New Wave of Films Added to Sydney Film Festival 2026 Lineup
A final wave of eight new films has been added to the Sydney Film Festival 2026 lineup, set to launch on 3 June. These films are all direct from the Cannes Film Festival, with many having won top prizes.
‘With 28 films now direct from Cannes, this is one of the strongest international lineups we’ve ever presented,’ said Nashen Moodley, SFF Festival Director, in a press release. ‘These eight new additions bring some of the most talked-about titles from Cannes straight to Sydney audiences, and we can’t wait to share them.’
Sydney Film Festival 2026 Lineup Expands – Quick Links
The Sydney Film Festival 2026 will run from 3 to 14 June. Here are all the new films recently added to the lineup, with tickets available now:
Coward (dir. Lukas Dhont) – An ambitious, moving queer romance following two soldiers during World War I. Stars Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne won dual Best Actor Awards for their performance in this film.
La Bola Negra (dir. Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi) – A stirring, decades-spanning exploration of queer desire in Spain. This film won Calvo and Ambrossi the Best Director prize. It stars Penélope Cruz, Glenn Close, and Julio Torres.
Tangles (dir. Leah Nelson) – A beautifully-animated adaptation of Sarah Leavitt’s tender graphic memoir, exploring the lived realities of Alzheimer’s disease. This film stars the voices of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Abbi Jacobson and Bryan Cranston.
Red Rocks (dir. Bruno Dumont) – A strikingly stripped-back, seaside tale of kinder-aged rivalry running wild in the French Riviera.
Jim Queen (dir. Nicolas Athane and Marco Nguyen) – A hilariously camp animated musical romp in which Parisian gay gym-queen-supreme Jim contracts a virus that will turn him and others straight.
All of a Sudden (dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi) – A film starring Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto as two women who form a life-altering friendship. Efira and Okamoto won dual Best Actress Awards for their performance in this film.
The Match (dir. Juan Cabral) – The legendary 1986 FIFA World Cup game between Argentina and England – featuring Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal – is the centre of this thrilling, joyous documentary.
Congo Boy (dir. Rafiki Fariala) – An enthralling, autobiographical drama following a Congolese teen chasing his music dreams while juggling family pressure, exams and political unrest. Lead actor Bradley Fioma Dembeasset won a Best Actor Award for his performance.
These newly-announced films join a strong lineup of 250+ films screening in Sydney from Cannes, Sundance, and within Australia. You can check out the full list on the SFF website.
Additional Highlights from the Sydney Film Festival 2026
The full line-up for Sydney Film Festival 2026 has been revealed, with a host of international and local debut features, classic screenings and documentaries joining the showcase. The festival runs from 3 to 14 June at cinemas across Sydney. This year’s program also includes curated selections exploring the world of fashion, environmental issues, disability on screen, the power of music, women’s voices, the value of Indigenous representation, and more.
‘Art and cinema help us make sense of the world, take us into the lives of people far away from us, and remind us to remain vigilant about our own rights and freedoms,’ said Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley. ‘And we can’t forget, they’re also an enormous source of joy.’
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