The London Australian Film Festival returns with a taste of the latest and greatest cinema that Australia has to offer, including five UK premieres, a special 25th anniversary screening, and the awarding of the Cris Jones Debut Director Prize.
Join us for a weekend of special events as we screen at one of London’s newest miniplexes at Finsbury Park Picturehouse, return to the art deco splendour of the London Australian Film Society’s regular home at The Garden Cinema, and hop across Covent Garden to one of London’s premier venues, Picturehouse Central. This year marks our fifth film festival, and forms a key part of the London Australian Film Society’s 50th anniversary year.
The 2023 London Australian Film Festival opens at Finsbury Park Picturehouse on Thursday September 21, with an OPENING GALA screening of the UK premiere of LIMBO (2023), a gritty outback noir from Ivan Sen (MYSTERY ROAD, GOLDSTONE), starring Simon Baker (BREATH, DEVIL WEARS PRADA, THE MENTALIST).
On Friday September 22 check out the UK premiere of a future cult classic, the utterly deranged, high camp comic thriller, SLANT (James Vinson, 2022) at The Garden Cinema.
Over the weekend of September 23-24, LAFF moves to Picturehouse Central. Saturday September 23 kicks off with the UK theatrical premiere of recent box office hit (and highest grossing Australian documentary of all time), JOHN FARNHAM: FINDING THE VOICE (Poppy Stockell, 2023), which traces the decline and phoenix-like rise of one of Australia’s most enduring music icons. Also featured is the UK premiere of beguiling arthouse thriller, PETROL (Alena Lodkina, 2022), and a very special 25th anniversary screening (and rare cinematic outing) for the tense, suburban psychodrama of THE BOYS (Rowan Woods, 1998), starring David Wenham (ELVIS, LORD OF THE RINGS, TOP OF THE LAKE) and Toni Collette (MURIEL’S WEDDING, KNIVES OUT, HEREDITARY).
The final day of LAFF2023, Sunday September 24, is dedicated to emerging filmmakers, starting with the UK premiere of the brilliant portmanteau drama HERE OUT WEST (2021), which brings together emerging writers and established directors to craft an intricate, engaging portrait of intersecting lives in Sydney’s vibrant western suburbs. Meanwhile, we continue our long-standing relationship with AUSTRALIAN SHORT FILM TODAY, as we present their latest programme, highlighting some of the best short films to come out of Australia over the last 18 months.
The festival’s CLOSING GALA takes place on Sunday September 24 at Picturehouse Central, as we continue our tradition of presenting the work of debut feature filmmakers, with the awarding of the newly-named Cris Jones Debut Director Prize for writer-director Jub Clerc’s remarkable, life-affirming drama, SWEET AS (2022). Across the festival, we’ll also be screening student and graduate short films from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, who are also celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2023. Australian snacks and sweets will be on sale throughout the festival, and our infamous raffles will be drawn before every film.
LONDON AUSTRALIAN FILM FESTIVAL
2023 PROGRAMME: AT A GLANCE
THURSDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
7:30pm – Finsbury Park Picturehouse
Opening Gala: Limbo (Ivan Sen, 2023) [UK premiere]
Booking link: https://www.picturehouses.com/movie-details/031/HO00013524/laff-2023-limbo
FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER
8pm – The Garden Cinema
Slant (James Vinson, 2022) [UK premiere]
Booking Link: https://www.thegardencinema.co.uk/film/london-australian-film-festival-presents-slant/
SATURDAY 23 SEPTEMBER
2pm – Picturehouse Central
John Farnham: Finding The Voice (Poppy Stockell, 2023)
[UK theatrical premiere]
Booking Link:
https://www.picturehouses.com/movie-details/000/HO00013548/laff-2023-john-farnham-finding-the-voice/0000000135
5pm – Picturehouse Central
Petrol (Alena Lodkina, 2022) [UK premiere]
Booking Link: https://www.picturehouses.com/movie-details/000/HO00013540/laff-2023-petrol/0000000135?cinema=0
8pm – Picturehouse Central
The Boys (Rowan Woods, 1998)
[25th Anniversary Screening]
Booking Link: https://www.picturehouses.com/movie-details/000/HO00013547/laff-2023-the-boys/0000000135?cinema=0
SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER
2pm – Picturehouse Central
Here Out West (Fadia Abboud, Lucy Gaffy, Julie Kalceff,
Ana Kokkinos & Leah Purcell, 2021) [UK premiere]
Booking Link: https://www.picturehouses.com/movie-details/000/HO00013541/laff-2023-here-out-west/0000000135?cinema=0
5pm – Picturehouse Central
Australian Short Film Today [UK premiere]
Booking Link:
https://www.picturehouses.com/movie-details/000/HO00013542/laff-2023-australian-short-film-today/0000000135
7:30pm – Picturehouse Central
Closing Gala: Sweet As (Jub Clerc, 2022)
[Cris Jones Debut Director Prize]
Booking Link: https://www.picturehouses.com/movie-details/000/HO00013538/laff-2023-sweet-as/0000000135?cinema=0
The London Australian Film Festival is presented by the London Australian Film Society (LAFS), which offers London film audiences a wonderful selection of the most exciting Australian feature films for their enjoyment throughout the year. In 2023, LAFS is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Speaking about this year’s festival, LAFS/LAFF Director Laila Dickson, says “It’s always a thrill to announce a new festival programme – and this year is super special being the London Australian Film Society’s 50th anniversary. Our passion for getting new Australian films on London screens and supporting rising talent knows no bounds – it makes us exceedingly proud and we can’t wait to share the joy with all of you. Come along, try an Aussie snack or two and sit back and marvel at the breadth of Australian film talent.”
LAFF Co-Programmer, Stephen Morgan, added: “We are really proud of this year’s London Australian Film Festival programme, which not only opens and closes with new films by Indigenous directors, but demonstrates the diversity of Australian screen culture, both on screen and behind the scenes. There really is something for everybody in this year’s programme, and we can’t wait to share it with our wonderful audiences, both old and new.”
The London Australian Film Society is run by a passionate group of volunteers whose love of Australian film, extraordinary talents and expertise make this one of London’s most relaxed and enjoyable film festival experiences. A delicious selection of classic Australian snacks and lollies (sweets) will be on sale at each screening to help create an Australian city break in the heart of London.
