BBFF2024
18 - 27 October
The Byron Bay International Film Festival 2024 was a 10-day celebration of independent cinema held from 18–27 October across multiple venues in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.
Featuring over 100 films, the festival showcased a diverse mix of local and international storytelling, including documentaries, short films, and experimental works. With the tagline “Visions In Motion,” it highlighted social, environmental, and cultural issues while supporting emerging filmmakers.
Opening with the documentary Aquarius, the event combined screenings, industry networking, and awards, reinforcing its reputation as a key platform for independent film.
Photos featured are from Lyn McCarthy - Niche Pictures
SPECIAL EVENTS
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![Black and white photograph of a man with curly hair and a headband, eyes closed, with arms outstretched and a passionate expression on his face.]()
NIMBIN PREMIERE OF AQUARIUS
NIMBIN BUSH THEATRE
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![A colorful, illuminated DJ turntable with neon light patterns and a vinyl record on the platter, set against a vibrant pink and purple background.]()
MUSIC VIDEO SHOWCASE
HOTEL MARVELL ROOFTOP
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![A group of young women at a vibrant neon-lit party, standing closely and smiling, surrounded by colorful, streaked lights on the ceiling.]()
AQUARIUS RISING
OPENING AFTER-PARTY
OTHERWORLD
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![Cover image for the interactive space-themed story titled 'Otto's Planet.' Features a small planet with a large tree, astronauts, and a cozy tent on its surface, floating in outer space with stars, planets, and asteroids around.]()
VIRTUAL REALITY
TAFE CONNECTED LEARNING CENTRE
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![Two people, a young woman and a young man, operating video cameras in a studio setting.]()
FILMMAKING WORKSHOP
UNLOCK THE SECRETS TO SCREEN STORY TELLING
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![SCHOOLS PROGRAM]()
SCHOOLS PROGRAM
BYRON, BALLINA + BRUNS
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OPENING NIGHT
BYRON PREMIERE OF AQUARIUS
BBFF2024 OFFICIAL SELECTION - DRAMATIC FEATURES
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![Movie poster titled “Backstage” showing silhouettes of performers standing in a line under warm red stage lighting, with a contrasting cooler-toned scene below featuring figures in a darker outdoor setting. Cast names and production credits appear ab]()
BACKSTAGE
Directed by Afef Ben Mahmoud + Khalil Benkirane
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![Film poster for “Black Dog” showing a man sitting on a motorbike in a barren landscape, looking down toward a black dog beside him, with the title in large bold letters above and festival laurels at the top.]()
BLACK DOG
Directed by Guan Hu
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![Film poster for “Sasquatch Sunset” featuring four silhouetted figures holding hands against a vibrant gradient sunset, with trees framing the scene and bold title text centered above.]()
SASQUATCH SUNSET
Directed by David Zellner, Nathan Zellner
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![Horror film poster for “The Matriarch” showing a frightened young woman in close-up, with a large knife reflecting the image of an older, menacing woman, and the tagline “Hell Hath No Fury” above.]()
THE MATRIARCH
Directed by Jayden Creighton
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![Film poster for “The Moon Is Upside Down” showing a central figure with large golden wings, holding a suitcase, with two women’s faces above and bold title text below against a yellow background.]()
THE MOON IS UPSIDE DOWN
Directed by Loren Taylor
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![Film poster for “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” showing a side profile of a woman in a dark hood and blindfold, set against a blue-toned patterned background, with the title centered below.]()
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG
Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof
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![Film poster for “We Were Dangerous” showing four young women walking along a rugged coastal path carrying suitcases, with bold handwritten yellow text overlaid across the image.]()
WE WERE DANGEROUS
Directed by Josephine Stewart-te Whiu
BBFF2024 OFFICIAL SELECTION - DOCUMENTARIES
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![Documentary film poster for “Aquarius” showing a large geodesic dome structure surrounded by a crowd of people, with a woman standing in the foreground facing the scene, and stylized title text above.]()
AQUARIUS
Directed by Wendy Champagne
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![Film poster for “Agent of Happiness” featuring a collage-style landscape with mountains, clouds, and a village, alongside a man in traditional clothing standing next to a bright yellow car, with the title above.]()
AGENT OF HAPPINESS
Directed by Arun Bhattarai, Dorottya Zurbo
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!["An artistic depiction featuring the words 'Art and Life' prominently displayed. Below the text is a stylized blue hand with an expressive mouth located in the palm, symbolizing creativity and self-expression."]()
ART AND LIFE: The Story of Jim Phillips
Directed by John Makens
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![A man with a serious expression stands with his hand placed on his chest, symbolizing a gesture of strength or respect. The title "BLAK DOUGLAS VS THE COMMONWEALTH" is prominently displayed above him, suggesting a tense confrontation or significant]()
BLAK DOUGLAS VS THE COMMONWEALTH
Directed by Angelica Cristina Dio
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![The poster features various types of mushrooms, mycelium networks, and spores, highlighting the vital roles fungi play in decomposition, nutrient cycling, and supporting plant life. Text elements discuss the interconnectedness of fungi with other org]()
FUNGI: WEB OF LIFE
Directed by Gisela Kaufmann, Joseph Nizeti
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!["Illustration of a diverse group of children happily sitting together on a colorful school bus, engaged in conversation and laughter, with bright sunlight streaming through the windows, symbolizing friendship, learning, and community."]()
FUTURE COUNCIL
Directed by Damon Gameau
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![A grey poster image with two men holding surfboards at the beach with a text that reads "Impact"]()
IMPACT
Directed by Patrick Dunne
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!["Artistic depiction of a porcelain war scene featuring an owl perched on a weathered concrete wall, highlighting contrasts between fragile beauty and the ravages of conflict."]()
PORCELAIN WAR
Directed by Brendan Bellomo, Slave Leontyev
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![Poster for "Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat" shows three people in a car, with bold text overlaying the image. A tense, dramatic tone is conveyed.]()
SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D'ETAT
Directed by Johan Grimonprez
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![Poster for "The Life and Death of Westerly Windina." It features a silhouette of a person surfing against a pastel sunset, with film festival accolades above.]()
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF WESTERLY WINDINA
Directed by Alan White + Jamie Brisick
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![Three cartoon figures with exaggerated, playful expressions lean closely together. One wears a shirt reading "The Most Australian Band Ever!" The image, vibrant and energetic, promotes a documentary on 80s underground legends, with an SXSW selection]()
THE MOST AUSTRALIAN BAND EVER
Directed by Jonathan J Sequeira
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![Swimmers enjoy a pool by the ocean at sunset, with waves crashing against the rocks. The sky is vibrant orange. Text reads "The Pool: Diving in at Bondi Icebergs."]()
THE POOL
Directed by Ian Darling
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![Poster for "Unlikely Allies" shows a central figure with six faces above, each framed by red and blue bars. Buildings at the bottom suggest a political theme.]()
UNLIKELY ALLIES
Directed by Anthony Pedone
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![Surfing documentary poster titled "Walkabout: The Songlines of Surfing" features a silhouette of a surfer against a vast, painted ocean backdrop.]()
WALKABOUT: THE SONGLINES OF SURFING
Directed by Robbie Page + Matty Hannon
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![Poster for "Washed Away," an Australian documentary. It shows a woman with long hair holding a black dog, set in grayscale. Text and credits are overlaid.]()
WASHED AWAY
Directed by Terry Webster, Stuart Mckay
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![A serene landscape with a majestic deer in the foreground, lush greenery, a distant castle, and birds in flight. Text above reads "Wilding."]()
WILDING
Directed by David Allen
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![A group of wingsuit flyers in colorful suits soar through a cloudy blue sky. The text reads, "Wingsuit Flyers: The Science of Human Flight."]()
WINGSUIT FLYERS
Directed by Paul Phelan
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![Two surfers stand on a grassy cliff, gazing at the ocean under a cloudy sky. Text overlays: "You should have been here yesterday."]()
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE YESTERDAY
Directed by Jolyon Hoff
BBFF2024 OFFICIAL SELECTION - SURF FILMS
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!["Film poster for 'Walkabout: The Songlines of Surfing' with a silhouette of a surfer carrying a board on a wave-like background, surrounded by award logos."]()
WALKABOUT: THE SONGLINES OF SURFING
Directed by Robbie Page, Matty Hannon
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![Poster for "The Life & Death of Westerly Windina" features a silhouetted surfer on pastel waves, with film festival laurels above, exuding a nostalgic tone.]()
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF WESTERLY WINDINA
Directed by Alan White, Jamie Brisick
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![Silhouettes of two surfers with boards stand on a grassy shore under a blue sky. Text reads, "You should have been here yesterday."]()
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE YESTERDAY
Directed by Jolyon Hoff
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![Sunset over misty ocean with a silhouette of an old stone tower in the center. Text reads "Hidden in Plain Sight," a film by Kev L Smith.]()
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
Short film Directed by Kev L Smith
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![A person's legs are underwater, surrounded by small fish. The text "Presence" and film awards are displayed, indicating a movie poster. Tone: mysterious.]()
PRESENCE
Short Film Directed By FIGAS
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![A person wearing a cap is bending over outdoors, working on a plank of wood with a tool. Framed by a dark stone doorway, the tone is industrious and focused.]()
SAELUHUS/HOUSE OF BLISS
Short Film Directed By Elli Thor Magnusson
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![Overhead view of a lone surfer on a board amidst turbulent ocean waves, with text "a short film by Mark Duncan Jack Kaminski - Vinicius" overlaid.]()
VINICIUS
Short Film Directed By Mark Duncan, Jack Kaminski
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![Silhouette of a person in water during sunset, with glowing sun on the horizon. Text reads "Beneath the Wake," featuring Logan Collier, directed by Steph Liquorish.]()
BENEATH THE WAKE
Short Film Directed By Steph Liquorish
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![Two surfers enjoy small waves on a calm ocean beneath a clear sky, with a silhouette of a tree trunk framing the left side of the image.]()
BOOK OF HUNTER
Short Film Directed By Samuel Fairbank
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![Surfers in dark water face a massive, approaching wave under a cloudy sky. Text reads "End Of The Road, a film by Dirk Braun," conveying an adventurous tone.]()
END OF THE ROAD
Short Film Directed By Dirk Braun
BBFF2024 OFFICIAL SELECTION - OTHER CATEGORIES
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![A creative depiction of Australia in earth tones is painted on a map. Blue panel reads "Short Films" for Byron Bay Film Festival, Oct 18-27, 2024.]()
SHORT FILMS
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![Black and white image of two men with surfboards on a beach. Text reads "Impact: A Documentary Film." Right side has "Spotlight on Byron Bay 2024" in purple on teal.]()
Spotlight On Byron Bay 2024
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![Poster for "The Receptionist," a short film by Rachael Porthouse, features a pensive woman in profile, with the tagline "Invisible. Relentless. Inescapable." It's part of the Byron Bay International Film Festival 2024. The right side highlights "Youn]()
Young Australian Filmmakers
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![A person with dramatic makeup, including dark lipstick and eye shadow, is on the left. The turquoise right side reads "MUSIC VIDEOS" and details the Byron Bay Film Festival, BBFF2024, occurring October 18-27.]()
Music Videos
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![A group of smiling people pose on the front of a yellow school bus in a forest. Text reads "Future Council" and "Byron Bay International Film Festival."]()
SCHOOL PROGRAM
BBFF2024 Winners
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Best Surf Film
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Best Film
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Best Dramatic Feature
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Best Documentary
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Best Cinematography
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Rob Stewart Conservation Award
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Best Music Documentary
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Best Byron Film
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Best Music Video
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Best Short Film
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Best Experimental Film
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Best Animation
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Best 360 XR Experience
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Best Interactive XR Experience
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Byron Bay International Screenplay Competition
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Young Australian Filmmaker of the Year
BBFF2024 Venues
