FLICKERFEST 2026
Australia’s leading Academy Qualifying and BAFTA-recognised short film festival returns to Toowoomba for one night only at The Empire Theatre.
27/04/26
Photography: Supplied
Celebrating 35 years, Australia’s largest Short Film Festival - Flickerfest, returns to the Armitage Centre for one spectacular night, showcasing the very Best of International Shorts and Best of Australian Shorts programme highlights, all handpicked from their recent Bondi Festival’s 3,700+ entries.
The short films screened promise to be entertaining, inspiring, award-winning, and fresh from their premieres, giving Toowoomba Flickerfest audiences a window into the hottest contemporary shorts from at home and across the world today.
Saturday 16th May 5:30pm - take a trip around the world with the Best Of International Shorts programme.
Among a host of international highlights enjoying their Australian premieres is the Oscar-winning The Singers, a powerful and intimate film featuring an eclectic cast of non-actors in a moving tribute to friendship. Also the delightful Oscar-nominated A Friend of Dorothy, starring UK acting royalty Miriam Margolyes and Stephen Fry, in a heartwarming journey where friendship is found in the most unexpected places. Joining them is Indonesian film My Plastic Mother, winner of Flickerfest 2026 Best International Short Film, Radix, winner of Best International Animation, a visually striking and imaginative animated short and actress Renee Zellweger's directorial debut They, a fun film about coming together in trying times.
Saturday 16th May 8:00pm - honor our unique identity and culture with the Best of Australian Shorts.
Don't miss Return of the Champ by well known comedian Damien Power who grew up and went to school in Toowoomba, where the film was shot, this intimate docudrama follows Damien and his world famous racing car driver brother Will Power as they face a long buried rivalry and the fallout of a traumatic crash; moving drama Little Pumpkin directed by talented Queenslander Jessica Trinity Fisher; Writers In Love by QLD born and raised writer Grace Isabella Malouf & Producer Jacqueline Ann Kerwick; also features alongside the moving drama Tuesday Tuesday, which won best female director at Flickerfest 2026 and stars Peter Phelps (Stingers). Packed Away gives us the directorial debut of actress Michala Banas (Always Greener, McLeod's Daughters) who shines both on and off camera in this personal and intimate drama and actor Matt Day (Rake) writes and directs the comedy Baby Shower, starring the legendary Hugo Weaving in a dark comedy about family friendship and unexpected happenings at this familiar ritual, whilst The Suit, is a sharp and hilarious comedy featuring award winning actress Kat Stewart and much-loved comedian Colin Lane delivering big laughs with plenty of bite.
Flickerfest takes place at The Empire Theatre’s Armitage Centre on Saturday May 16, with sessions at 5:30pm and 8pm. Tickets and more information can be found via Flickerfest.
