FROM LANDS AFAR TO LARRAKIA COUNTRY
Cinephiles rejoice, as award-winning films screened at the biggest film festivals in the world screen at the 17th Darwin International Film Festival (DIFF), with some very exciting local inclusions.
WORDS TIERNEY WHITE
IMAGE GEORGIA POLITIS
IF YOU'RE A cinema lover or movie maker, September always brings with it a true highlight on the NT arts and culture calendar. DIFF2026 is here.
Across 11 huge days and nights at Deckchair Cinema, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), and VMAX and Goyder Square in Palmerston, 30 countries are represented across 24 feature films and 70 shorts, including an impressive number of NT flicks (nine, to be exact!).
Curated under the direction of Festival Manager Erin Lucas, the DIFF committee has worked thoughtfully to create a program where local audiences are exposed to international films, with experiences within our own multi-cultural community.
“We open with a fantastic Indonesian film, we've got an Australian/ New Zealand/Papua New Guinea documentary, and an amazing Filipino community engagement event – there's a lot of opportunity to connect with our diverse cultural groups here in Darwin, and make it an international affair,” Lucas says.
Some of the featured international film festival flicks include Elephants in the Fog, Jim Queen, Yellow Letters, All of a Sudden, Minotaur, Everybody to Kenmure Street, Blue Heron, and more – all winners of major awards around the world.
Indonesian film Levitating (Para Perasuk) is programmed for opening night, with director Wregas Bhanuteja in town for the occasion, one of six international guests making the trek to Larrakia Country for the Festival, the most in attendance to date.
Another exciting inclusion is Spanish/French film, La Bola Negra, winner of the Best Director Award at Cannes, and the Audience Award for Best International Feature at Sydney Film Festival.
“La Bola Negra is an example of international film at its most powerful. Bold, beautiful, and deeply human, it reminds us why stories of love, loss, and resilience must be seen on the big screen,” Lucas says.
We also see the return of DIFF2DIFF: ASEAN edition, a lovely partnership between DIFF and the Dili International Film Festival that recognises our close international neighbours and showcases the best short films from the Asean region. Young film fans are considered, too, with a sweet kids’ program from the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
But DIFF isn’t just about screening award-winning films from the big international film festivals. It’s about giving local filmmakers the chance to share their cinematic creations with audiences, with a couple of world premieres and the return of the SPARK NT Short Film Initiative.
“We have two NT film world premieres this year. The first one is About The Soufflé – a film made by young director Jacob Hazeldine. It's his debut feature film … a story about young people in Darwin, based on real experiences in Darwin, and made by people from Darwin," Lucas says.
“It's a really strong debut, really beautifully shot. Jacob is definitely a filmmaking talent to watch, and we want to be part of that story – with its world premiere, here at the Deckchair – we can say we’ve been there from the beginning. That's going to be very special."
Having his debut feature film screened at DIFF, let alone at the Deckie, is something the young filmmaker is pinching himself about.
“I felt elation. It was the culmination of three years’ hard work, and it was a positive culmination. Yeah, it was affirming. It was a good feeling. [Deckchair Cinema] is a world-class venue – it's one of the best cinemas in the world,” Hazeldine says.
“And it's funny, because when we set out in pre-production, I remember talking to the cinematographer, we were talking about the aspect ratio, and one of the deciding factors for us in selecting the aspect ratio that we did, was that it's the same aspect ratio as the screen at the Deckchair, and we were kind of like, ‘what if? Imagine, you know, imagine!’. So, it's a real full circle moment.”
A legend of the NT film industry and multi-award-winning filmmaker also features, with the world premiere of his new film, Chasing Chaos.
“It's a documentary by Andrew Hyde, a prolific Darwin filmmaker. We're premiering that on the opening weekend, in the newly upgraded cinema at MAGNT, so it's just a really big first weekend, really, with strong NT content,” Lucas says.
Opportunities continue for local creatives, with the aforementioned SPARK - NT Short Film Initiative – which historically sells out, by the way! – four industry workshops, and the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) Awards. Huge.
For the punters, you’re nothing short of treated this month, with everything already mentioned plus free family-friendly screenings across two weekends at DIFF in Palmerston and the Indigenous Shorts program showcasing First Nations storytelling from across Australia. And each night at Deckchair, you can tuck into delish fare from local food vendors and enjoy live music from an entourage of local musicians.
If you really want to make the most of it, grab a FLEXIPASS for 10 screenings that can be kept for yourself or shared with your mates. You can even use them all on the same screening, if you like. What a shout.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, film lover, or in it for the food, music, and to keep that festival vibe rolling, DIFF is the place to be, listen, see, and feel.
Darwin International Film Festival
WHEN THU 10 – SUN 20 SEP
COST FREE-$23 | $150 FLEXIPASS
INFO diff.net.au
SPECIAL EVENTS
BUS STOP FILMS TAKEOVER
Bus Stop Films is an award-winning, disability-led Australian social enterprise that champions inclusive filmmaking. Join the team for a hands-on workshop, (see Industry Workshops further down) catch a powerful showcase of Bus Stop Films-produced shorts, and don’t miss the NT premiere of their gorgeous new feature, Boss Cat.
Bus Stop Films Shorts
THU 17 SEP, 2PM | MAGNT | $11-$51
Boss Cat
THU 17 SEP, 7PM | MAGNT | $11-$51
DIFF2DIFF: ASEAN edition
Continuing the lovely partnership from 2025, this showcase of seven shorts is curated by Lena Lenzen, Director of the Dili International Film Festival, to celebrate the best short films from the ASEAN region. With special guests from Timor-Leste, Abrao de Carvalho Nobre, Ana Agostinha Boavida, and Megalichandra Silva.
SAT 19 SEP | 7PM
MAGNT
$11-$23
Industry Workshops
MAGNT | FREE
DIFF is over the moon to host four free industry workshops at MAGNT, with two local filmmakers presenting events following the screening of their films, plus two workshops with visiting filmmakers from interstate. These workshops are for filmmakers at all stages on their journey, whether you’re a curious film lover or a seasoned filmmaker, these are great opportunities to learn and connect.
Solo Doco
The role of the shooter/director in modern documentary and factual production, presented by Andrew Hyde.
MON 14 SEP | 11AM
Making Something Out of Nothing
This workshop, hosted by Jacob Hazeldine, focuses on the approach and techniques used on his feature film About the Soufflé, shot in Darwin for $1500. Come along as he takes you from the film’s inception, through pre-production and shooting, to post-production and release.
TUE 15 SEP | 11AM
The Perfect Short Film in a Day
What does it actually take to make a short film in 24 hours, and make it good? This session pulls back the curtain on the fast, high-pressure world of one-day shoots, featuring a candid conversation with Dianna La Grassa and Mikey Hamer from Bus Stop Films who've done it, mistakes and all.
THU 17 SEP | 11AM
Approaches to Independent Filmmaking
This one-day workshop takes a practical look at independent filmmaking models in contemporary Australian cinema. Led by Kalu Oji, participants will work through exercises in writing, direction and distribution, building skills they can put into practice immediately.
FRI 18 SEP | 11AM
Cannes comes to darwin
Fresh from the prestigious international Cannes Film Festival, a selection of films screen at the iconic Deckie. With great food and live music each night by the seaside, each screening offers a unique international experience, right here on Larrakia Country.
Elephants in the Fog
Winner of the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes, this masterfully visual debut blends mystery and social insight into an unforgettable cinematic experience. Set within a rarely portrayed Nepalese third-gender Kinnar community, respected matriarch Pirati is forced to choose between the future she longs for and the people who depend on her when a young woman disappears.
SAT 12 SEP | 7PM
MUSIC: ADAM SCRIVEN
FOOD: YOGI'S WAY
Jim Queen
When Paris's most celebrated gay influencer is struck by a mysterious virus that begins turning queer men straight, his glamorous world is thrown into hilarious chaos. This wildly inventive animated feature is packed with razor-sharp satire, outrageous comedy and genuine heart, delivering a joyous celebration of queer identity. A standout from the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, Jim Queen received nominations for both the Caméra d'Or and the Queer Palm.
SAT 12 SEP | 9.20PM
All of a Sudden
From acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi comes a deeply moving meditation on compassion, friendship, and what it means to care for one another. Set between France and Japan, two women from very different worlds form an extraordinary bond that reshapes their lives. Premiering at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival where its two leads shared the Best Actress prize, this expansive and humane drama is rich with empathy, wisdom and emotional grace.
MON 14 SEP | 7PM
MUSIC: KIM KOOLE
FOOD: SALTWATER @ BUNDILLA
Minotaur
As war and personal betrayal converge, a successful businessman watches his carefully constructed world unravel with devastating consequences. Returning after almost a decade, master filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev delivers a powerful portrait of moral collapse, using one man's disintegration and the 14 sacrifices of the ancient Minotaur myth to reflect the fractures of a nation. Winner of the Grand Prix at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and the 2026 Sydney Film Prize.
TUE 15 SEP | 7PM
MUSIC: MIA GROSSER
FOOD: THREE MUM'S KITCHEN
La Bola Negra
Spanning three generations of queer lives across modern Spanish history, La Bola Negra is a sumptuous drama inspired by the unfinished work of Federico García Lorca. Filmmakers Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi weave together stories of love, loss and resilience, brought vividly to life by an outstanding cast. Winner of the Best Director Award at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and the Audience Award for Best International Feature at the Sydney Film Festival.
SUN 20 SEP | 7PM
MUSIC: SHE'S WITH ME
FOOD: YOGI’S WAY
