72nd Sydney Film Festival

72nd Sydney Film Festival
Opening filmTogether
by Michael Shanks
Closing filmSplitsville
by Michael Angelo Covino
LocationSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Founded1954
Festival date4–15 June 2025
Websitesff.org.au

The 72nd annual Sydney Film Festival took place from 4 to 15 June 2025. This edition of the Sydney Film Festival opened with supernatural body horror film Together and closed with Michael Angelo Covino's comedy film Splitsville.[1][2]

Jury

The following were named as members of the festival jury:[3]

  • Justin Kurzel, Australian film director – jury president
  • Rachel House, New Zealand director and actor
  • Mélita Toscan du Plantier, French producer
  • Winnie Tsang, Hong Kong producer and distributor
  • Thomas Weatherall, Australian actor

Official Selection

In competition

The following films were selected for the main international competition:

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
All That's Left of You اللي باقي منك Cherien Dabis Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
The Blue Trail O Último Azul Gabriel Mascaro Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, Chile
DJ Ahmet Georgi M. Unkovski North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia
It Was Just an Accident یک تصادف ساده Jafar Panahi Iran, France, Luxembourg
The Love That Remains Ástin Sem Eftir Er Hlynur Pálmason Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, France
The Mastermind Kelly Reichardt United States
Miroirs No. 3 Christian Petzold Germany
My Father's Shadow Akinola Davies Jr. United Kingdom, Nigeria
Romería Carla Simón Spain, Germany
The Secret Agent O Agente Secreto Kleber Mendonça Filho Brazil, France, Netherlands, Germany
Sorry, Baby Eva Victor United States
Together (opening film) Michael Shanks Australia, United States
Highlighted title indicates Sydney Film Prize winner.

Late Announce

The following films were added two days before the festival started:[4]

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
Eagles of the Republic Tarik Saleh Denmark, Finland, France, Sweden
It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley Amy J. Berg United States
The Little Sister La Petite Dernière Hafsia Herzi France, Germany
Magellan Lav Diaz Portugal, Spain, France, Philippines, Taiwan
The Plague Charlie Polinger United States, Romania
Sentimental Value Joachim Trier Norway, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom
Sirāt Óliver Laxe France, Spain
Splitsville (closing film) Michael Angelo Covino United States
Two Prosecutors Sergei Loznitsa France, Germany, Netherlands, Latvia, Romania, Lithuania
Young Mothers Jeunes mères Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne Belgium, France

Documentary Australia

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
Deeper Jennifer Peedom Australia
Ellis Park Justin Kurzel
Floodland Jordan Giusti
The Golden Spurtle Constantine Costi Australia, United Kingdom
Joh: Last King of Queensland Kriv Stenders Australia
Journey Home, David Gulpilil Maggie Miles, Trisha Morton-Thomas
The Raftsmen Chadden Hunter
Songs Inside Shalom Almond
The Wolves Always Come at Night Gabrielle Brady Australia, Mongolia, Germany
Yurlu | Country Yaara Bou Melhem Australia

First Nations Award

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
Emily: I Am Kam Danielle MacLean Australia
The Haka Party Incident Katie Wolfe New Zealand
Marlon Williams: Two Worlds – Ngā Ao E Rua Ursula Grace Williams
Nechako: It Will Be a Big River Again Lyana Patrick Canada
Remaining Native Paige Bethmann United States
Seeds Kaniehtiio Horn Canada
Wilfred Buck Lisa Jackson

Special Presentations

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
The Ballad of Wallis Island James Griffiths United Kingdom
Blue Moon Richard Linklater United States, Ireland
Dreams Michel Franco Mexico, United States
Enzo Robin Campillo France, Belgium, Italy
How to Train Your Dragon Dean DeBlois United States
Lesbian Space Princess Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese Australia
One to One: John & Yoko Kevin Macdonald United Kingdom
Orwell: 2+2=5 Raoul Peck France, United States
Pike River Robert Sarkies New Zealand
Prime Minister Lindsay Utz, Michelle Walshe United States
A Private Life Vie privée Rebecca Zlotowski France
Slanted Amy Wang United States
Twinless James Sweeney

Features

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
Alpha. Jan-Willem van Ewijk Netherlands, Switzerland, Slovenia
Birthright Zoe Pepper Australia
BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions Kahlil Joseph United States
Bring Them Down Christopher Andrews Ireland
Ciao Bambino Edgardo Pistone Italy
Come Closer Tom Nesher
Daughter's Daughter 女兒的女兒 Huang Xi Taiwan
Death of an Undertaker Christian Byers Australia
Dreams (Sex Love) Drømmer Dag Johan Haugerud Norway
Eighty Plus Restitucija, ili, San i java stare garde Želimir Žilnik Serbia, Slovenia
The End Joshua Oppenheimer Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden
The Friend Scott McGehee and David Siegel United States
Fwends Sophie Somerville Australia
Happyend Neo Sora Japan, United States
Harvest Athina Rachel Tsangari United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, France, United States
The Heart Is a Muscle Imran Hamdulay South Africa, Saudi Arabia
Islands Jan-Ole Gerster Germany
January 2 Január 2. Zsófia Szilágyi Hungary
Kontinental '25 Radu Jude Romania
Late Shift Heldin Petra Volpe Switzerland, Germany
The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos The Agbajowo Collective Nigeria, Germany, South Africa, United States
The Life of Chuck Mike Flanagan United States
Love Kjærlighet Dag Johan Haugerud Norway
Lurker Alex Russell United States, Italy
The Mohican Le Mohican Frédéric Farrucci France
Moon Mond Kurdwin Ayub Austria
The Mother and the Bear Johnny Ma Canada, Chile
Mr Burton Marc Evans United Kingdom, Ireland
Nineteen Diciannove Giovanni Tortorici Italy, United Kingdom
Olmo Fernando Eimbcke United States, Mexico
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl Rungano Nyoni Zambia, United Kingdom, Ireland
On Swift Horses Daniel Minahan United States
One of Those Days When Hemme Dies Hemme'nin öldüğü günlerden biri Murat Fıratoğlu Turkey
Pooja, Sir Deepak Rauniyar Nepal, United States, Norway
The President's Cake مملكة القصب Hasan Hadi Iraq, United States, Qatar
Saba Maksud Hossain Bangladesh
Somebody 침범 Kim Yeo-jeong, Lee Jeong-chan South Korea
Spirit World Eric Khoo France, Japan, Singapore
State of Statelessness ས་མཐའི་ལས་དབང་། Tenzing Sonam, Ritu Sarin, Tsering Tashi Gyalthang, Sonam Tseten, Tenzin Tsetan Choklay India, United States, Vietnam
Stranger Eyes Yeo Siew Hua Singapore, Taiwan, France, United States
The Things You Kill Alireza Khatami France, Poland, Canada, Turkey
Tiger's Pond Vaghachipani Natesh Hegde India, Singapore
To Kill a Mongolian Horse Xiaoxuan Jiang Malaysia, Hong Kong, United States, South Korea, Japan, Singapore
Twelve Moons Doce lunas Victoria Franco Mexico
Went Up the Hill Samuel Van Grinsven New Zealand, Australia
What Does That Nature Say to You 그 자연이 네게 뭐라고 하니 Hong Sang-soo South Korea
Yunan Ameer Fakher Eldin Canada, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Palestine, Qatar

International Documentaries

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
2000 Meters to Andriivka Mstyslav Chernov Ukraine, United States
Agatha's Almanac Amalie Atkins Canada
All I Had Was Nothingness Je n'avais que le néant Guillaume Ribot France
Always 从来 Deming Chen United States, France, China, Taiwan
André Is an Idiot Tony Benna United States
Assembly Rashaad Newsome, Johnny Symons
Beat the Lotto Ross Whitaker Ireland
Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story Sinead O'Shea Ireland, United Kingdom
Chain Reactions Alexandre O. Philippe United States
Come See Me in the Good Light Ryan White
Cutting Through Rocks اوزاک یوللار Sara Khaki, Mohammadreza Eyni Iran, Germany, United States, Netherlands, Qatar, Chile, Canada
Exergue – on documenta 14 Dimitris Athiridis Greece
Folktales Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady United States, Norway
A Frown Gone Mad Omar Mismar Lebanon
How Deep Is Your Love Eleanor Mortime United Kingdom
How to Build a Library Maia Lekow, Christopher King Kenya, United States
Lowland Kids Sandra Winther Denmark, United States
Make It Look Real Kate Blackmore Australia
Mistress Dispeller Elizabeth Lo China, United States
Mr. Nobody Against Putin David Borenstein Denmark, Czech Republic
Only on Earth Robin Petré Denmark, Spain, Sweden
The Perfect Neighbor Geeta Gandbhir United States
Predators David Osit
The Shadow Scholars Eloïse King United Kingdom
The Shepherd and the Bear Max Keegan United Kingdom, United States, France
Silent Observers Eliza Petkova Bulgaria, Germany
Speak. Jennifer Tiexiera, Guy Mossman United States
Tokito: The 540-Day Journey of a Culinary Maverick Aki Mizutani Japan
Twiggy Sadie Frost United Kingdom
Unwelcomed Si vas para Chile Amilcar Infante, Sebastian Gonzalez Mendez Chile
Videoheaven Alex Ross Perry United States
A Want in Her Myrid Carten Ireland, United Kingdom, Netherlands
Writing Hawa La vie de Hawa Najiba Noori, Rasul Noori France, Netherlands, Qatar, Afghanistan
Yalla Parkour Areeb Zuaiter Sweden, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestine

Focus on Nishtha Jain

The program highlighted the work by Indian director Nishtha Jain.[5]

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
Gulabi Gang (2012) Nishtha Jain Norway, India, Denmark
The Golden Thread (2022) Paat Katha India, United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Norway, Netherlands
Farming the Revolution (2024) Inqilab di Kheti India, France, Norway

Sounds on Screen

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
Marlon Williams: Two Worlds – Ngā Ao E Rua Ursula Grace Williams New Zealand
Move Ya Body: The Birth of House Elegance Bratton United States
Once Upon a Time Michel Legrand Il était une fois Michel Legrand David Hertzog Dessites France
Selena y Los Dinos Isabel Castro United States

Flux: Art+Film

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
Ancestral Visions of the Future Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Lesotho
Gods of Stone Deuses de pedra Iván Castiñeiras Gallego Spain, France, Portugal
Invention Courtney Stephens United States
Listen to the Voices Kouté vwa Maxime Jean-Baptiste France, Belgium, Guyana
The Unshakeable Destiny Nikki Lam Australia, Hong Kong

Freak Me Out

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
Dangerous Animals Sean Byrne Australia
The Home Hemmet Mattias J. Skoglund Sweden, Estonia, Iceland
It Ends Alexander Ullom United States
Obex Albert Birney
Redux Redux Kevin McManus, Matthew McManus
Straight On till Morning Craig Ouellette
The Wailing El Llanto Pedro Martín-Calero Spain, France, Argentina

EUROPE! Voices of Women+ in Film

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
Ari Léonor Serraille France, Belgium
Deaf Sorda Eva Libertad Spain
Hanami Denise Fernandes Switzerland, Cape Verde, Portugal
I Shall See Ik zal zien Mercedes Stalenhoef Netherlands
Little Trouble Girls Kaj ti je deklica Urška Djukić Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Serbia
Têtes Brûlées Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama Belgium

Screenability

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
Life After Reid Davenport United States
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore Shoshannah Stern
Racewalkers Kevin Claydon, Phil Moniz Canada

Family

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
How to Train Your Dragon Dean DeBlois United States
Night of the Zoopocalypse Ricardo Curtis, Rodrigo Perez-Castro Canada, France, Belgium

Jafar Panahi: Cinema in Rebellion

The retrospective program highlighted the work by Iranian director Jafar Panahi.[6]

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
The White Balloon (1995) بادکنک سفيد Jafar Panahi Iran
The Mirror (1997) آینه
The Circle (2000) دایره Iran, Italy, Switzerland
Crimson Gold (2003) طلای سرخ Iran
Offside (2006) آفساید
This Is Not a Film (2011) این فیلم نیست Jafar Panahi, Mojtaba Mirtahmasb
Closed Curtain (2013) پرده Jafar Panahi, Kambuzia Partovi
Tehran Taxi (2015) تاکسی Jafar Panahi
3 Faces (2018) سه رخ
No Bears (2022) خرس نیست
It Was Just an Accident (2025) یک تصادف ساده Iran, France, Luxembourg

Elaine May: Urbane Legend

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
A New Leaf (1971) Elaine May United States
The Heartbreak Kid (1972)
Mikey and Nicky (1976)
Ishtar (1987)

Classics Restored

English title Original title Director(s) Production country
Angel's Egg (1985) 天使のたまご Mamoru Oshii Japan
The Mahabharata (1989) Peter Brook France, United Kingdom, United States
Mullet (2001) David Caesar Australia
Muriel's Wedding (1994) P. J. Hogan
Somersault (2004) Cate Shortland

Awards

The following awards were presented at the festival:[7]

References

  1. ^ Keast, Jackie (23 April 2025). "Michael Shanks' 'Together' to open Sydney Film Festival". IF Magazine. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  2. ^ Ward, Sarah (30 May 2025). "2025's Sydney Film Festival Is Closing with Dakota Johnson-Starring Relationship Comedy 'Splitsville'". Concrete Playground. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  3. ^ Johnson, Travis (10 April 2025). "Nitram director Justin Kurzel heads the 2025 Sydney Film Festival jury". Blunt Magazine. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  4. ^ Downs, Sarah (2 June 2025). "Sydney Film Festival Adds New Titles to 2025 Lineup". Variety Australia. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  5. ^ Saluja, Neeru (3 June 2025). "Nishtha Jain's India: Candid, complex, unscripted". Indian Link. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  6. ^ Moghimi, Habib (3 June 2025). "Censorship into art: why Iranian director Jafar Panahi's subversive stories are getting the world's attention". The Conversation. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  7. ^ "The Winners of the 72nd Sydney Film Festival". Sydney Film Festival. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
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