Media release: Birrarangga Film Festival breaks records with 2025 edition

Artwork by Oumoula Mackenzie

The 2025 Birrarangga Film Festival (BFF) has cemented its place as Australia's premier First Nations-led film festival, delivering its most successful edition to date. With ticket sales tripling since its last event, BFF has set a new benchmark for film festivals nationwide, showcasing a powerful and diverse lineup of Indigenous storytelling from around the world.
 

Over six days, BFF presented 150 films across 11 venues in Naarm (Melbourne)—a significant expansion from 90 films and six venues in 2023. The festival also welcomed 20 international guests, more than doubling its previous record. For those unable to attend in person, heartfelt video introductions, from Ava DuVernay for the Gala event, opening night Director Katja Gauriloff and Leonard Peltier underscored their gratitude for BFF's commitment to Indigenous cinema.

Unforgettable Screenings & Cultural Moments

One of the festival's most powerful moments came at the sold-out screening of Free Leonard Peltier, co-presented by BFF and the Melbourne International Film Festival with Producer Jhane Myers (Prey - Alien Predator) and Holly Cook Macarro (Instrumental in Leonard's freedom and appearing in film) in attendance for Q & A. Following the film, the audience was treated to a surprise video message from Peltier himself, recorded especially for BFF after his historic pardon—a momentous occasion that necessitated a re-edit of the film prior to its Sundance and BFF southern Hemisphere premiere.Z
 

BFF's Centrepiece Gala Event featured a screening of Ava DuVernay's Origin, the powerful adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson's book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. The night was elevated by special video message from Ava and then a breathtaking live performance from Stan Walker, who sang I Am, the film's closing song. He was then joined by Indigenous rapper Nooky, and Cousin Walter Stewart for a performance of a new electrifying song on the Waitangi Treaty, never performed in public before.
 

But the evening's biggest surprise came during the post-screening Q&A, when BFF Artistic Director Tony Briggs abruptly exited the stage, leaving Walker—and the audience—momentarily stunned. What at first seemed like an awkward pause quickly transformed into an awe-inspiring cultural experience, as a group of Māori performers delivered a powerful haka. Walker's bewilderment turned to reverence as he took in the unexpected tribute which has now gone viral on social media, with over 1.5M views. See his reaction here.

A Festival of Firsts

BFF 2025 also marked the Southern Hemisphere debut of Árran 360 2.0, an immersive 360-degree film project from the International Sámi Film Institute and NANT Studios. Across two sold-out sessions at Docklands, the festival screened 11 original 360-degree films by leading Sámi filmmakers from across Sápmi, including five new films from Árran 2.0. Project Manager Maria Utsi and directors Marja Helander and Liselotte Wajstedt hosted a Q&A, engaging audiences in the cutting-edge future of Indigenous cinema.

Closing night film Tinā with Director Miki Magasiva and lead actress Anapela Polataivao in attendance for a Q & A followed by an incredible Samoan Choir, sold out across three cinemas in two days, resulting in BFF's most-attended screening to date - with over 800+ attendees at the one screening. The post-screening Q&A and performance were live-streamed into the other two cinemas. Tinā is currently the highest grossing NZ film at the box office this year and No. 8 of all time.

BFF also delivered a completely immersive festival experience, featuring thoughtfully curated cultural performances, world, Southern Hemisphere, Australian and state premieres, and a packed masterclass by acclaimed filmmaker Ivan Sen. One of Australia's most influential Indigenous storytellers, Sen captivated a diverse audience of emerging and established creatives, including many of BFF's international guests. His masterclass, supported by VicScreen, was a rare and invaluable opportunity for First Nations filmmakers to connect and learn from a visionary in the field.

BIRRARANGGA FILM FESTIVAL 2025: BY THE NUMBERS

• 38 feature films, including:
  • Opening Night: Je'Vida first film ever made in Finnish Sámi Skolt language at Capitol Theatre
  • Centrepiece Gala Event: Origin, with a live performance by Stan Walker at Capitol Theatre
  • Free Leonard Peltier - First Co-presentation with MIFF
  • Closing Night: Tinā, a Samoan film with a Samoan choir performance after the film at ACMI, and live streamed into two large Cinemas at KINO.
• 120+ short films 
• 11 immersive 360-degree short films at NANT Studios in Docklands
• 8 curated short film packages featuring Indigenous Curators from across the globe
• Over 20 international filmmaker guests
• 2  panel discussions / in-conversations and 8 Q & A's
• 1 VicScreen-sponsored masterclass with Ivan Sen, plus a networking event exclusively for Indigenous filmmakers
• 1 television series (Telling Our Story), screened across two sessions
• 11 venues across Melbourne
• 4 live musical performances
• 43 Australian premieres
• 9 Southern Hemisphere premieres
• 7 Victorian premieres
• 9 world premieres (2 features & 7 shorts)

With record-breaking success, unparalleled global representation, and extraordinary cultural moments, BFF 2025 has redefined what an Indigenous film festival can be - both in Australia and around the world.
 

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Erin Jameson  |  erin(at)jamesonandco(dot)com  |  +61 419 323 663