SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL 2026

SWITCH is joining the celebrations for this year's 73rd Sydney Film Festival!

Running from the 3rd to the 14th June 2026, the festival will play host to 256 films (including 19 world premieres and 140 Australian premieres) over 12 days from 81 countries. You could not sleep for 12 straight days... or you could let us help you pick the best of the best from this year's line-up!

The SWITCH team have gathered reviews of SFF's biggest and best offerings - so peruse them before you hit the festival - and make sure you check back as we add more!

LEVITICUS

When queer love and church curses clash

While 'Leviticus' promises to deliver a creepy queer supernatural horror, it arrives hollow and passive, largely due to its shallow romantic storytelling. It does reiterate Joe Bird's remarkable talent and puts Stacy Clausen in the spotlight as an actor to watch, but even their rousing performances can't rescue a script that buckles under the weight of its own convoluted ambitions.

RODEO DREAMS

A portrait of indomitable Australian youth

The rodeo is undeniably a different lifestyle. As the sun sets over a rocky copper ridgeline in this industrial outpost of remote Queensland, 'Rodeo Dreams' leaves the audience with a new perspective on a lesser-seen part of Australia and the indomitable spirit of this country's youth.

THE INVITE

A dinner party from hell has never been this good

'The Invite' packages the best and worst of human nature in something genuinely, riotously funny - brought to life by some of the most interesting actors working today. These two unconventional couples will have you hooked - and by the end, you'll be desperate for your own invite.

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA

Blood, flesh and passion unleashed

While it's happy to take a jab at the slasher genre, 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' actually succeeds best at crafting a strong connection between its two main leads. You're in expert hands with Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder, who guide us through the changing chemistry.

COLONY

The action movie you've been dying to see

​If you take a step back and consider 'Colony' as a typical, fast-paced action movie with some zombies thrown in for good measure, you'll enjoy it. If you go into a screening with hopes for a tense, horror-thriller, you'll be left with much to desire. The zombies are scary – their movements are unnatural, and when they communicate through the hive mind, it is extremely eerie – but the lack of any fleshed-out characters means you don't really care about the outcome.

I WANT YOUR SEX

Gregg Araki is bringing comedy to the erotic genre

'I Want Your Sex' is truly a wild ride, but incredibly fun. With stellar performances from Hoffman and Wilde, it's a sexy comedy that you wouldn't want to miss, which, while making us laugh, reminds us that it's okay to fulfil that sexual desire we all have buried deep inside.

PRÊT-À-PORTER

Robert Altman's exercise in style over substance

Even if you aren't a film buff, there are worse ways to spend a few hours than watching an impressive assortment of 90s celebrities interacting with the fashion industry. An exercise in technique over substance, at the very least, 'Prêt-à-Porter' is a demonstration of the directorial prowess of Robert Altman.

HE DIED WITH A FELAFEL IN HIS HAND

Revisiting an Aussie cohabitation horror story

With 'He Died with a Felafel in his Hand' being screened in 2026, it's actually quite curious how it will be received by modern audiences - how does this cohabitation horror story play in the context of the current Australian housing crisis?

MOCKBUSTER

A behind-the-scenes look at The Asylum's first Aussie film

'Mockbuster' is the ultimate love letter to having a passion or a dream, and that it's never too late to go out and chase those dreams. It also provides a compelling look at how The Asylum operates. It's the ultimate double feature for anyone who has ever dreamed of picking up a camera and making a film.

LA BOLA NEGRA

Love in the time of the enemy

The message behind it is simple: despite the reservations and the fears we may face, our lives are short. We never know when they will come to an end. All that will be left when that happens is regret and longing. If there’s one message that ‘La Bola Negra’ tries to pass on to its audience, it’s this - don’t wait.

PAPER TIGER

By-the-numbers blue-collar crime thrills

The film can't decide what it wants to focus on, and the end result, while still watchable due to the stacked cast and a passable time waster for fans of crime drama, is full of unrealised potential and ultimately paper-thin.

SACCHARINE

A dish comprised of empty calories

'Saccharine' is sporadically enjoyable but ultimately messy and won't leave you feeling completely satisfied.