THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE CURIOUS

Unexpected stories waiting to be discovered.

BUY NOW

AN UNRIVALLED SCREEN PROGRAM

Watch the future unfold on screen.

The SXSW Sydney Screen offering unites film professionals and creatives from across the globe, spotlighting exceptional talent from across the Asia-Pacific region.

The program features an extensive array of seminars, workshops, commentary sessions, and mentorships, designed to provide deep insights into the screen industry’s creative process.

Come enjoy a curated showcase of feature films, shorts, TV premieres, music videos, and XR experiences. Embracing the democratisation of screen storytelling, this event celebrates the moving image and its innovative future.

Key Dates

SXSW Sydney
October 13-19

What To Expect

Professional Development

The inaugural SXSW Sydney’s screen mentorship program features one-on-one events, classroom sessions, and lectures, aimed at giving emerging and mid-career filmmakers access to some of the world’s best practitioners. From directing to stunt work, composition to marketing, you’ll develop practical skills and get invaluable advice and gain insight.

Networking

Propel your career forward through workshops, seminars, and events—including live director commentary, expert-led workshops, AMA sessions, meetups and pitch opportunities. Join key industry members to celebrate shared passions, and collectively drive innovation collectively. And back by popular demand, SXSW Sydney’s daily Screen Breakfasts.

industry focused conference sessions

Hear directly from acclaimed local and international filmmaking talent, including Camera d’Or winner and celebrated director, Warwick Thornton; Award-winning composer and musician Jed Kurzel; LuckyChap Entertainment’s Josey McNamara and Mark Andrews, director of Brave.

screen showcase

This year’s Screen Showcase doubles down on both genre filmmaking and short film programming to better showcase the exceptional talent emerging from APAC and beyond. Every evening, film headliner sessions will be featured in the Darling Harbour theatre every evening, offering a sneak peek at upcoming mainstream releases.

live commentary

There’s no better way to learn about filmmaking than watching a screening with live commentary. Esteemed professionals like Warwick Thornton (The New Boy, Samson and Delilah), Jed Kurzel (Monkey Man, The Babadook) and more will dissect film details, and creative processes,  share anecdotes about their own experiences. The result is a behind-the-scenes experience you need to witness to fully appreciate.

industry connections

The most significant support we can offer emerging screen creatives is to ensure their content reaches key markets. This new program brings in top talent from international acquisitions, development marketing and sales sectors to elevate our local industry’s exposure and foster unexpected career and project opportunities. 

Short Film Competition

Making its debut in 2024, we're proud to introduce the Short Film Competition and Games Jam! This initiative aims to unite highly skilled filmmakers and developers, fostering connections between the industries and presenting fresh ideas, new technology use and combined industry talents. Key details and themes will be announced in early September, providing creatives with one month to be part of this inaugural event.

2025 Lineup

Discover The Full Lineup

Hear from filmmakers and of all kinds at the top of their game, sharing ideas and expertise to propel their industry forward.

A Week in the Life of Asocial Giraffe
Quail Button (USA)
ABYSS X ZERO
Studio Pixel Punk (BRA)
ANGEL
ANTD Interactive (AUS)
Aimee Smith
Voice Actor
Allison Rojas
VFX Producer, Alt.vfx
Am I Nima
HO! Games (CAN)
Amy McNickle
Director, Sigmond Studios
Anna Zou
Lead Developer, Lemon Jolly Games
Arctic Awakening
GoldFire Studios (USA)
Bryce Szandro
Head of Studio, Paragon Interactive
Burger Bois
Mischief Makers Studio (NZL)
Ceri Hutton
Management Consultant
Chris Davey
Founder / Director, Target Light
Cosmic Race
Psypher Interactive (IND)
Cow Chess
Lablab (AUS)
Crescent Country
Electric Saint (GBR)
Cuauhtemoc Moreno
CTO, Sound Scouts
Daniel Teitelbaum
Director, Playful Thinking
Danny O'Dwyer
Founder, Noclip
Dean Walshe
3D Art Lead, Technical Artist, Blue Manchu
Demon Tides
Fabraz (USA, CHE, DEU)
DuneCrawl
Alientrap (CAN)
Emerson Phillips
Founder / CEO, Tetra Studios
Everything is Crab
Odd Dreams Digital (SWE, POL, CHL, CAN)
From The Top
Junk Fall 33 (AUS)
Game is Full of Bugs
Voxel Studios (SVN)
Headlice
Bunguin Games Limited (NZL)
Hell Clock
Rogue Snail (BRA)
Is This Seat Taken?
Poti Poti Studio (ESP, BEL)
James Marshall
Managing Director, The International Games Group
John Aitchison
Principal Animator, Gameloft
Jon Cartwright
Consultant, GameConsulting.com.au
Kabuto Park
Doot Tiny Games (FRA)
Leigh Harris
Lead Designer, Uppercut Games
Liz Ballantyne
Studio Art Director, Gameloft
Lucy Mutimer
Illustrator & Game Developer
Luke Ledwich
Staff Engineer, Riot Games
MINDWAVE
HoloHammer (USA)
Mark Saba
Co-Founder, Pixel Pastures
Marty Burgess
CEO / Co-Founder, Lightning Forge Games
Mashina
Talha & Jack Co (GBR)
Matt Schenkel
Director, Sub-Zero Sound
Matthew Heales
Games Industry Consultant, Matthew Heales Consulting
Memoirium
GoldenGratus (PHL)
Michela Ledwidge
Director, MOD
Mixtape
Beethoven & Dinosaur (AUS)
Night Plane
Liquid Static Studio (NZL)
Nullstar: Solus
Smash Attack Studios (AUS)
PRŠÍ
Herdek(CZE)
Pro Jank Footy
Powerbomb Games (AUS)
Psychotic Bathtub
natsha (CHE)
Pull Stay
Nito Souji (JPN)
Puni the Florist
Earthquack Games (THA)
Rachel Heleva
Game Scout / Producer, Spiral Up and Strange Scaffold
Rachel Kowert
Founder, Psychgeist
Ralph Panebianco
Content Creator, Skill Up Productions
Rhiannen Austin
Host, Confessions of a Gamer Girl
Richard Salter
Director, Hojo Studio
Robo Frenzy
YummyYummyTummy (IDN, USA)
Roots Devour
GCORES PUBLISHING (CHN)
Rose Hammer
Art Directer / Head of Marketing, Tempo Lab Games
Ryan Sim
Tech Audio Supervisor, Warner Brothers Discovery
Samurai Unicorn
Its Got Stealth (AUS, USA)
Serge Zebian
Partner, Playwright Consulting
Shape Sender Deluxe
Dead Teapot (NZL)
Stef Stivala
Digital Producer / Creative Technologist, RDMR.wtf
Super Farming Boy
LemonChill (ARG, IRL)
The Bench
Voxel Studios (ITA)
The Eternal Life of Goldman
Weappy Studio (CYP)
Trash Heart
Francis Vace (AUS)
Troublemaker 2: Beyond Dream
Gamecom Team (IDN)
Truckful
MythicOwl (POL)
Vicky Wei
Head of Finance, Akupara Games

Previous Highlights

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