The Melbourne Women In Film Festival’s (MWFF) tenth-year programme has landed, marking a decade of championing women and gender-diverse filmmakers from Australia and beyond.
The 2026 programme continues to bring bold works from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Pasifika. Across the four-day event, audiences can look forward to premiere screenings, restorations, creator conversations, and hands-on workshops. It’s set to be an immersive celebration of diverse perspectives, and the homegrown visionaries shaping the screen industry’s future.
“This year’s festival is a really special one for us as we celebrate our 10th anniversary. It’s an opportunity for us to look back at the festival’s achievements and to thank the community of filmmakers, artists, audiences, and volunteers that have helped this festival thrive,” MWFF Festival Director Sian Mitchell says.
’Lesbian Space Princess’, the debut feature from Australian directors Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese, kicks off the festival this year for the Opening Night Gala. It’s a story of identity and empowerment and was awarded the Teddy Award at its Berlinale premiere. It follows introverted lesbian princess Saira, journeying across the galaxy to rescue her ex from a band of aliens.
There’ll also be a panel afterward, unpacking how the animated feature came to fruition.
Next up is ‘The Offing’, inspired by true events. It’s a psychological thriller from first-time feature Melbourne filmmakers, Lily Lunder and Koko Crozier. ‘The Offing’ follows two girls who embark on a scenic coastal escape, which spirals into chaos as they struggle to outrun their pasts.
Jane Campion’s electrifying debut ‘Sweetie’ is restored in 4K in partnership with ACMI and the National Film and Sound Archive. ‘Sweetie’ shattered the conventions of Australian cinema, and announced one of the world’s most distinctive and daring female voices.
In a world where we’re telling stories involving more emotional and physical relationships on a deeper level in film, the role of intimacy coordinators has become increasingly vital. The festival presents ‘Make It Look Real: Inside Intimacy Coordination In Screen Production’ – Kate Blackmore’s 2025 documentary followed by a panel discussion with filmmakers, actors and intimacy coordinators.
’Kōkā’ is the first feature filmed in the original dialect of East Cape iwi Ngāti Porou. It marks a major step for Māori language representation on screen from writer/director Kath Akuhata-Brown. It has premiered and featured in international festivals including the Hawai‘i International Film Festival and the Māoriland Film Festival, where it won the People’s Choice Award.
Elsewhere in the programme there’s a line-up of short film programmes platforming rising talent and storytellers from our region. To celebrate the shorts, MWFF’s Awards Presentation & Screening will honour the festivals’ short filmmakers.
Melbourne Women In Film Festival 2026 is on from 19-23 March across ACMI and Fed Square.
