feature ·
Fiction
Writer/director Zak Hilditch delivers a chilling, survival thriller that breathes new life into the apocalyptic zombie genre. Starring Daisy Ridley, (Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens), Brenton Thwaites and Mark Coles Smith, We Bury The Dead delivers unexpected twists that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Bettison & James Award Talk
Art and Culture moderated by The Guardian
Talk
Celebrating 10 years, Bettison & James Award.
Previous Award recipients will gather during AFF to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Award and discuss contemporary issues and offer their unique insights during two illuminating panels moderated by senior journalists from The Guardian.
Previous Award recipients will gather during AFF to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Award and discuss contemporary issues and offer their unique insights during two illuminating panels moderated by senior journalists from The Guardian.
Bettison & James Award Talk
Science and Environment moderated by The Guardian
Talk
Celebrating 10 years, Bettison & James Award.
Previous Award recipients will gather during AFF to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Award and discuss contemporary issues and offer their unique insights during two illuminating panels moderated by senior journalists from The Guardian.
Previous Award recipients will gather during AFF to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Award and discuss contemporary issues and offer their unique insights during two illuminating panels moderated by senior journalists from The Guardian.
The Correspondent
Feature ·
Fiction
Based on the true story of Australian war correspondent Peter Greste’s imprisonment in Egypt in 2013, The Correspondent is a gripping biographical thriller, a story about the brutal war on truth.
Emilia Pérez
Event ·
Feature ·
Fiction ·
Gala
Overqualified and exploited lawyer Rita (Zoe Saldaña) pursues a lucrative offer from a cartel boss as a way out of her demoralising job. Manitas (Karla Sofía Gascón) enlists her to help him retire from the criminal underworld and disappear, with one driving motivation: to become the woman he’s always dreamed of becoming.
Moviejuice
Event ·
Feature
Moviejuice presents two debut features by Australian independent filmmakers Audrey Lam and Jordy Pollock, who will both be in attendance for a screening at The Mercury, followed by a night of local music.
Us and the Night
Feature
The hushed labyrinth of a university library becomes a cosmic playground for Umi and Xiao, two girls drawn together by the fantastical forces of wordplay, fables and secret codes.
Wabi Sabi Rendezvous
Feature ·
Fiction
Old school friends Monika and Yael find themselves sharing a series of sun-dappled rendezvous as they contemplate heartbreak, art and the mysterious workings of fate.
Alok
Documentary ·
Short
Alex Hedison delivers a compelling portrait of her friend, Alok Vaid-Menon, the internationally acclaimed, non-binary, author, poet, comedian, and public speaker.
Goodbye First Love
Fiction ·
Short
He pays him a visit in Frankfurt during his work trip. This could be the last time he sees him.
Perfect Boy Next Door
Fiction ·
Short
A sex worker recovering from a brutal encounter, faces a life-changing opportunity when a TV show offers to share his story.
Three
Fiction ·
Short
A Chinese woman who has moved to live with her daughter tries to keep her daughter’s secrets from her friends.
You can't get what you want but you can get me
Documentary ·
Short
A unique slideshow documenting two long-haired trans men falling madly in love. A sweet and steamy celebration of T4T love.
Young Hearts
Feature ·
Fiction
In this charming film set in the Belgian countryside, young Elias falls in love for the first time when Alexandre moves in next door. Anthony Schatteman’s impressive feature debut about queer romance is a sweet and moving film for everyone.
Kangaroo Island Selling Fast
Closing Night Gala
Feature ·
Fiction
A struggling Hollywood actress returns home to beautiful Kangaroo Island where she confronts some ugly family truths.
The Zone of Interest Sold Out
AFF Film Club
Feature ·
Fiction
Winner Grand Prix 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Nominated for five Oscars 2024.
Kinds of Kindness Sold Out
AFF Film Club
Feature ·
Fiction
This Cannes Competition contender from Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things, AFF Audience Award 2023) is a darkly hilarious triptych fable starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons and Willem Dafoe.
The Substance Selling Fast
AFF Film Club
Feature ·
Fiction
See the buzziest film from Cannes, The Substance — a bloody, hilarious satirical feminist body horror starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid.