Our Organisation

Sydney Film Festival takes place at its flagship venue the State Theatre, as well as cinemas in the CBD, Newtown, Cremorne, Randwick, and more, screening films you won’t usually find in the multiplex. 12 films are selected for the Official Competition, which celebrates “courageous, audacious and cutting-edge” cinema with a $60,000 cash prize. Sydney Film Festival also presents eight other cash awards over the course of the festival.

Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Screen NSW; the Federal Government through Screen Australia; and City of Sydney the Festival’s Principal Local Government Partner. Sydney Film Festival also runs the Travelling Film Festival year-round, taking the best of international and Australian cinema to 22 regional centres around the country.

In 2025, Sydney Film Festival turns 72. Sydney will experience big feels with extraordinary cinema, red carpets, talks and parties with filmmakers all across Sydney including the iconic State Theatre.

Sydney Film Festival reflects the unique experiences of people, communities, and cultures across Australia and around the world through cinema.

Amid all the global uncertainty and increased polarisation, film festivals like ours play an important role in promoting ideas, discussions, and new connections.

SFF has a proud 72-year history of bringing amazing stories from around the world to our audiences. With more than 240 films on offer from 70 countries, this year’s program embraces bold storytelling, covering themes of resistance, rebellion, identity, climate change, and cultural struggle. It represents filmmakers who confront difficult truths and share powerful experiences — whether exploring historical injustices, critiquing social conventions, or imagining entirely new worlds.

Stories and discussions might provoke strong responses or disagreement – great art thrives in dialogue rather than silence. Regardless, we all share a responsibility to be respectful of other opinions, ensuring that everyone involved with the Festival has a positive experience.

We encourage everyone to view the films with an open heart and mind, be inspired and sometimes challenged. See the world through a different lens and be part of the bigger picture.

Gillian Armstrong AM, Cate Blanchett AC, Bryan Brown AM, Jane Campion DNZM, Jan Chapman AO, Nicole Kidman AC, Baz Luhrmann, Dr George Miller AO, Sam Neill DCNZM OBE, Phillip Noyce AO, Rachel Ward AM, Hugo Weaving AO