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 theme “Anything is Possible,” 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.

BBFF2024 JURY MEMBERS

  • A portrait of Jack Thompson an older man with a white beard and mustache, smiling slightly, wearing a black jacket, against a plain light background.

    Jack Thomson AM

    A giant of Australian cinema, Jack has supported BBFF since its earliest days. Championing the local industry, he has featured in many iconic homegrown films.

  • Close-up of a woman with short black hair, blue eyes, wearing red lipstick, smiling slightly, with a shadow on a white background.

    J'aimee Skippon-Volke

    J’aimee is the Director of the Byron Bay International Film Festival and long-term board member of Screenworks. Over the past nine years she has been building BBFF into Australia’s largest regional film festival.

  • A professional headshot of a smiling woman with short blonde hair, wearing a light jacket and a red necklace against a neutral background.

    MARGARET POMERANZ

    Margaret Pomeranz is an Australian film critic, writer, producer, and television personality. Pomeranz joined the Special Broadcasting Services (SBS) in 1980 as writer and producer, working on TV programs such Front Up, Subsonics and the AFI and IF Awards.

  • A smiling woman with short, curly gray hair wearing a white shirt, standing in front of a light blue background with abstract designs.

    Alex Mankiewicz

    Alex is an award-winning illustrator who has storyboarded features and vetted scripts for HBO and other production companies. Daughter of Joseph (All About Eve), niece of Herman (Citizen Kane), she grew up reading screenplays as part of the family business.

  • A black-and-white headshot of a smiling bald man wearing glasses and a striped shirt against a dark background.

    Elad Offer

    Elad Offer is a film producer and industry executive known for his work in international film distribution and festival programming, contributing expertise in global cinema and market strategy.

BBFF2024 OFFICIAL SELECTION - DRAMATIC FEATURES

  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER

BBFF2024 OFFICIAL SELECTION - DOCUMENTARIES

  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • "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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • "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

    DISCOVER
  • A grey poster image with two men holding surfboards at the beach with a text that reads "Impact"

    IMPACT

    Directed by Patrick Dunne

    DISCOVER
  • "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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER

BBFF2024 OFFICIAL SELECTION - SURF FILMS

  • "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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    DISCOVER
  • 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

    Click Here

BBFF2024 OFFICIAL SELECTION - OTHER CATEGORIES

BBFF2024 Nominees and Winners