by FilmInk Staff
Fantastic Film Festival Australia (FFFA) returns in 2025 to push the boundaries of cinema, presenting a bold and audacious program screening from 24 April – 16 May in Sydney and Melbourne. Showcasing fearless, provocative storytelling, FFFA invites audiences on a wild ride through mind-bending narratives, cult classics, and the most daring visions in contemporary cinema.
“This year we have a panoramic line-up of 27 films, including 17 feature film premieres and 10 iconic classics, plus 19 short films, spread across three weeks of pure cinematic pandemonium,” said Artistic Director Hudson Sowada. “FFFA is a celebration of vibrant, boundary-pushing cinema, spotlighting unrestrained and wholly original voices from around the globe. It’s an invitation to take a ride on the wild side, discover cult classics in the making, and join our community of likeminded cinematic explorers.”
Kicking off the festival with a blood-soaked bang is Hell of a Summer, an outrageously fun throwback to classic summer camp slasher films. Co-directed by Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things, It) and Billy Bryk (Ghostbusters: Afterlife), this meta-horror gem blends old-school frights with sharp comedic wit, setting the perfect tone for a festival dedicated to genre-defying cinema. Opening night celebrations include a DJ, drinks, and a thrilling night of cinematic carnage.
FFFA 2025 closes with a cinematic explosion—the legendary John Woo action masterpiece Hard Boiled. To elevate this already electrifying experience, Melbourne jazz outfit The Rookies will perform a live improvisational score in both cities, fusing high-energy gun-fu with a pulsating jazz soundtrack for an unmissable festival finale. At Ritz Cinemas, the film will be presented in glorious 35mm.
This year, FFFA continues its tradition of unique screenings and immersive experiences. The festival’s infamous nude screening returns, this time featuring Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, where attendees are invited to strip down and revel in the outrageous antics of one of cinema’s most beloved spy comedies. Meanwhile, a retrospective of Lynne Ramsay’s filmography will be a major highlight, featuring Ratcatcher, Morvern Callar, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and You Were Never Really Here, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience her uncompromising cinematic vision on the big screen.
FFFA proudly showcases the next wave of visionary Australian filmmakers with four striking new local films premiering at the festival. A Grand Mockery is a hypnotic descent into madness, shot on Super 8 and dripping with feverish intensity. Pure Scum presents a raw and unfiltered exploration of toxic masculinity and privilege within Melbourne’s private school culture. Salt Along the Tongue is a haunting, genre-blending meditation on grief, food, and family. Sword of Silence, a mystical monochrome epic shot entirely under the full moon, stands as a cinematic experiment unlike anything seen before. Q&A sessions with filmmakers will provide an in-depth look into the creative minds behind these films.
FFFA 2025 also promises a slate of wildly unpredictable and provocative features. Spermageddon, the most controversial film of the festival, is a Norwegian animated musical-comedy exploring sex, reproduction, and absurdity with jaw-dropping irreverence. Escape from the 21st Century takes audiences on a time-jumping, neon-soaked sci-fi spectacle that fuses Scott Pilgrim-style hyper-kinetic action with the unpredictability of Everything Everywhere All at Once. At Umbrella-Palooza, delve into the horrors of technology with a Digital Nightmares Triple Feature co-presented with Umbrella Entertainment. The triple bill includes Cypher, Hardware, and Pulse back-to-back in an electrifying cinematic marathon.
Restored classics also feature prominently throughout the festival. Summerfield, one of Australia’s most underrated psychological thrillers, receives its long-overdue restoration, reclaiming its place as a defining work in Australian cinema.
The Second Act, the opening night film at Cannes, sees Quentin Dupieux unleash his signature absurdist comedic stylings, breaking the fourth wall with biting satire, self-referential chaos, and an all-star French cast that includes Léa Seydoux, Louis Garrel and Vincent Lindon.
FFFA continues to champion bold storytelling in short-form cinema with the Melbourne Shorts and Sydney Shorts programs, showcasing Australia’s most exciting emerging talents in genre and experimental filmmaking. These sessions provide a platform for new voices pushing the limits of narrative and visual expression.
FFFA 2025 is a celebration the fearless, the fantastic, and the unexpected. Tickets are on sale now at www.fantasticfilmfestival.com.au.
2025 Fantastic Film Festival Australia
Melbourne: Lido Cinemas (April 24 – May 15), Thornbury Picture House (April 29 – May 5)
Sydney: Ritz Cinemas (April 24 – May 16)
