SESSION INTRODUCTION: Tuesday July 7, 8.30pm. Join the filmmakers live in-cinema for an introduction.

Opening Night Shorts:

DAD VS. BEES (20:29, David Quach) — A 79-year-old Asian man battles a bee infestation in his garden while navigating age, language barriers, intergenerational trauma, and refugee experiences in Australia.

RIPPLES (14:31, Brian Chiu) — Ted Tsang channels childhood abuse into competitive diving for Australia, only to face a career-ending injury.

FINDING MAMA (14:59, Zeta H-D) — Docu-fiction with comedic elements: A resurrected Harold Holt investigates why Melbourne's La Mama Theatre (and independent arts) is struggling.

GASOLINE DREAMS (07:05, Guy Wilkinson) — Thirty years later, a man rediscovers the motorcycle that defined his youth.

IN THE MAKING: THE ZINE MAKER (06:52, Guy Wilkinson) — A young Melbourne creative finds identity through punk, print, and self-made zines during lockdown.

SHADOW OF HOPE (05:35, Mitchell Nielsen) — A young Burmese man in Australia stays connected to his people amid the military coup back home.

FARHANA (06:20, Claire Riverland, Monty Harper, Frank Morrison, Lachlan Covich) — Photojournalist Farhana Satu explores the love, mystery, and magic beneath Dhaka's hustle.

FEUERWERK (20:00, Timothy George Kelly) — Explosive, experimental look at Berlin's chaotic New Year's fireworks tradition across decades (award-winner at multiple festivals).

SURF SISTERS (07:02, Christian Buxton) — Lara finds community, courage, and reinvention through surfing after loss

ICED OUT OF AMERICA (19:09, Michael Nigro) — Photojournalists document masked arrests of immigrants at U.S. asylum courts.