Celebrating the life and legacy of Yolŋu actor David Gulpilil, this moving film traces his extraordinary final journey home to Gupulul - a farewell guided by culture, ceremony, and deep connection to Country. Narrated by Hugh Jackman.

A bold portrait of visionary scientist John Lilly, exploring the wild frontiers of consciousness, technology, and human potential.

Celebrating the life and legacy of Yolŋu actor David Gulpilil, this moving film traces his extraordinary final journey home to Gupulul - a farewell guided by culture, ceremony, and deep connection to Country. Narrated by Hugh Jackman.

In a time of disruption - environmental, cultural, and personal - Featuring the world premiere of Matty Hannon’s new film Haus Tumbuna and stunning local works, this session is for the dreamers, the doers, and those listening closely to the land and sea.

+ a panel with the filmmakers - Films start at 7

When a cache of handwritten love letters from the ’60s and ’70s is unearthed, they reveal the hidden life of Geraldine “Miss” Flower - a woman of fierce honesty, deep longing, and extraordinary spirit.

Both a call for justice and a celebration of resilience, YURLU | COUNTRY reveals the enduring strength of culture, Country, and community in the face of catastrophe.

In southern Morocco, a father and son search for their missing daughter at endless desert raves. Sirat is a haunting exploration of hope, loss, and the limits we endure for family.

Join us for an evening where the skyline meets creative visuals, featuring a curated selection of cutting-edge music videos from talented artists. As night falls, the rooftop comes alive, illuminated by the dynamic rhythms and visuals of our exceptional music video lineup.

Both a call for justice and a celebration of resilience, YURLU | COUNTRY reveals the enduring strength of culture, Country, and community in the face of catastrophe.

Celebrating the life and legacy of Yolŋu actor David Gulpilil, this moving film traces his extraordinary final journey home to Gupulul - a farewell guided by culture, ceremony, and deep connection to Country.

Raoul Peck’s bold documentary revisits Orwell’s 1984, blending archive and contemporary imagery to explore the novel’s enduring warnings - from Doublethink to Big Brother - and why they still matter today.

In near-future Tokyo, where earthquakes loom daily, a prank at school sparks an AI surveillance crackdown that tests the bonds of five close friends. With warmth and insight, Happyend explores friendship, fear, and the quiet erosion of freedom.

From Thai cave rescuer to daring explorer, Dr Richard “Harry” Harris risks it all in Deeper. Set in New Zealand’s treacherous Pearse Resurgence, this powerful documentary by Jennifer Peedom (SherpaP and Alex Barry blends danger, discovery, and breathtaking cave footage to explore the human drive to push limits.

Paralysed by a wave at 21, Joel Taylor spent 20 years out of the ocean before discovering adaptive surfing. Reigniting his passion through fatherhood and community, he defied all odds to become a 2023 para surfing World Champion. Beyond the Break is a powerful story of resilience, identity, and triumph over adversity.

Stay Strange is BBFF2025’s ode to the unconventional - a collection of shorts that refuse to play it safe, from sharp satire to soulful surprises, headlined by the World Premiere of Hadley Perkins’ darkly funny Strange Attractor.

In this dynamic two-hour session, you’ll learn how to lay a powerful foundation for your own stories. Working with Neptune, a cutting-edge storytelling platform, this workshop blends guided demonstration, individual writing time and small-group collaboration - so you’ll not only develop your own ideas but also gain inspiration and feedback from fellow writers. Whether you’re working on a screenplay, a novel or a new concept, you’ll leave with sharper tools, fresh insights and a clearer path forward.

Fools’ Paradise (Lost?) is a poetic journey into the wilderness around us and the wild within. Filmmaker Alexandra Lexton meets writers, activists, and adventurers who show how reconnecting with nature can heal both people and the planet. Blending science, philosophy, and personal stories, the film is a moving call to nurture the world - and ourselves.

Over two hours, gain a fast-moving snapshot of what’s happening at the forefront of digital innovation for screen creatives – with insights and inspiration from leading international and local talent.

Filmmakers, artists, gamers, storytellers, technologists, and curious creatives are invited to come together and learn from industry leaders pushing the boundaries of screen culture.

Blending absurdist comedy, whimsy, and multilingual poetry, Matthew Rankin’s Universal Language transforms a dreamlike Winnipeg into a world both strange and beautiful - a singular film that captured global acclaim at Cannes and MIFF.

Over six years and 24,000 km, filmmaker Dianne Whelan crossed Canada’s vast trails by land and water, discovering wisdom, kindness, and resilience in a journey that became less about endurance and more about connection, hope, and renewal.

From Switzerland to Mexico, Common Wealth explores new models of unity and fairness through one filmmaker’s transformative journey. A tender, global call to reimagine the systems that shape our lives.

In Afghanistan’s remote snow-capped mountains, a ski culture is born. Champions of the Golden Valley follows Olympic hopeful Alishah Farhang and young athletes whose handmade skis and daring spirit turn competition into a story of unity, resilience, and hope.

In Ciudad Peronia, Guatemala, teenage sisters Lesli and Lupe lead a fearless rebellion against gender violence through Comparsa - a vibrant street performance of towering puppets, fire, and drums that rallies youth and reclaims public space.

An extended cut tracing the birth of Liberia’s Robertsport Surf Club, We the Surfers celebrates resilience, community, and the global connections forged through surfing.

At the height of his career, Marlon Williams returned home to write and record an album entirely in te reo Māori. Filmed over four years, this moving documentary follows his journey of reconnection with heritage, identity, and the healing power of music.

When a New York crew flies to the wrong country chasing a viral story, they fake a trend in rural Argentina - with disastrous, hilarious, and unexpectedly human results.

The Heart Resolution reveals the human heart as more than a pump - an intelligent organ shaping who we are and how we live. Blending stunning imagery with cutting-edge science, the film traces the heart’s role across life, exploring love, learning, ageing, and what it truly means to live with an open heart.

The Northern Rivers, recognized as Australia's largest regional film hub, is celebrated at our festival with a selection of locally made films. These films highlight the unique stories and artistic visions that flourish in this vibrant creative community.

Celebrating the life and legacy of Yolŋu actor David Gulpilil, this moving film traces his extraordinary final journey home to Gupulul - a farewell guided by culture, ceremony, and deep connection to Country.

A bold portrait of visionary scientist John Lilly, exploring the wild frontiers of consciousness, technology, and human potential.

Nansie is a moving, intimate portrait of a family navigating dementia with love, humour, and resilience. Sisters Adelaide and Lucinda cherish their grandmother Ann, creating moments of joy and connection even as memory fades.

A sharp, twisted Aussie comedy about family, privilege, and overstaying your welcome.

Birthright opened BBFF2025 and this special screening includes a Q&A with Producer Cody Greenwood.

Paralysed by a wave at 21, Joel Taylor spent 20 years out of the ocean before discovering adaptive surfing. Reigniting his passion through fatherhood and community, he defied all odds to become a 2023 para surfing World Champion. Beyond the Break is a powerful story of resilience, identity, and triumph over adversity.

A roadside encounter becomes a haunting spiral of revenge and doubt in Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or–winning thriller, darkly laced with humour and humanity.

At the height of his career, Marlon Williams returned home to write and record an album entirely in te reo Māori. Filmed over four years, this moving documentary follows his journey of reconnection with heritage, identity, and the healing power of music.