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FLiCKERFEST 2026: 35th International Short Film Festival on Tour

intouch Magazine
May 14
3 min read

Updated: May 18

A theater audience applauds as four people stand on stage in front of a large screen displaying promotional text. The mood is celebratory. — Source: Flickerfest

Celebrating 35 years in 2026, Flickerfest remains Australia’s leading Academy® Qualifying and BAFTA Recognised short film festival, ensuring that we continue to present A-list short film programmes recognised amongst the best in the world with films hand-picked from the festival’s record 3,700+ entries!

Newcastle audiences will have the chance to experience a handpicked lineup of the Best of Australian Shorts and Short Laughs Comedy, featuring bold, thought-provoking, and laugh-out-loud stories from across the globe, brought to life on the big screen. The short films screening are entertaining, inspiring, award-winning, and fresh from their premieres in competition at Flickerfest Bondi, giving Newcastle Flickerfest audiences a window into the hottest contemporary shorts from at home and across the world today. Toast to 35 years of Flickerfest between sessions with a complimentary drink included in your ticket and soak up the festival vibe while meeting the filmmakers and the festival team.

Saturday 6th June 6:30pm, honor our unique identity and culture with the Best of Australian Shorts. Don't miss three films with Newcastle connections- I’m Sorry For Your Loss by dir/wri Stephen Di Gravio who grew up in Newcastle, and attended Callaghan College, a tender reflection on family, duty, and the choices that shape us, Anna And Alfonso a heartfelt documentary celebrating the enduring bond between a young woman and her spirited dachshund by director Anna Outridge, who moved to Newcastle in her early teens and attended St Philips Christian College, and the tender and moving Nothing And The Sun starring Newcastle’s own rising star Nicholas Davies.

Joining them are the moving drama Tuesday Tuesday, which won best female director at Flickerfest 2026 and stars Peter Phelps (Stingers) Whilst Packed Away gives us the directorial debut of actress Michala Banas (Always Greener, Mcleod's Daughters) who shines both on and off camera in this personal and intimate drama and actor Matt Day (Rake) writes and directs the comedy Baby Shower, starring the legendary Hugo Weaving in a dark comedy about family friendship and unexpected happenings at this familiar ritual, whilst The Suit, is a sharp and hilarious comedy featuring award winning actress Kat Stewart and much-loved comedian Colin Lane delivering big laughs with plenty of bite.

Saturday 6th June 9:00pm, Flickerfest will be rolling in with our Short Laughs Comedy programme, a riotous collection of off-kilter Flickerfest shorts from Australia and around the world. Don’t miss Laterz winner of Best Comedy Short at Flickerfest 2026, which will take you on a wild and hilarious ride with 3 misguided rappers; Carcassonne-Acapulco, where a chance encounter at 30,000 feet sparks a surprisingly profound and funny existential debate, delightful French comedy Bowl Cut, where a summer haircut gone awry prompts seven year old Suzie to take matters into her own hands; Odd Socks starring Sandi Toksvig (Qi), that follows a maverick detective investigating a sock-monster murder in a world where humans and sock-monsters coexist; and recent Oscar winner, the moving, powerful and fun The Singers, starring an eclectic cast of non-actors in a moving tribute to friendship and much more.

WHAT: Flickerfest 2026 - Best of Australian Shorts, Short Laughs Comedy

WHERE: Civic Theatre, Newcastle

PRICE: $25/ $22con Both Sessions: $42 /$37con

WHEN: Saturday 6th June 6:30 & 9:00pm

TICKETS & INFO: https://flickerfest.com.au/tour/newcastle/

MEDIA INTERVIEWS & INFORMATION:

Flickerfest Office: 0455 037 441

Bronwyn Kidd, Flickerfest Festival Director director@flickerfest.com.au

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