The highly popular Byron Bay International Film Festival returns this year from Friday 17 – Sunday 26 October at various cinema venues across the region.

From boundary-pushing documentarys to standout shorts and dramatic features, the festival showcases global cinema with local heart. Many sessions include Q&A’s where everyone can be part of the conversation.

This year two significant Indigenous films will be screening: Journey Home, David Gulpilil and Yurlu/Country. Both works are deeply moving celebrations of culture, Country and connection. Journey Home, David Gulpilil traces the late David Gulpilil’s final wish to be laid to rest on his homeland, while Yurlu/Country offers an intimate portrait of an Elder’s final year, working to preserve language and heal Country.

The festival will also present a powerful line-up of environmental films that highlight our deep connection to the natural world and the urgent challenges of climate change.

From the extraordinary journey of Satish Bhaskar in Turtle Walker and the poetic reflections of Fool’s Paradise (Lost?), to Lewis Pugh’s record-breaking Antarctic swim in Frozen Waters and the fight for sea country in Malu Lag,  these films embody the spirit of this year’s love film theme.