Beloved film festival returns in new timeslot

AFTER weather-related disruptions in recent years, the Bangalow Film Festival is set to return in 2026 with a new mid-year timeslot.

Previously postponed due to Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred in 2025 and the Northern Rivers floods in 2022, the much-loved community event will now run at Bangalow A&I Hall from June 11 to 21. The revised dates will also welcome a strong lineup of special guests, including acclaimed directors Rolf de Heer and Christopher Nelius.

“I’m a bit fed up with March – the weather is too unpredictable,” festival founder and director Christian Pazzaglia said.

“The decision to move it is also to create an alignment with the Sydney Film Festival, which finishes when we start, so we can be a little bit clever and collaborate on sharing films and talent. It’s also a good way to give a bit of a boost to the region in the quieter season.”

This year’s program will feature more than 20 premieres and special events, alongside screenings of cult classics.

 

Opening night will showcase the documentary Whistle, directed by Nelius. The film follows an eccentric group of international whistlers as they converge on Hollywood to compete in the world’s premier competition of its kind, the Masters of Musical Whistling.

A special screening of de Heer’s cult classic Bad Boy Bubby will also be held, with the film’s star Nicholas Hope expected to attend.

Pazzaglia said the festival’s mission extends beyond filmmakers to support artists across disciplines. Among the standout events is Home of the Blizzard – A Film Concert for Antarctica, a multimedia performance pairing Douglas Mawson’s 1911 silent expedition film with a newly composed live score. The work will be performed by Romano Crivici, Carla Thackrah and guests, alongside the Syrinx Vocal Ensemble.

 

The festival will also mark the launch of Australia’s first award dedicated to nature documentaries – the Green Frame Nature Documentary Award – with five urgent and inspiring films from around the world competing for the prize.

Opening weekend highlights also include a special director’s cut screening of the documentary The Raftsmen, which recounts the extraordinary 1973 journey of 12 men who sailed nearly 14,000 kilometres across the Pacific Ocean from Ecuador to Australia on three wooden rafts. One of the vessels is now housed at the Ballina Maritime Museum. Brisbane-based filmmaker Chadden Hunter will also attend for a Q&A session.

The remainder of the festival program is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit bangalowfilmfestival.com.au