Whistle

Directed by Christopher Nelius

Australia

2025

84 mins

All Ages

An offbeat Aussie crowd pleaser following the world’s greatest whistling competition, from the eccentric competitors to passionate devotees, as egos clash and notes soar. Toronto 2025.

Unsurprisingly, whistling as a competitive sport attracts an eccentric crowd – among them an anxious New York actress, a fiercely ambitious Spanish competitor, a perpetual runner-up Japanese muso and a piping pop star. Wrangling this multifarious mob, is ‘Whistling Diva’ producer Carole Anne Kaufman, a contentious figure, who’s on a mission to elevate the artform and the competition. Directed by Christopher Nelius (Girls Can’t Surf, SFF 2021) and produced by the Oscar-nominated team behind Porcelain War (SFF 2024), this highly entertaining documentary in the tradition of Best in Show and The Golden Spurtle, celebrates persistence and lip-pursing talent as it captures the highs and lows of competitive musical whistling.

Please note: Flexipasses cannot be redeemed on Special Events (including Back by Popular Demand screenings)

“A heartwarming, feel-good watch that celebrates talent, dedication, and the quirky joy of a world where every note counts.”

Rachel West, Alliance of Women Film Journalists

Special Guests

Christopher Nelius

Director

Christopher Nelius is an Australian director, producer and writer working across documentary and drama. His documentary STORM SURFERS 3D was runner-up in the audience award at TIFF and won the AACTA Award for Best Feature Documentary. His feature GIRLS CAN’T SURF, about the struggle of women’s professional surfing in the 1980s, was the highest-grossing box office documentary in Australia in 2021, and was selected for the Tribeca Film Festival. Prior to directing, Chris toured as a professional musician.

Appearing at:

Sydney Opera House Playhouse - Fri 5 June 2026, 6:15pm

State Theatre - Sun 7 June 2026, 9:30am

Tickets

Fri 5 June 2026, 6:15pm

Past Event

Sydney Opera House Playhouse

Sydney Opera House

1 Guest

Book

Sun 7 June 2026, 9:30am

Past Event

State Theatre

1 Guest

Thu 18 June 2026, 6pm

Past Event

Ritz Cinemas Randwick - Cinema 5

Ritz Randwick - Cinema 5

See more, save more with a Flexipass or Youth Pass

Presented By

Program Strand
Documentary Australia Award, Back by Popular Demand
Year
2025
Classification
All Ages
Country
Australia, USA, Spain, Japan
Language
In English, Spanish and Japanese with English subtitles
Director
Christopher Nelius
Producer
Camilla Mazzaferro, Louise Smith, Luke Mazzaferro, Al Hicks, Casey Ventura
Screenwriter
Christopher Nelius, Al Hicks
Cinematographer
Kathryn Milliss
Editor
Matias Bolla, Johanna Scott
Genre
Documentary, Australian, Comedy, Music, Women’s Stories, Sport
Premiere
Australian Premiere
Company Credits
Australian Distributor: Madman Entertainment

Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.

We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Don’t miss a thing!

Whether you’re in Sydney or one of our rural locations, sign up to our newsletters for all the latest news and offers.

SFF

About

Support

General Enquiries

Ticketing Enquiries

Office Hours

MONDAY – FRIDAY: 9AM – 5PM AEDT

Discover