Sydney's Inner West Is Getting Its Own Three-Day Film Festival Filled with Classic and Brand-New Movies

If you live in Sydney and you like movies, you know what happens each June, with Sydney Film Festival unveiling its yearly cinematic treasures. The huge citywide event takes over plenty of the Harbour City's picture palaces, spreading the love around town. But at the new Inner West Film Fest, all that fun at the flicks will be focused on one area.

"Sydney's Inner West is one of Australia's most inclusive, creatively and culturally vibrant communities, home to artists, musicians, writers, actors, cineastes, and filmmakers, and host to the country's best live music venues, restaurants, bars and cinemas," said Dov Kornits, Inner West Film Fest's co-founder and director — and also a film industry veteran thanks to magazine FilmInk. "The only thing the Inner West was missing was its very own film festival."

With film lecturer Greg Dolgopolov, Kornits' new venture will run for three days from Friday, March 31–Sunday, April 2 at various Inner West spots, including a free opening night at the Marrickville Golf Club, plus sessions afterwards at Palace Cinemas Leichhardt and Dendy Cinemas Newtown.

That launch slot belongs to Sweet As, a Western Australian-made hit on international film festival circuit, which tells an outback-set coming-of-age story. Written and directed by Indigenous filmmaker Jub Clerc (The Heights), it'll enjoy its Sydney premiere at IWFF, leading a lineup filled with movies bowing in Australia for the first time — and classics.

Fans of The FP, rejoice — the apocalyptic riff on Dance Dance Revolution, and a glorious cult hit, is now up to its fourth instalment. Called FP 4EVZ, it's a big highlight of the program, and a sign of how eclectic the fest is willing to get. Other drawcards include Still Working 9 to 5, which looks back on Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin's 80s hit while surveying what has and hasn't changed for women since; a special retrospective screening of the Hugh Jackman-starring Erskineville Kings, which is set in the Inner West; and Sergio Leone's masterpiece — well, one of them — Once Upon a Time in the West.

In total, 15 features will play, including a top-secret mystery movie that you'll only find out what it is when you show up. And, the full lineup includes shorts, an Aussie movie poster exhibition, pitching sessions and filmmakers chatting about their work.

Inner West Film Fest runs from Friday, March 31–Sunday, April 2 around Sydney's Inner West — head to the festival's website for further details.