Star power and stirring stories at Byron Bay International Film Festival

STALWART actors such as Jack Thompson joined rising stars on the red carpet for the opening of the Byron Bay International Film Festival last weekend.

Among the guests at the gala screening of Birthright at Palace Byron Bay were former The Voice contestant and Home and Away star Mia Morrissey — daughter of talent agents Peter and Lizzy Morrissey — and Logie-winning actress Mia Vidler, best known for her role in 800 Words.

Produced by Byron local Cody Greenwood, Birthright explores generational inequality and the divide between baby boomers and millennials. The film follows jobless Cory and his pregnant wife Jasmine as they move back in with his parents after being evicted from their rental property.

“It was just really fabulous,” festival director J’aimee Skippon-Volke said. “It was everything I wanted from a film as far as sparking debate and people really taking sides with the characters. There were roars of laughter, which is really fantastic. Having the cast there just added a really great element of excitement in the crowd.”

Following the screening, guests continued the celebrations with karaoke at Japanese eatery Tokyo Doll, before an unofficial “after after” party at Paradiso Music Room.

One of the major accolades of the festival went to emerging filmmaker Tadji Urlich, who was named the 2025 Young Australian Filmmaker of the Year for his short film The Wake — a poignant story about two brothers on their annual camping trip, which impressed judges with its assured direction and emotional depth.

Due to the popularity of some titles, several encore screenings have been scheduled for the festival’s final weekend. These include Beyond the Break, a documentary about Lennox Head parasurfing champion Joel Taylor, and Birthright, which will feature a Q&A session with producer Cody Greenwood.

Also returning is Comparsa, a documentary about two sisters in a Guatemalan barrio who use vibrant street performances to protest gender violence and systemic corruption. It will screen at Brunswick Picture House, followed by a women’s safety panel featuring Greens candidate for Richmond and activist Mandy Nolan, Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye and domestic violence campaigner Simone O’Brien.

Other highlights of the final weekend include poetic science documentary Heart Revolution and Champions of the Golden Valley, an award-winning film that captures the rise of a homegrown ski culture in the snow-capped mountains of Afghanistan.

Short films made in the Northern Rivers will take centre stage at Through the Local Lens, screening at Brunswick Picture House on Sunday afternoon.

For more information and tickets, visit bbff.com.au