The SXSW Sydney Screen Festival is the premiere film and television expo in the APAC region. From 14 to 20 October, you will find dozens of film showcases and premieres being hosted at the International Convention Centre in Sydney.
If you’re an aspiring actor, screenwriter, director, filmmaker, etc or simply a cinephile, you can’t miss this amazing lineup of film media happening at SXSW!
SXSW Sydney Schedule 2024 - Films
| Title | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Inside | Tue, 15 Oct. | 12:45 PM - 3:09 PM |
| Never Look Away | Tue, 15 Oct. | 6:30 PM - 8:50 PM |
| The Front Room | Tue, 15 Oct. | 7:30 PM - 9:19 PM |
| The Most Australian Band Ever! | Wed, 16 Oct. | 6:30 PM - 9:11 PM |
| A Grand Mockery | Wed, 16 Oct. | 6:45 PM - 9:09 PM |
| Smile 2 | Wed, 16 Oct. | 7:30 PM - 10:22 PM |
| Pavements | Thu, 17 Oct. | 7:30 PM - 10:18 PM |
| Nightbitch | Fri, 18 Oct. | 7:30 PM - 9:23 PM |
| Ghost Cat Anzu | Sat, 19 Oct. | 3:30 PM - 5:22 PM |
| Sing Sing | Sat, 19 Oct. | 3:30 PM - 5:32 PM |
| Didi | Sat, 19 Oct. | 6:30 PM - 8:19 PM |
| Saturday Night | Sat, 19 Oct. | 6:30 PM - 8:34 PM |
| The Thicket | TBC | TBC |
| Mahakaal | TBC | TBC |
Nightbitch
Nightbitch
Based on the 2021 novel by Rachel Yoder, Amy Adams stars as a new mother dealing with the chaos of life with a toddler. But as she begins to feel worn down by the demands of each day and the unspoken toll of being a stay-at-home mom, she starts to feel a shift. Tapping into the powerful nature of humans, women, and mothers specifically, she begins to find a new lease on life.
Saturday Night
Saturday Night
Before there was Saturday Night Live as we know it, there was the debut: Saturday Night, 11 October 1975. What happened in the 90 minutes leading up to that first show was history in the making, and that’s precisely why they made a film about it.
Discover the backstage and behind-the-scenes struggles and triumphs that lead to the beginning of the SNL empire.
Smile 2
Smile 2
Not yet released in cinemas in the US, Smile 2 will be premiering at SXSW just in time for Halloween. In this haunting sequel to the 2022 film Smile, pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) witnesses a chilling scene involving an old friend, setting off a chain of events full of paranormal, psychological terror. How can she stop this evil from taking her life and spreading to others?
Find out more about how to attend SXSW to catch some film screenings and more.
The Front Room
The Front Room
Based on the short story by the same name written by Susan Hill, this horror drama explores the complicated relationships between parents and children, spouses, and in-laws, and why some people are probably better off being left out of your life. How can Belina and Norman handle Norman’s previously estranged mother as she seeks to beat her own religious fanaticism into their household?
Pavements
Pavements
One of the defining indie rock bands of the 90s, Pavements, finally receives the tribute treatment with a creative semi-documentary full of scripted moments and archival footage as well as humour and music. The combination results in an immersive look into the band’s signature vibe back then and now, post-2022-comeback tour. Prepare for unique and interesting storytelling as well as an intriguing inside look into one of the bands that inspired a generation.
Never Look Away
Never Look Away
This documentary focuses on CNN photojournalist Margaret Moth, who specialises in capturing warzone footage to raise awareness of the tragic events. She is famously known for her incredibly dangerous maneuvers to secure footage of Iraq, Lebanon and Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as many other warzones.
Find out more about the history of SXSW and how it came to be in Sydney.
Inside
Inside
Set inside a maximum-security prison, the idea of the film is to take viewers beyond the stereotypes of a prison film and explore the psychological and emotional states of a person in such a position. Charles Williams' film Inside is a powerful short drama that dives into the emotional and mental struggles of a young boy, Mel Blight, under extreme pressure. After having been transferred from a juvenile facility to an adult one, Mel finds himself forming father-son-type relationships with two very different prisoners. Torn between his allegiances to these figures, Mel has a lot to consider.
Dìdi
Dìdi
A coming-of-age story that focuses on the intersection of boyhood, being from an Asian-American immigrant family, and growing up in the first age of the internet, Dìdi is director Sean Wang’s semi-autobiographical masterpiece. Chris Wang, aka Dìdi, a 13-year-old Taiwanese-American boy experiences the roller-coaster of the summer between childhood and young adulthood. Set in 2008, the film captures what it was like for kids back in the day as the first generation to grow up with the Internet.
Discover which events you can attend for free at SXSW.
Ghost Cat Anzu
Ghost Cat Anzu
Animation still tends to be less appreciated than live-action media, so it’s important to support it! Ghost Cat Anzu, winner of the 2024 Fantasia Film Festival, follows 11-year-old Karin as she is left at the temple where her grandfather lives. While there, she finds Anzu, a mysterious cat who acts like a human. The unlikely pair begin searching for Karin’s father in Tokyo and may even have a chance to see Karin’s late mother again.
A Grand Mockery
A Grand Mockery
A Grand Mockery is already nominated for an award even though it has yet to premiere. Filmed on “soft luminous super-8,” the story follows Josie, who lives a mundane life until his “psychic ills” cause him to begin roaming the rainforest hinterlands of Queensland. The film is described as a tribute to indie filmmaking before it had rules, as well as a show of transformation that mirrors Josie’s journey.
At SXSW, you can also find multitudes of speakers, panels, workshops, and more.
The Most Australian Band Ever!
The Most Australian Band Ever!
Three outsiders from Punchbowl, NSW decided to make a band together in the 80s, and that band was the Hard-Ons. Being ethnically diverse in a time and place that was hostile to non-whites was a challenge on its own; getting involved in the punk scene was another beat altogether. This film shows how band members Keish de Silva, Peter Black, and Ray Ahn navigated their unique presence in music at the time, dealing with general dismissal from the public as well as racism within the punk community. Truly, there couldn’t be three people more suited to the life of punk rock because as time has told, they became wildly successful despite the haters.
Sing Sing
Sing Sing
After being unjustly imprisoned at Sing Sing prison in New York, Divine G find purpose by putting together a theatre group with his fellow inmates. The film explores the transformative power of art and its power in human resilience and humanity. Most notably, the case consists of formerly incarcerated actors.
Discover what live musical performances you need to catch at SXSW!
The Thicket
The Thicket
A long-time passion project for the starring actor, Peter Dinklage, this action-packed film follows Reginald Jones, a bounty hunter out to capture a lawless criminal known as Cut Throat Bill. With his small band of misfits, he hopes to find Cut Throat before they take their kidnapped girl to a place known as The Thicket, where Cut Throat reigns supreme.
Mahakaal
Mahakaal
An official unofficial remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, this classic horror film with an Indian twist has never premiered in Australia - until now! Combining the elements of horror and comedy, witness a unique spin on Freddy Kreuger and the entire Nightmare concept.
Beyond this handful of films, there are dozens of others for you to enjoy! Additionally, there will be film-related speeches, panels, and workshops taking place throughout the week.
If you have your heart set on one film, you can get a discounted ticket for that film alone from SXSW, rather than having to purchase a badge or wristband. You can find out more on the official SXSW Sydney website.
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