After a program full of incredible films, Q&As and events the 20th edition of the Byron Bay Film Festival has now come to a close. This year's festival was full of amazing films making the process of picking winners especially difficult.
As part of BBFF’s continued dedication to promoting and uplifting independent films and filmmakers the pool of winners was selected from films that had not yet received an Australian distributor. Festival Director J’aimee Skippon-Volkke said “These awards are about more than recognising achievement. They’re about championing independent voices, celebrating cretive ambition and helping filmmakers take their next step. “
The 2026 winners are:
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM
Chaortic
BEST SCREENPLAY
Hell’s Gate
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
She In Storms
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR
Jake James Whitford - The Squatters And The Fairy Princess