BBFF 2026 WINNERS
The 20th edition of the Byron Bay International Film Festival has come to a close. This year's festival was a major success and featured a program packed full of excellent films, Q&As, and special events!
Festival director J’aimee Skippon-Volke said “Our awards are created to celebrate the true spirit of independent filmmaking.” As part of that tradition of celebrating and uplifting independent filmmakers this year's pool of feature film winners was drawn from films yet to find an Australian distributor. These awards represent BBFF’s efforts to bring greater oportunies and audiences to independent films and filmmakers.
This year's festival winners are:
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
She In Storms
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR
Jake James Whitford - The Squaters and The Fairy Princess
BEST SCREENPLAY
Hell’s Gate
Meet The Filmmakers: Poppy Walker & Sophie Hexter
In the lead up to the 10th annual Byron Bay Film Festival we spoke to two local filmmakers, Poppy Walker and Sophie Hexter whose short, Hitch, will be screened as part of this year’s event. We asked them about their pathway into film and what it is about the Northern Rivers that inspires them.