The year 2026 brings in the 73rd Sydney Film Festival (SFF), with a programme including 248 films from 81 countries.
This year, film-lovers can expect 19 world premieres, 3 international premieres and 140 Australian premieres, with screenings at the State Theatre, Sydney Opera House, and cinemas across the city.
Plus, as part of the programme, will be 19 films direct from the Cannes Film Festival. . . Among them, Andrey Zvyagintsev’s long-awaited ‘Minotaur’, Asghar Farhadi’s ‘Parallel Tales’, Cristian Mungiu’s ‘Fjord’, Paweł Pawlikowski’s ‘Fatherland’, Ira Sachs’ ‘The Man I Love’ and Koreeda Hirokazu’s ‘Sheep In The Box’.
Other programme highlights in 2026 include Olivia Wilde directing herself, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton in ‘The Invite’, Jane Schoenbrun’s psychosexual horror ‘Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma’. . . Australian horror sensation ‘Leviticus’ from Adrian Chiarella, and Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer in ‘The Death of Robin Hood’.
“We want to invite you to join us at SFF this year, where each moment offers an opportunity for discovery and empathy," Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley says. "Art and cinema help us make sense of the world, take us into the lives of people far away from us, and remind us to remain vigilant about our own rights and freedoms. And we can't forget, they're also an enormous source of joy.”
“Once again Nashen Moodley and the team have curated the best films in the world for what will be another incredible Sydney Film Festival experience,” Minister For The Arts John Graham says. “As we continue backing the NSW screen industry for growth, it will be fantastic to see our local film makers alongside the world’s best.”
The Official Competition will celebrate 18 years of the prestigious Sydney Film Prize, which sees $60,000 awarded each year to an ‘audacious, cutting-edge and courageous’ film. Plus, ten outstanding new Australian documentaries will compete for the $20,000 Documentary Australia Award, with the winning film also becoming Academy Award eligible.
The State Theatre will set the stage for Sydney Film Festival’s biggest nights, including red carpet premieres, award-winning films, and star-studded special events. Star-led features include ‘Dead Man’s Wire’, directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Bill Skarsgard, Dacre Montgomery and Al Pacino. . . And ‘Rays And Shadows’, Xavier Giannoli’s sweeping epic starring Oscar winner Jean Dujardin.
Australian voices feature strongly: ‘Pressure’ is the much-anticipated latest from acclaimed Australian director Anthony Maras which stars Andrew Scott and Brendan Fraser. Plus, Ian Darling’s ‘The Valley’ also has its world premiere, a meditative portrait of life in Kangaroo Valley.
Sydney Film Festival also marks ten years of its Screenability programme, with a bold line-up of films by and about people living with disability, curated by Rebecca McCormack. This year expect the likes of ‘Joybubbles’, ‘Retreat’, ‘You Look Fine’, ‘When You Hear Hoofbeats’ and more.
The 2026 Classics Restored programme spans six decades of world cinema, from a landmark of Hong Kong independent film to a Taiwanese New Wave masterpiece. There’s ‘He Died With A Felafel In His Hand’, ‘Queen Kelly’, Vive L’Amour’, ‘The Arch’ and more.
“Sydney Film Festival spotlights the Harbour City as a vibrant global hub for the arts and world-class cultural experiences,” Minister For Jobs And Tourism Steve Kamper says. “Not only does it showcase local and world films before they receive international acclaim, but it also attracts thousands of visitors each year, creating a buzz around Sydney and supporting businesses and jobs across our visitor and night-time economy.”
Sydney Film Festival 2026 is on from 3-14 June.
