Celebrating 35 years of championing the world’s best short films, Flickerfest returns to Queensland this March through September bringing The Cream of Short Films to audiences across the Gold Coast, Nambour, Brisbane, Hervey Bay, Noosa, Toowoomba and Cairns.
Fresh from its Oscar®-qualifying Bondi festival, Flickerfest’s touring programme showcases standout shorts handpicked from over 3,700 entries from across Australia and around the world. Among this year’s highlights is the Oscar winner for Best Live Action Short Film – 'The Singers' starring Brisbane's own Judah Kelly (winner of 'The Voice' 2017) – offering Queensland audiences the chance to see some of the world’s most celebrated short films on the big screen.
Adding to the excitement for local audiences, many of the films in the selection are created by Queensland-based or born and raised filmmakers, showcasing the incredible strength of the state’s emerging screen talent and offering a rare opportunity to see homegrown storytelling fresh from Flickerfest Bondi, alongside internationally acclaimed works.
Festival Director Bronwyn Kidd has selected seven stand-out films not to miss from this year’s Queensland touring programme. From emotionally-charged dramas and laugh-out-loud comedies to daring works of artistic expression, these shorts demonstrate the incredible power of cinema in its most concentrated form.
Each film offers a unique window into new worlds, alternative perspectives and deeply human stories – all delivered in just a matter of minutes.
'Flame'
One
'Flame' (Best Of Australian Shorts). 'Flame' is a striking and thought-provoking film about art, expression and the ways creativity can challenge the people closest to us. When an artist stages a deeply personal performance piece, her work becomes an urgent attempt to reach someone who may not yet understand what she is trying to say. Directed by award-winning Brisbane-based filmmaker Katrina Channells, and winner of Best Original Music at Flickerfest 2026 for QLD composer Louis Frere-Harvey, the film explores the uncomfortable but transformative power of art. As Channells explains, “Powerful artwork transcends explanation. It surprises me. It can be beautiful, absurd, bold and even annoying. As an audience member, you're not always going to feel comfortable.” At its heart, 'Flame' is about connection. Channells describes the central performance as “an act of love. . . A desperate desire to get someone to see things differently.” What unfolds is a moving exploration of how art can disrupt, provoke and ultimately transform both artist and audience.
'Writers In Love'
Two
'Writers In Love' (Best Of Australian Shorts). Sharp, witty and quietly philosophical, 'Writers In Love' explores what happens when romance collides with the ethics of storytelling. The comedy follows two writers whose budding relationship takes an unexpected turn when they realise they have very different views on how far artists should go when drawing inspiration from real life. As their creative boundaries clash, the line between storytelling and manipulation becomes increasingly blurred. Director Sarah Giles, one of Australia’s most celebrated theatre makers, uses humour to explore these questions. “The subject of ethics in the arts is one we revisit often,” she says, “but the discussions around it are usually dry or overly dramatic. What’s often missing is humour.” Written by Grace Isabella Malouf and produced by Jacqueline Ann Kerwick, both who grew up in Brisbane. What begins as a playful encounter between two writers soon evolves into something deeper, inviting audiences to question their own assumptions. As Giles puts it, the film ultimately asks viewers to “sit with uncertainty and explore the grey areas between absolutes.”
'Return Of The Champ'
Three
'Return Of The Champ' (Best Of Australian Shorts screening in Toowoomba). In this intimate and deeply personal drama, shot in Toowoomba filmmaker and comedian Damien John Power turns the camera toward his own family in the town where he grew up. 'Return Of The Champ' follows real-life brothers Will Power – a world champion racing driver and the only Australian to win the Indie 500 – and Damien himself, a stand-up comedian, as they confront tensions that have lingered for years. When memories of a traumatic crash resurface, the brothers are forced to face the complicated emotions they’ve long avoided. The film is unique in that there are no actors – everyone plays themselves. For Power, that authenticity was crucial. “This film is very personal to me,” he explains. “It delves into my relationship with my brother, my family and some of my brother's darkest moments in motorsport.” The result is a raw and compelling exploration of masculinity, rivalry and the difficult conversations families sometimes struggle to have.
'The Singers'
Four
'The Singers' (Best Of International Shorts). Inspired by a 19th-century short story by Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, 'The Singers' transforms a seemingly ordinary pub into the setting for an extraordinary moment of connection. When a group of downtrodden men gather for drinks, an impromptu sing-off begins, revealing unexpected vulnerability and artistry among the unlikely performers. Directed by Sam Davis, the film has already generated significant international buzz including winning the 2026 Academy Award® for Best Live Action Short Film. Davis, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker known for his documentary work, assembled a cast of real singers discovered online, including Brisbane's own Judah Kelly, winner of the voice 2017 who was cast through his videos online. “We curated a cast of viral video singing sensations from TikTok and YouTube,” Davis explains. “Then we locked ourselves in a seedy bar with not much more than an outline.” The result is a fascinating hybrid of documentary and fiction that explores the complexities of masculinity and the emotional power of music. As Davis notes, “Boys are often taught to hold it all in. . . With this film I wanted to explore vulnerability and connection through art.”
'Laterz'
Five
'Laterz' (Best Of Australian Shorts). Set over one chaotic afternoon in suburbia, Laterz follows an aspiring rapper determined to get her track played on the radio and secure the clout she believes will change everything. Directed by Chelsea Ingram, who grew up on the Sunshine Coast and went to Buderim Mountain State School, winner of Best Australian Comedy at Flickerfest 2026, 'Laterz' captures the restless, unpredictable energy of youth. As the day spirals into increasingly surreal situations, dreams of success begin to collide with the realities of growing up. For Ingram, the story has deeply personal roots. “'Laterz' began as a way to bring back the version of my sister I remembered before she was changed by addiction,” she explains. Blending humour with emotional honesty, the film captures that moment in life when everything feels just out of reach – yet full of possibility.
'Mooncake'
Six
'Mooncake' (Best Of Australian Shorts). Funny, heartfelt and emotionally explosive, 'Mooncake' unfolds over a single Moon Festival celebration that quickly spirals from festive tradition into emotional upheaval. Directed by Brisbane-based filmmakers Amanda Kaye and Shih-Yin Judy Yeh, the short film follows Lydia, a reserved Chinese-Australian cellist carrying a secret she’s terrified to reveal. When her father returns home from working overseas for the family’s annual Moon Festival gathering, Lydia’s girlfriend urges her to finally tell the truth – but fear of rejection leaves her paralysed. Balancing sharp humour with genuine emotional depth, 'Mooncake' explores the complexities of cultural identity, intergenerational expectations and the courage it takes to live authentically. In the hands of Queensland filmmakers Kaye and Yeh, the film transforms a single family dinner into a poignant, and often hilarious, portrait of what happens when honesty finally breaks through the surface.
'Friend Of Dorothy'
Seven
'Friend Of Dorothy' (Best Of International Shorts). A touching and uplifting festival favourite, 'Friend Of Dorothy' is a moving British short written and directed by Lee Knight, starring the incomparable Miriam Margolyes, alongside Stephen Fry and rising talent Alistair Nwachukwu. Margolyes plays Dorothy, an 87-year-old widow living an increasingly solitary life. When a football lands in her garden, it sparks an unexpected friendship with her teenage neighbour JJ, an aspiring actor who dreams of performing on the stage. As the two bond over their shared love of theatre, Dorothy becomes an unlikely mentor, encouraging JJ to believe in himself and pursue his ambitions. Knight has described the film as being inspired by a real friendship in his own life, noting that it explores how “you never know when you might meet someone and change their life simply by seeing them.” Warm, humorous and deeply compassionate, 'Friend Of Dorothy' has earned global acclaim, including a nomination for Best Live Action Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards®.
Together, these seven films highlight the remarkable range of storytelling that defines Flickerfest each year – from globally celebrated cinema to bold new voices emerging from Australia. With five of the featured films created by Queensland filmmakers, audiences have a rare opportunity to experience the strength of the state’s screen talent alongside internationally acclaimed works, including this year’s Oscar®-nominated shorts.
To see what's screening where across the Flickerfest Queensland tour, head to the website.
Flickerfest 2026 Queensland Tour Dates
25-26 March – Nambour Cinema
26 March – HOTA Gold Coast
9 April – Palace James Street (Brisbane)
18 April – Bigscreen Cinemas (Hervey Bay)
23 April – The J (Noosa)
16 May – Empire Theatre (Toowoomba)
