by FilmInk Staff
First-look preview of Paramount Picture’s The Running Man with special in-conversation with director Edgar Wright on Monday 13th October
Sophie Hyde to speak at Screen Breakfast networking event on Tuesday 14th October
South by Southwest Sydney® (SXSW Sydney) has unveiled three last-minute additions to its 2025 Screen program, with Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim, Baby Driver), Noah Centineo (To All the Boys franchise, Black Adam) and Sophie Hyde (Jimpa, Animals) confirmed for the Festival line-up.
SXSW Sydney audiences are in for a treat as Paramount Pictures prepares to debut the first footage from Edgar Wright’s adaptation of the dystopian action thriller The Running Man, followed by a live in-conversation moderated by Nash Edgerton with Wright beaming in remotely. Based on the novel by Stephen King, the film is set in a near-future society where The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.
The film’s all-star cast also includes William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson and Colman Domingo. The Running Man will release in cinemas November 13, 2025.
Hollywood actor / producer Noah Centineo (To All the Boys franchise, Black Adam, Warfare) will walk the carpet at the Australian premiere of black comedy Our Hero, Balthazar on Tuesday, October 14 at Palace Central Cinemas.
Produced by Noah Centineo’s Arkhum Productions, Our Hero, Balthazar will make its Australian premiere on Tuesday, October 14. The audacious coming-of-age debut by Oscar Boyson, follows a wealthy New York City teen named Balthazar “Balthy” Malone (Jaeden Martell), who makes dramatic social media videos pleading for stricter gun laws. He’s not particularly earnest about the cause; it’s a play to get attention, especially from a classmate who’s a passionate activist. When Balthy meets an online troll (Asa Butterfield) who says he’s planning a school shooting, he decides to go to Texas and talk him out of it. But when the teens meet — both infected by the plagues of violence and the attention economy — neither can anticipate how their interaction will ultimately combust. Centineo will be in attendance on behalf of his production company and also has a supporting role in the film.
Praised as a compelling addition to the conversation about America’s gun culture, the film presents a deeply uncomfortable exploration of adolescent identity, online performance and the dangers of self-righteousness on both sides of the political spectrum. A bold, thought-provoking film that challenges preconceptions while remaining tender at its core.
One of Australia’s most exciting filmmakers, Sophie Hyde (Jimpa, Animals), will join the Industry line-up appearing at the festival’s popular Screen Breakfast networking event on Tuesday 14th October for an unmissable hour to discuss her celebrated work and approaches to filmmaking. Hyde’s features include her most recent Sundance-premiering Jimpa starring Oscar winner Olivia Colman and Oscar nominee John Lithgow, as well as Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, Animals and 52 Tuesdays.
The SXSW Sydney Screen Festival runs October 13-19, 2025, across venues including Dendy Newtown, Ritz Cinemas, Palace Cinemas and, for the first time, the Seymour Centre. To view the full SXSW Sydney Screen Festival program or to secure Passes, Wristbands and Rush Tickets, visit sxswsydney.com.
