First Films

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First Films

First Films, is a film festival dedicated to introducing Sydney to new daring debut films and significant retrospective debuts.

First Films aims to challenge, inspire, and entertain. Now celebrating its 4th edition, 5–9 Nov 2025, Golden Age Cinema & Bar

09/05/2026

Sydney Cinémathèque presents Second Sight: New Film Restorations at The Art Gallery Of NSW and is perfect for fans of First Films, as this series showcases singular works by filmmakers who made only one feature!

Starting today, check out the full epic program below! See you on May 23rd for Alma’s Rainbow, directed by Ayoka Chenzira and will be introduced by Miski Omar, and their film Button Pusher is playing too. Info on Alma’s Rainbow and link to tickets and full program below -

With its lush colour palette and stunning production design, Ayoka Chenzira’s long-overlooked debut is a vibrant, intergenerational celebration of Black womanhood. ‘A gorgeous clarion call … heralding the community, creativity and confidence that is the pride of our culture’ – filmmaker Ava DuVernay

https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/events/cinema-second-sight/

07/05/2026

Sydney Film Festival announced their program yesterday and it’s beyond epic!

Amazing to see so many debut features in the lineup, including the exceptional BARBARA FOREVER, which picked up the Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award at Sundance Film Festival and the coveted TEDDY AWARD for Best Documentary at this year’s Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival.

Directed by Brydie O’Connor, the documentary celebrates the iconic and pioneering le***an avant-garde filmmaker Barbara Hammer.

And after seeing the documentary, it’s the perfect chance to dive deeper into Hammer’s extraordinary body of work, with a retrospective program of 19 films, curated by the brilliant Lisa Rose, titled Barbara Hammer: Radical Visibility.

Tickets for all screenings below. Spread the word and see you there for this very special retrospective and new documentary at Sydney Film Festival!

https://www.sff.org.au/program/strands/barbara-hammer-radical-visibilty/

01/05/2026

Cinema Reborn starts tonight at the Ritz Cinemas until 10 May and Lido Cinemas from 8 - 17 May, see you there tonight!!!!!

Awesome to see a good few debut features in the program, including from Michael Mann, THIEF, staring James Caan! Find more on THIEF and link to full program below!

‘Michael Mann … is one of the most inspired stylists in American cinema today, but it was all there from the start. In Thief, his first feature, you have echoes of [Jean-Pierre] Melville … a sharp eye for realism, but also profound human characters with precisely drawn relationships, and great acting.’ – Olivier Assayas

Full program -

https://cinemareborn.com.au/

21/04/2026

Big up to BUFF - Brunswick Underground Film Festival on a beyond epic program! First Films is pumped to be co-presenting their screening of the 4k restoration of the unmissable Pink Narcissus, a hit last year at First Films!

Check out the fab poster from the UK, designed by the one and only Sam Ashby.

Find below a link to the full program, info on the film and big thanks to Felix Hubble for having us co-present.

Restored in April 2025, the film follows a pouting s*x worker (Bobby Kendall) through otherworldly pictures of pleasure, opposite streetcast extras and lascivious lighting. Like the Ancient Greek myth of its title, Bidgood’s q***r kitsch masterpiece holds a mirror up to male beauty, and loves what it sees.

Full program below -

https://buff.film/film/

15/04/2026

Sydney Film Festival today announced an epic series of films, SARTORIAL: FASHION ON FILM! Big up to Jessica Moraza for the awesome curation!

One of the films in the series is FRENCH GIRLS, a debut feature, directed by Hyun Lee and will have it World Premiere at the festival and we cannot wait to check it out! Find out more about the film and the full program below -

A young woman enters the uniquely absurd world of modelling in this Sydney microbudget marvel.

Check out the full program here -

https://www.sff.org.au/program/strands/sartorial-fashion-on-film/

02/04/2026

Sydney Film Festival has announced its first 13 films and it is looking epic! We are pumped to see the debut film Filipiñana as part of the first announcement, after hearing great things following its screenings at Sundance Film Festival and the Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival.

Directed by Rafael Manuel, Richard Brody of The New Yorker wrote, “A great film can be recognised from its first shot, and that’s how it is with Filipiñana, which I knew absolutely nothing about in advance and which grabbed me from the very beginning, announcing itself as a masterwork.”

Check out the full list of 13 films below and see you at the festival, June 3 to 14!

https://www.sff.org.au/program/

22/03/2026

Africa Film Fest Australia closes in Naarm/Melbourne with the debut feature everyone is talking about, My Father’s Shadow, a multi-award winner directed by Akinola Davies Jr.

Get your tickets fast, the Opening Night screening of The Fisherman, and Fanon are already SOLD OUT, and My Father's Shadow is selling fast!

We’re also excited to share the official Nigerian theatrical release poster for My Father’s Shadow.

27–29 March at Cinema Nova

Tickets + info: https://africafilmfest.au/

12/03/2026

TWO WEEKS TODAY, Africa Film Fest Australia opens in Naarm/Melbourne, screening at Cinema Nova, 27–29 March with a debut feature!!!! The opening film is a hilarious film from Ghana, THE FISHERMAN, directed by Zoey Martinson and an award winner at the Venice Film Festival. Please spread the word and let’s make this first edition a massive success! Tickets and info here https://africafilmfest.au/

05/03/2026

Aussie Brats, the day has come, THE MOMENT is now in cinemas across Australia!

The electrifying feature debut from Aidan Zamiri, following the one and only Charli XCX, is a must-see on the big screen!

Thanks to Maslow Entertainment for bringing the film to Australian cinemas.

21/02/2026

We’re pumped to see this epic looking debut, A Useful Ghost, screening on Tuesday, 24 February at Q***r Screen - Mardi Gras Film Festival, at Event Cinemas George Street. Even better, actor Wisarut Homhuan will be in attendance for a Q&A! Directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke and winner of the Grand Prix at Semaine de la Critique - Cannes 2025, this one’s selling fast, don’t miss out. Book now and see you there!

https://q***rscreen.org.au/sessions/a-useful-ghost/

06/02/2026

Antenna Documentary Film Festival is on now! SEEDS Documentary is co-presented with First Films and screens tomorrow 8th Feb Dendy Newtown and Wed 11th Feb The Ritz. Don't miss this Sundance Film Festival award winning debut on the big-screen, directed by Brittany Shyne. Tickets and info below https://antennafestival.org/films/seeds/

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Sydney, NSW

Website

https://www.ourgoldenage.com.au/film-series/first-films-2025

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