The 73rd Sydney Film Festival took place from 3 to 14 June 2026. Its closing ceremony celebrated filmmaking across the official competition, documentaries, First Nations cinema and Australian short films. Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Minotaur received the Sydney Film Prize, while the audience awards reflected more than 24,900 votes across Australian and international features and documentaries.
Beyond the film awards, writer and director Fadia Abboud received the 2026 Sydney-UNESCO City of Film Award, recognising her contribution as a New South Wales screen practitioner.
Sydney Film Prize
Andrey Zvyagintsev
Sustainable Future Award
Awarded jointly to directors Matasila Freshwater and Lachlan McLeod.
Documentary Australia Award
Vee Shi
First Nations Award
Banchi Hanuse
GIO Audience Award — Best Australian Feature
GIO Audience Award — Best Australian Feature — Runner-up
GIO Audience Award — Best Australian Documentary
GIO Audience Award — Best Australian Documentary — Runner-up
GIO Audience Award — Best International Feature
No Video Available Javier Calvo, Javier Ambrossi
La bola negraExplores what it means to be gay throughout different eras, focusing on "three…GIO Audience Award — Best International Feature — Runner-up
GIO Audience Award — Best International Documentary
GIO Audience Award — Best International Documentary — Runner-up
Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director
Cristabel Sved
Dendy Live Action Short Award
Yoram Gross Animation Award
No Video Available Judith Pungarta Inkamala and 2 co-directors
Our Choir Has Always Been TravellingAn animated short follows the Ntaria Choir’s travels and the legacy of its music across…Event Cinemas Rising Talent Award for Screenwriting
Awarded jointly to Eloise Lindebäck, Judith Pungarta Inkamala, Marjorie Nungarrayi Williams, Anita Mbitjana Ratara, Kunmanara Donald, Betty Conway and Lizzie Topsy Topora Jako.
No Video Available Judith Pungarta Inkamala and 2 co-directors
Our Choir Has Always Been TravellingAn animated short follows the Ntaria Choir’s travels and the legacy of its music across…AFTRS Craft Award for Best Practitioner
Awarded jointly to production designers Angelina Kovacs and Sophie Ravanat.
