Screen creatives of all stripes will gather for the inaugural SXSW Sydney® Screen Festival this October as a collection of compelling and next generation screen content from across the Asia-Pacific region is highlighted at the renowned festival.
The SXSW 2023 Sydney Screen Festival will spotlight the best of the region, showcasing an extensive collection of screen content, bringing the global creative community to Sydney to deliver an experience at the forefront of discovery, creativity and innovation.
From red carpet premieres, including Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles, features, shots, series, music videos to an XR showcase, the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival has it all, accessible with a SXSW Sydney Screen Festival wristband.
The SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen Festival wristband is your chance to catch unlimited screenings over six days and seven nights.
Discover your new favourite show, witness the best films before anyone else and immerse yourself in groundbreaking XR experiences. Don’t miss out on the Early Bird pricing of just $240. Wristbands will be available for purchase starting Friday 25 August at SXSWSydney.com.
An Australian Amazon Original documentary, Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles will premiere as part of the line-up of the first ever SXSW Sydney Screen Festival. Special appearances by The Wiggles, including Q&A sessions and performances will support the global premiere.
The film is the improbable story of The Wiggles, four friends who record a one-off album of children’s music in the early ‘90s and changed the global music industry forever. Recognisable by their blue, red, yellow and purple skivvies, Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Greg Page and Jeff Fatt became an unlikely music phenomenon equipped with early childhood teaching fundamentals and a dose of self-belief. Surmounting numerous rejections from industry producers, The Wiggles took their career into their own hands and became the most successful children’s act of all time.
Directed by Emmy® Award-nominated director, Sally Aitken, Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles is a backstage pass to one of the world’s greatest entertainment stories and features decades of personal archive and intimate access to their sell-out shows. It’s the story of a life of music, friendship, joy and the enduring power of the child in all of us. Produced by SAM Content, Augusto, and Frog Productions for Amazon Studios.
Accessible with a SXSW Sydney 2023 wristband, along with other red carpet premieres at the ICC’s Darling Theatre and cinemas across inner Sydney, the documentary will have its world premiere at the Screen Festival before it launches on Prime Video globally in more than 240 countries and territories.
What you need to know.
Wristbands: Secure your passage to the ultimate Screen experience with a SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen Festival wristband that gives you access to all of the screen events around Sydney, including red carpet premieres at the ICC’s Darling Theatre and cinemas across the inner city and an XR showcase.
Wristbands Vs Badges: The difference between badges and wristbands? Platinum and Screen badges include, in addition to the Screen Festival access mentioned above, access to conference keynotes and panels, industry showcases, workshops, parties, launches, networking events, mentoring sessions and ‘Minimart’, a SXSW Sydney-flavoured Screen market for investors, buyers, producers, creatives and industry; a casual way to cut deals. Wristbands grant access to all the Screen Festival events. More info here.
First Nations Screen Festival: A special First Nations Screen Festival with programming by Pauline Clague, founder of Winda Film Festival, will form part of the SXSW Sydney 2023 Screen Festival. Further programming to be announced.
XR Showcase: Encompassing cutting edge technology, this is a celebration of VR, AR, Mixed Reality, SR, immersive experience and interactive AI all waiting to be experienced at the ICC.
Venues: The ICC’s Darling Theatre, Palace Cinemas Central and more to be announced.
The Seven Network has joined SXSW Sydney to host its 2024 Upfronts during the festival, including live crosses during the event, alongside Amazon Prime Video hosting an activation.
Recently announced a slate of films screening at SXSW Sydney this October, aligning with the broader event’s themes of Music, Games Tech & Innovation includes:
- Anita (US), about Rolling Stones Muse Anita Pallenberg
- Cypher (US), a fictional pseudo- music documentary about the artist Tierra Whack
- Gagaland (CN) A rags-to-riches, boy-meets-girl story, set against a viral Chinese dance craze flooding streets and social media feeds.
- Jamojaya (US), Indonesian rap star Brian Imanuel (Rich Brian) stars as an up-and-coming musician.
- Knit’s Island (FR) ‘DayZ’ is survivalist fiction in the form a videogame. Knit’s Island documents some of the 963 hours the directors spent in there in an at times unsettling blurring of the real and the virtual.
- Plastic (JP), teenagers Juna and Ibuki set out to find the psychedelic rock band Exne Kedy.
- The Last Year of Darkness (US/CN) Bass-heavy and neon-coloured portrait of alternative Chinese youth.
- Tokyo Uber Blues (JP), an in-debt graduate Film Student turns to Uber driving to make ends meet.
- You’ll Never Find Me (AU) A lonely mobile home resident has an unexpected visitor on the night of a relentless thunderstorm.
SXSW Sydney Key Dates
15-22 Oct: SXSW Sydney
15-21 Oct: SXSW Sydney Screen Festival
15-21 Oct: XR Showcase
16-19 Oct: industry networking events and parties
16-21 Oct: Conference
Pricing
Screen Wristband Early Bird Pricing: $240
