







The 19th Byron Bay International Film Festival will return from Friday the 17th to Sunday the 26th October at cinema venues across the Northern Rivers Region.
Every year many of our sessions sell out - book early to save your seat!
From boundary-pushing docs to standout shorts and dramatic features, BBFF showcases global cinema with local heart. Many sessions include Q&A’s so you can be part of the conversation.
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Set in a near-future Tokyo, the film follows a group of teenagers as they confront surveillance, social prejudice and the constant threat of natural disaster, while finding solace in friendship, rebellion and music.
Sora, son of the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, has drawn on both personal experience and wider social anxieties to craft a story that is both intimate and political.
The Heart Revolution blends poetic imagery and groundbreaking science, challenging us to rethink what we know about the human heart. As it makes its Australian Premiere at the Drill Hall Theatre, we spoke with director Benedikt Just about the winding journey that led him to filmmaking, the seven-year process of bringing this documentary to life, and why he believes the heart holds the key to understanding what it means to be human.
Filmmakers Alison Cornyn and Heather Greer have long worked at the intersection of storytelling and justice. In Hilda O. vs. The State of New York, they follow 81-year-old Hilda Onley as she seeks justice for the abuse she endured while incarcerated at 15. Silenced for decades, Hilda finally finds a path forward after the 2019 passage of New York’s Child Victims Act.
We spoke with the co-directors about their creative process, how they first connected with Hilda, and what her story reveals about resilience, visibility, and the long arc of justice.
Ben ‘Sturge’ Sturgulewski grew up on a remote island in Alaska’s Aleutian Chain, sparking a lifelong passion for wild places and the people who inhabit them. His award-winning short films have screened globally, earning acclaim for cinematography, editing, and storytelling. He’s worked with Patagonia, YETI, Arcteryx, Red Bull, and others, and his ski film VALHALLA was named "The Greatest Ski Film of All Time" by Outside Magazine. Champions of the Golden Valley is his first feature documentary.
Anna is a producer and director whose work weaves together environmental urgency and human resilience. With award-winning projects spanning National Geographic (Save This Shark, Save This Rhino), Stan (Misunderstandings of Miscarriage), and Channel 7 (Here for the Horses), Anna has built a career bringing powerful real-world stories to the screen. Her independent debut feature, Nansie - a deeply personal, warm and moving portrait created with journalist Adelaide Miller - affirmed her voice as a storyteller to watch, earning recognition at Sydney Film Festival and the Asian Academy Creative Awards.
Caleb Graham is a Sydney-based filmmaker and cinematographer whose work is grounded in honesty, intimacy and human resilience. With two ACS Gold awards and international credits including Green is the New Black (BBFF2021) and Blue and Gold (BBFF2024), Caleb has established himself as a rising voice in documentary storytelling. His latest film, Beyond the Break, follows para-surfing world champion Joel Taylor, capturing a story of resilience, identity and community.
The Byron Bay Film Festival is proud to introduce the David Stratton Best Documentary Award, celebrating one of Australia’s most respected champions of cinema. This new accolade will honour the most outstanding feature-length documentary in competition, from Australia or abroad. David Stratton’s remarkable career as a critic, festival director and broadcaster helped shape Australia’s cinematic landscape, introducing audiences to powerful stories from around the world.
Chaired by BBFF’s Festival Director in a rare collaboration, creatives from some of Australia’s leading film festivals are uniting for a special panel at the AACTA Festival.
The award-winners across all categories in the 2024 Byron Bay International Film Festival were announced last night, bringing the festival’s “enormously successful” 18th year to a close.
Festival director J’aimee Skippon-Volke said the judges faced their usual challenges, selecting the Best Of from an exceptionally high-quality range of films from Australia and the world.
The three finalists in the Byron Bay International Film Festival’s 2024 Screenplay Competition all explore different aspects of contemporary society, with the winner, Riverwalk, telling the story of two young runaway brothers forced to survive on the mean streets of Los Angeles.
As we approach the Byron Bay Film Festival 2024, excitement builds for the premiere of Fragments of a Half Life, Johnny Abegg's deeply introspective film. In this abstract journey, Abegg explores the profound grief he feels after his father’s death. Rather than drowning in sorrow, he surrenders to the complexity of grief, discovering that through embracing loss, he can live a deeper, more meaningful life. Through his mother’s recounts and his own reflections, Johnny navigates the intricate relationship between father and son, finding solace in life’s impermanence.
As we approach the Byron Bay Film Festival 2024, excitement builds for the premiere of Soul Paint, a groundbreaking experience blending immersive technology, creative storytelling, and wellbeing. Through bodymapping, 3D drawing, and movement, participants explore and express emotions and sensations in the body, revealing their inner reality while observing others' creations. Narrated by actor and activist Rosario Dawson, Soul Paint has won awards including Unity for Humanity, StoryFutures XR Connect, and SXSW’s Special Jury Prize.
As we approach the Byron Bay Film Festival 2024, the excitement mounts for the premiere of The Life & Death of Westerly Windina, a powerful documentary exploring the life of Peter Drouyn, a surfing legend, and his transformative journey into becoming Westerly Windina. Filmmakers Alan White and Jamie Brisick provide insight into the creation of this poignant film.
Known for his impactful documentaries on social and environmental issues, Damon Gameau invites eight children on an epic adventure across Europe in a school bus powered by biofuel. Their mission is to take the conversation from the streets, into the boardrooms of some of the world’s largest polluters and most influential companies.
Explore the making of 'Black Dog,' a Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard winner. Learn how this cinematic gem weaves its poignant narrative and stunning visuals against the vast backdrop of the Gobi Desert, capturing deep emotional connections across species and situations.
Discover the bold and inspiring works of Australia's emerging filmmakers featured in this year's Byron Bay Film Festival's Young Australian Filmmaker of the Year Competition, showcasing a diverse array of themes from alienation to the challenges of youth in contemporary society.
Wilding is a documentary that highlights Isabella Tree and Charlie Burrell's radical shift from intensive farming to a thriving ecological sanctuary at their Knepp estate. Nature takes the lead in reviving a devastated landscape, providing powerful insights into the resilience and regenerative potential of the natural world.
The Opening Night film at this year’s Byron Bay Film Festival is a feature-length documentary that captures and celebrates a defining event in the history of the Northern Rivers – the 1973 Aquarius Festival.
The top four screenplays in Byron Bay Film Festival’s 2023 Screenplay Competition cover four distinct genres – a measure of the breadth of writing talent to be found amongst those writing for the screen.
Overall winner was Dinner at Seven, described by Competition judge, Alex Mankiewicz, as an "engaging drama".
John’s Robert’s first release of 2023 is a return to pop with his single ‘Danger’, a moody mid-tempo 80’s style bop. The music video offers an exciting landscape filled with pulsating sounds and throbbing rhythm, as well as Robert’s vibrant and signature vocal style that brings the music to life.
Murphy is on an open road adventure with his love, Murphette, when he finds himself drawn into an infinite pursuit in order to fix his broken down bus. The road is paved, the future is in sight and it’s a race to the finish line.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands where our festival activities take place, including the Bundjalung, Minjungbal, Nyangbul, Widjabul Wia-bal, and Galibal peoples. We recognize their enduring connection to this ancient land.
We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past, present and future.