First Films 2023

Overview

When red carpets, whichever stars stroll around Cannes and Venice press conferences monopolise the headlines, it can seem like film festivals are all about the big end of town — aka the movies that'll hit a theatre near us all anyway, and the actors we all already know. That's one part of the cinema industry staple. Another far more crucial component is showcasing and highlighting new voices, and getting their impressive movies before audiences.

Surry Hills' resident Golden Age Cinema and Bar knows this, too, launching its own film fest in 2022 that's solely about debut movies. Called First Films, it's returning in 2023 for a fresh three-day run, this time between Friday, November 24–Sunday, November 26. The fest is still dedicated to new discoveries, with five titles on the bill.

First Films kicks off with the Australian premiere of Theo Montoya's Anhell69, which nabbed the Jury Prize at Outfest LA for its dive into the queer scene in Medellín. From there, the lineup includes Fox Maxy's survival-focused Gush, the Sundance-premiering Girl from Adura Onashile, Chloe Abrahams' debut The Taste of Mango, and Fernando Andrés and Tyler Rugh's Texas-set Three Headed Beast.

Each title is either an Australian or Sydney premiere — and no, you won't just see these flicks at any old picture palace.