Tamworth cinema lovers are in for a treat this August when the Travelling Film Festival returns to Forum 6 Cinemas from 29 to 31 August, bringing with it some of the most celebrated films from around the world.
Presented by Sydney Film Festival, the Travelling Film Festival (TFF) showcases highlights from its recent record-breaking June program, offering regional audiences a curated lineup of international and Australian films. This year’s program features winners from Cannes, Sundance, Berlin, and the Sydney Film Festival, as well as the best of emerging Australian cinema.
“Going for more than 50 years, the Travelling Film Festival is going as strong as ever, as we even expand to two new destinations in 2025,” said TFF Manager Beatrix Brady.
“The TFF is about community – and not just the unbeatable shared experience within the cinema, but also connecting audiences to stories from around the world rooted in deep empathy and connection.
“This is a chance for people to be transported, inspired, maybe even challenged a little bit – but also gloriously entertained.”
Opening the Tamworth program is DJ Ahmet, winner of the Sundance Audience Award. The uplifting drama tells the story of a North Macedonian teen who finds joy and identity through music, offering a fresh take on coming-of-age storytelling that has already delighted festival audiences worldwide.
Other feel-good highlights include The Ballad of Wallis Island, starring Carey Mulligan in a quirky musical comedy about a folk duo forced into an unexpected reunion, and Racewalkers, a sports comedy that claimed the Slamdance Grand Jury Prize.
One of the most anticipated screenings is It Was Just an Accident, winner of both the Palme d’Or at Cannes and Best Film at the Sydney Film Festival. Directed by Jafar Panahi, the gripping Iranian drama blends road movie tension with a powerful moral narrative about trauma, justice, and forgiveness.
Audiences will also be among the first in Australia to see The Love That Remains, a uniquely Icelandic family story filled with humour and heart, and The President’s Cake, a touching adventure from Iraq that won the Camera d’Or at Cannes.
The Australian slate features prominently this year. Floodland, a deeply personal environmental documentary filmed over three years in flood-ravaged Lismore, offers an intimate look at climate disaster and community resilience. The Golden Spurtle brings laughter and charm with its tale of the annual World Porridge Making Championship in a small Scottish village, captured by Australian director Constantine Costi.
Also screening is the Spanish drama Deaf, an affecting exploration of parenthood and communication in an inter-abled relationship, as well as a collection of short films by up-and-coming Australian filmmakers. The shorts include Baggage, a stop-motion animation exploring emotional weight through humour, With Love, Lottie, a heartwarming story about disability and dating, and Bringing His Spirit Home, which follows a Gomeroi man’s journey from our region to France to honour his great-uncle’s memory.
With a mix of comedy, drama, documentary, and animation, the program offers something for every taste. Audiences can enjoy individual sessions or take advantage of a Flexipass or Full Subscription, which offer savings of up to 30 percent for those keen to take in the full weekend of screenings.
Tickets for the Tamworth event are already on sale, and organisers are encouraging locals to secure their seats early, given the high demand following this year’s Sydney Film Festival.
The Travelling Film Festival is supported by Screen Australia, Screen NSW, and GIO. Tickets and the full Tamworth program are available online at www.sff.org.au/tff.
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