A Festival of Exceptional Cinema
The Sydney Film Festival annually presents a diverse array of films that transcend Hollywood's conventional moral narratives. In 2026, the festival showcased remarkable works from around the globe. Here are five outstanding films that captivated audiences.
1. The Good Boy
Polish director Jan Komasa delivers a profoundly strange and beautiful film. The story follows Tommy (Anson Boon), a 19-year-old kidnapped by dysfunctional couple Chris (Stephen Graham) and Kathryn (Andrea Riseborough). They imprison him in their British countryside home, subjecting him to brutal retraining. As Tommy gains freedom, he becomes integrated into the family, leading to a meditation on belonging and sacrifice. Stellar performances, particularly from Riseborough and Graham, and Abel Korzeniowski's evocative score elevate this melodrama. It is a masterpiece and the festival's best film.
2. Dawning
Writer-director Patrik Syversen crafts an existential horror film. Three sisters—Kristine (Kathrine Thorborg Johansen), Cecilie (Silje Storstein), and Esther (Marte Magnusdotter Solem)—vacation in rural Norway after Kristine's suicide attempt. Their tensions escalate when a mysterious stranger (Thorbjørn Harr) appears and begins stalking them. Andreas Johannessen's cinematography, blending black-and-white and color, and Øystein Greni's score enhance the unsettling atmosphere. Harr's restrained performance as the killer is chilling. The film explores family dynamics through a slasher lens, lingering long after viewing.
3. Red Rocks
Bruno Dumont's coming-of-age tale follows hyperactive five-year-old Geo (Kaylon Lancel) and his friends on the French Riviera. The children interact naturally, with Dumont's camera capturing genuine moments of childhood—awkwardness, whimsy, and cruelty. Geo's romance with Eve (Kelsie Verdeilles) forms a triangle with B (Alessandro Piquera). The film's authenticity reveals the essence of being a child, making it a remarkable achievement.
4. Lomu
Gavin Fitzgerald and Vea Mafile'o's documentary transcends sports biography. It chronicles Jonah Lomu's rise as a rugby legend, his impact on the All Blacks, and the personal costs of greatness. Through archival footage and interviews with family, the film examines Tonga-New Zealand relations and rugby's professionalization. It balances the mythic story of Lomu's career with a tender portrait of him as a son and father.
5. Parallel Tales
Asghar Farhadi's film follows author Sylvie (Isabelle Huppert) who spies on neighbors and hires assistant Adam (Adam Bessa). Despite critical pans for its uneven narrative, the film offers pleasure in watching stellar actors like Virginie Efira and Vincent Cassell, accompanied by Zbigniew Preisner's score. It explores art and life with charming naivety.
Other Notable Films
Among over 40 films, several stood out: Imposters, a Borgesian horror-thriller with Jessica Rothe; Rose of Nevada, a time-travel film by Mark Jenkin; The Fox, a hilarious Australian comedy; No Good Men, an Afghan rom-com; Sundays, a drama about a girl entering a convent; and Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie, a moving documentary. Others included Never After Dark, Rays and Shadows, The Invite, and The Samurai.
Disappointments
Prize-winner Minotaur was uninspiring, a weak remake of Chabrol's The Unfaithful Wife. The only true dud was The Blood Countess, a tedious German vampire comedy. Yet, one dud out of 40 films is a high success rate.
