The full program for Sydney Film Festival 2026 has been revealed, including a strong line-up of new documentaries. The festival runs from 3 to 14 June at cinemas across Sydney.Â
There are Australian-led documentaries that chart life in regional towns, the fight for women’s voices to be heard, and the dreams of bull riders competing in the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo.
This year’s Sydney Film Festival also presents international documentaries exploring grieving and loss, the aspirations of musicians, and the complex fight to save lives in regions of conflict.
Here are the major documentary highlights from Sydney Film Festival 2026.
Sydney Film Festival 2026 highlights – quick links
Silenced
Director: Selina Miles
Country: Australia, United Kingdom
‘In this eye-opening documentary, courtroom footage and behind-the-headlines interviews reveal how the legal system is being used to victimise, discredit and financially ruin survivors, and journalists reporting on their stories. From Amber Heard at London’s Law Courts to journalist Catalina Ruiz-Navarro in Colombia, and Brittany Higgins’ experience in our own backyard, women globally face a new kind of silencing at the hands of perpetrators of sexual violence.
‘It’s a legal backlash Australian Jennifer Robinson is committed to fighting, inspired by her courageous grandmother who was also a survivor. With unrivalled access, director Selina Miles challenges the flaws in the justice system that make this silencing possible, while simultaneously revealing the personal cost to those who speak up.’
Once Upon a Time in Harlem
Director: David Greaves, William Greaves
Country: United States
‘Long-unseen footage from a party in 1972 of the surviving legends of the Harlem Renaissance, a
transformative flowering of Black art and culture in 1920s New York, gathered at Duke Ellington’s
Harlem home for four hours of debate, drink and reflection on their cultural revolution. Based on over 60,000 feet of 16mm footage that Greaves considered his most important work but was unable to finish before his death in 2014.’
The Valley
Director: Ian Darling
Country: Australia
‘Kangaroo Valley takes centre stage in this documentary, offering year-long portraits of one of Australia’s most beloved rural communities – where farmers, bakers, firies and artists reveal the character of the place and the people who call it home.’
Crocodile
Director: Pietra Brettkelly
Country: New Zealand, Nigeria
‘Follows the remarkable 13-year evolution of The Critics, a young Nigerian art collective, as they transform from DIY internet sensations into sophisticated filmmakers while navigating personal hardship and the complexities of growing up in Kaduna, Nigeria (also known as Crocodile City).’
Rodeo Dreams
Director: Rhian Skirving, W.A.M. (Bill) Bleakley
Country: Australia
‘Considered one of the most dangerous sports on Earth, bull riding is eight seconds of fast and furious tension – with the chance of a prize – preceded by months of determined graft. It’s a risky sport for youthful dreamers like Peter Jnr, living in remote Doomadgee with his ex-bull rider father; tenacious Camicka, hustling on a feedlot; Mount Isa local favourite Donovan; and talented larrikin Darcy. Filmed over three years, this engrossing documentary captures the grit and determination of the four Queenslanders, with their stories accompanied by a soulful score from Sam Teskey (Teskey Brothers).’
TheyDream
Director: William David Caballero
Country: United States
‘In this deeply moving documentary, queer director William D Caballero returns home to be with his mother as they navigate the loss of their family members. Together, they draw on family audio and video, and step into the roles of their relatives – reimagined through vivid animation. This simple yet cathartic act soon transforms their lives.’
Replica
Director: Chouwa Liang
Country: Australia, France, China
‘Follows three young Chinese women who desperately turn to AI in search of the love missing in their lives, shining a harsh light on the loneliness of modern day China. The film explores the intimate mechanisms of AI relationships, including personalised virtual partners and real-world roleplay services that mirror emotional intimacy and companionship.’
The History of Concrete
Director: John Wilson
Country: United States
‘After attending a workshop on how to write and sell commercial Hallmark movies, filmmaker John Wilson attempts to apply that same formula to create a feature-length documentary about the history of concrete. The film uses concrete as a lens to examine affordable housing, New York’s crumbling infrastructure and urban change, alongside comedic detours including a 3100-mile race around a single block in Queens and a junior bricklaying competition.’
American Doctor
Director: Poh Si Teng
Country: United States, Malaysia, Qatar, Denmark
‘Follows three American physicians – Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian – who risk their lives to volunteer at Gaza’s Nasser Medical Complex, only to find themselves caught between their medical duties and the political battle to expose the truth back home in the United States.’
