Four Days Of World-Class Cinema Is Coming To Brisbane This Week Only
Roll out the red carpet
By Bianca Licina | 25th November 2025The Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) is more than just a lineup of films — it’s a window into the Brisbane of today: curious, globally minded, and confident in its growing artistic identity. BIFF slows down the Hollywood pace, inviting audiences to truly tune in and experience the work of emerging talents, First Nations filmmakers, and everyone in between.
Back for four days only, from 27 to 30 November 2025, this year’s reimagined program of 60+ films, including 29 Australian premieres, opens a window on a world of experiences and perspectives, taking audiences on a journey through the hearts and minds of the world’s best filmmakers and Australia’s most exciting screen storytellers.
BIFF also presents a thoughtfully curated collection of First Nations cinema, led by programmer Maria Lewis, spotlighting powerful storytelling from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, as well as Indigenous filmmakers from across the globe.
Rather than grouping films by genre, BIFF asks audiences to choose their emotional destination: Be Delighted, Be Moved, Be Afraid, Be Ignited, Be Surprised, or Be Challenged. Screenings take place across Brisbane’s most iconic venues, from Palace James Street and the STAR’s Leisure Deck to Dendy Cinemas and the riverside charm of Howard Smith Wharves. Gather your crew, fire up the group chat, and dive into a world of cinema like no other.
What’s showing?
To guide your BIFF adventure, here are six standout films that capture each emotional mood at its most compelling.
Be Delighted
Fwends by Sophie Somerville
Fwends is for anyone who’s ever had a friendship break-up that felt way bigger than it needed to be. Director Sophie Somerville captures the messiness of your twenties – the group chats, the emotional oversharing, and the petty fights you swear you’re too old for but somehow always fall into. On a much-needed trip to Melbourne, the two protagonists, Em and Jessie, confront the true state of their lives and, in turn, their fragile friendship. Fwends reminds you how friendships shape who you are, how protective you become of the people you love, and how growing up sometimes means growing sideways rather than apart. It’s funny, warm, and painfully recognisable in the best way.
Be Moved
Mile End Kicks by Chandler Levack
Mild End Kicks, directed by Chandler Levack, hits with that quiet kind of emotion that sneaks up and derails your entire week. Euphoria alum Barbie Ferreira plays Grace, a 24-year-old music critic drifting through the confusing post-university phase, where you’re meant to know who you are but absolutely don’t. What starts as a dream project soon becomes a messy detour involving a niche indie band, a festering love triangle, and some much-needed self-reckoning. Ferreira brings Grace to life as a protagonist you can’t help but root for, navigating the 2011 electro-pop scene with charm and vulnerability. Tender, nostalgic, and sharp, the film is a reflective look at youth, creativity, and the struggle to chase your dreams in a world that often feels stacked against you.
Be Afraid
It Will Find You by Chris Broadbent and Enzo Tedeschi
Bringing a First Nations perspective to the horror genre, It Will Find You by Chris Broadbent and Enzo Tedeschi delivers a fresh spin on supernatural terror. The film follows Emily, who inherits a pendant that awakens a spiritual disturbance tied to her family’s past – dormant for 25 years. To survive, she must reconnect with her ancestry and confront the malevolent spirit known as the Malingee. Broadbent and Tedeschi craft tension that keeps you leaning forward, blending eerie suspense with emotional depth, grounded in First Nations storytelling, making the fear feel both ancient and deeply personal.
Be Ignited
Adam’s Sake by Laura Wandel
Adam’s Sake, a tense and intimate Belgian film by Laura Wandel, captures every fragile, emotionally charged moment through a documentary-style lens. The story follows Adam, a malnourished young boy who relies on his mother, Rebecca, for food. When family court restrictions are imposed, Head Nurse Lucie must navigate the delicate balance between human vulnerability and the law. Critically acclaimed and opening Critics’ Week at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Adam’s Sake immerses viewers in Adam and Rebecca’s world, evoking compassion, frustration, and hope.
Be Surprised
Peak Everything by Anne Emond
Anne Émond’s Peak Everything is a warm, funny, and unexpectedly tender romantic comedy centered on a quirky protagonist you can’t help but root for. Adam, a kind-hearted but slightly melancholic kennel owner, buys a light-therapy lamp in a moment of desperation and connects with Tina, the voice on the other end of tech support. When a natural disaster upends their plans, Adam must confront his inner demons and step into the world to find her. Winner of the Grand Prize at Cabourg’s Annual Film Festival, Peak Everything delights with humour, heart, and a celebration of love’s emotionally clarifying power.
Be Challenged
AGON by Giulio Bertelli
Giulio Bertelli’s debut film AGON is a visceral, uncompromising look at ambition and sacrifice in elite sport. Following three female athletes training for a fictional Ludoj 2024 Olympics in fencing, judo, and rifle shooting, the film focuses less on victory and more on the relentless discipline required, revealing the physical and mental toll of extreme training. Winner of the Venice Critics’ Week FIPRESCI Award and Best Production Award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, AGON is a hard watch you can’t look away from, capturing how agony and ecstasy are inseparably entwined in the pursuit of excellence.
Events
The Brisbane International Film Festival is packed with unforgettable events – explore everything that’s making its 33rd year truly special. Here are some of the highlights.
Australian premiere of Agon with Director Giulio Bertelli
BIFF 2025 kicks off in style beneath Brisbane’s Story Bridge at Howard Smith Wharves, with red carpet arrivals, live music, and riverside cocktails setting the scene. The launch gala features the Australian premiere of Giulio Bertelli’s FIPRESCI-award-winning debut Agon, plus a conversation with Olympian Natalie Cook on ambition and resilience. Don’t miss your chance to be part of Brisbane’s boldest film moment.
When: Thursday 27 November, 5 PMWhere: Felon’s Barrel Hall, Howard Smith WharvesTickets: here
Bring It On! with Director Peyton Reed
This isn’t a democracy – it’s a cheerocracy! Get ready to relive the ultimate early-2000s teen classic, Bring It On, with an exclusive twist. Director Peyton Reed joins us in person for a one-night-only Q&A, spilling behind-the-scenes stories from the film that made a generation want to spell out victory. The STAR’s Leisure Deck transforms into a full-on cheer zone – think open-air cinema, killer views, cocktails, and live cheerleaders bringing the heat.
When: STAR Leisure DeckWhere: Friday 28 November, 6 PMTickets: here
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Australian premiere of A Life Illuminated + Glow Rave
Dive into the ocean’s hidden glow with marine biologist Dr Edie Widder in A Life Illuminated. Witness stunning underwater cinematography, including the first-ever footage of a giant squid in its natural habitat, and stick around for an exclusive Q&A with director Tasha Van Zandt and cinematographer Sebastian Zek. Don’t miss this chance to explore the deep sea like never before!
When: Sunday 30 November, 5.10 pMWhere: Palace BarracksTickets: here
It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley
Because some voices echo forever, BIFF 2025 closes with a one-night-only celebration of Jeff Buckley’s Grace, marking 30 years of the album that redefined artistry and soul. On Sunday 30 November, the evening begins with Amy Berg’s award-winning documentary It’s Never Over, an intimate look at Buckley’s brilliance and heartbreak. Then, under the stars, Brisbane’s finest – including Jack Carty, Katie Noonan, Jaguar Jonze, and more – perform Grace track by track with a five-piece band, honouring Buckley’s haunting legacy in an unforgettable live experience.
When: Sunday 30 November, 6 PMWhere: Southbank PiazzaTickets: here
Whatever your mood, the Brisbane International Film Festival is your one-way ticket to a weekend filled with all the right feels.
The details
What: Brisbane International Film FestivalWhen: 27 to 30 November 2025Where: Various venues across BrisbaneCost: Six-film passes from $119; individual event pricing variesTickets: here
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