Sydney Bicycle Film Festival

Overview

I don’t want to start with a lame joke about how this film festival will be wheely good. Nor do I want to talk about how there are so many good films to choose from that you might find yourself in a fixie. I guess it’s just that, with so many bike puns to choose from, you might tyre of it.

OK, enough. This year’s Bicycle Film Festival means a jam-packed five-day season with six film programs, a Joyride art show and even a street party. 

The first of the programs on Friday 13 November will screen Where Are You Go, a feature length film for which directors Benny Zenga & Brian Vernor spent four months on the Tour D’Afrique, the world’s longest bicycle race, and Made in Queens, a ten-minute short documentary about a group of Trinidadian cyclists in Queens. The second program of the evening will show eleven bike-themed short films from the USA, France and Italy.

Saturday 14 November begins with a street party and ends with an after party. In between that, you can catch thirteen more short films and the feature-length I Love My Bicycle: The Story of FBM Bikes. The film, directed by Joe Stakun, tracks the rise of bike company FBM (Fat Bald Men), begun by Steve Crandall in the 90s as a reaction to the commercialisation of BMX.

Switzerland, Canada and Spain get a look in on Sunday 15 November, with two short films about cyclists versus nature (Virtuous Chapter 10 and -40°C) and the feature-length 7 Deserts, in which Spanish cyclist Sergi Fernandez literally crosses seven deserts on a solo trip. Later that evening, those who missed Made in Queens and Where Are You Go have the chance to catch up on their viewing.

The international BFF comes but once a year, so don’t miss your chance to see some of the best bike-centric films from around the globe — if you think you can handle it.

Ticket prices for this event vary, season passes are available.