The full program has been announced for the 72nd Sydney Film Festival, running from June 5 until June 16. The 2025 festival is packed, including world premieres, award winners, and a wide-ranging showcase of Australian and international cinema. Among the most anticipated titles are the Australian premiere of Together, Tom Hiddleston-led The Life of Chuck, SXSW-winning satire Slanted, and queer romance On Swift Horses, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi.

The festival will screen 201 films from 70 countries, including 17 world premieres, six international premieres and 137 Australian premieres. The event runs from 5–16 June and, for the first time, includes the iconic Sydney Opera House as a screening venue.

Opening Night & Competition Highlights

Michael Shanks’ Sundance hit Together, starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco, will open the festival and also compete in the Official Competition, which returns for its 17th year. This year’s jury is led by Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel and includes international figures like Rachel House and Melita Toscan du Plantier.

In competition are 17 films, many direct from Cannes, Sundance and Berlinale. Highlights include Kelly Reichardt’s 1970s-set art heist drama The Mastermind, Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident, and Dreams (Sex Love), winner of the Berlinale’s Golden Bear. Also competing are DJ Ahmet, the Sundance Audience Award-winning coming-of-age tale, and All That’s Left of You, a decades-spanning Palestinian family drama from Cherien Dabis.

Big Names and Local Talent

This year’s program blends international prestige with Australian premieres. Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, featuring Ethan Hawke and Margaret Qualley, is set to screen at the State Theatre alongside titles like The Ballad of Wallis Island with Carey Mulligan, and Vie Privée, starring Jodie Foster.

Tom Hiddleston stars in The Life of Chuck, based on a Stephen King novella and directed by Mike Flanagan. There’s also On Swift Horses, a queer 1950s-set love story, and Bring Them Down, a tense Irish thriller with Barry Keoghan.

On the local front, Amy Wang’s Slanted — a satire about racial identity and belonging — arrives fresh off its SXSW win, and Christian Byers’ Death of an Undertaker makes its world premiere. Animated Australian feature Lesbian Space Princess also makes a splash following its Teddy Award win at the Berlinale.

Festival Director on This Year’s Vision

Festival Director Nashen Moodley described this year’s line-up as “a bold and expansive view of cinema today,” highlighting the mix of urgent themes and imaginative storytelling.

“From astonishing Australian debuts to daring new works by global auteurs, this year’s program is a celebration of creative risk, personal vision and artistic resilience,” Moodley said. “We invite audiences to explore this thrilling line-up, connect with filmmakers from around the world, and share in the transformative joy of cinema.”

He added that the inclusion of the Sydney Opera House as a new screening venue offers “a rare opportunity to experience some of the world’s best films in one of our most celebrated cultural landmarks.”

The Sydney Film Festival runs from 5–16 June, 2025. Full details and ticket info are available at sff.org.au.