SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL 2019

The 2019 Sydney Film Festival is packed with 307 films from over 55 countries including 33 world premieres, 112 feature films and 79 documentaries. Running from the 5th to 16th June, it's sure to keep film lovers busy with its massive program.

The SWITCH team have done some of the hard work and checked out the best of this year's offerings. Take a look through our reviews below, and check back regularly as we add more throughout the festival.

For more information and to buy tickets, head to www.sff.org.au.

SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL 2019

This year's line-up announced

It's hard to believe it's less than a month until it kicks off - and this year, there's highly-anticipated Australian films, along with a big-name international offerings and intriguing documentaries.

HIGH LIFE

A hypnotic and abhorrent sci-fi triumph

Despite the deep space setting of the film, it is an inherently human experience. It will be unpalatable for some, an instant classic for others - but the brutality and power of this film is undeniable.

PIRANHAS

Boys will be boys

Although these boys are on the cusp of manhood, the film still feels like you're watching kids fighting in the sandpit, only someone has given them firearms.

HER SMELL

She's off the deep end, watch as she dives in

The supporting cast performances, like their characters, are overshadowed by the larger-than-life Becky, a tornado of hysteria and booze, brought to life with a performance that reeks of excellence.

YULI

Dancing on a knife's edge

This biography of Carlos Acosta is a stylishly shot and well-cast film, but it's not without its faults. Wonderful performances can't save the poor pacing and a confusing narrative structure.

IN FABRIC

The best worst film ever?

Filled with oodles of style, colour and imagination, there is a wonderful retro feel with nostalgic and a mysterious spookiness for those so inclined.

HERE COMES HELL

High society British horror

Director Jack McHenry makes the most out of his black and white film’s old-fashioned style, but the actors' over-the-top line delivery is often funnier than the lines themselves.

THE WIND

A paranoid Western nightmare

Horror Westerns are incredibly hard to accomplish, and director Emma Tammi’s boldness and imagination makes ‘The Wind’ a spooky breath of fresh air.

THE WEDDING GUEST

Cancelled due to boredom

It isn’t the worst thriller of all time, it’s just dull and uninspiring. If you need to be reminded of Dev Patel’s talents then it's fine, otherwise you might want to attend a different wedding.

APOLLO 11

A transcendent journey to the Moon

This feels more like a time-travelling thriller and less like a conventional documentary. We're not so much hearing what happened in the past as seeing it happen before our eyes.

SCHOOL'S OUT

The children know too much

If you like being slightly uncomfortable for an entire film, 'School's Out' is for you - but maybe leave the kids at home.

ONLY YOU

A romantic film that's not afraid to get real

A very emotional tale about a topic that isn’t talked about a lot on film, aided by great performances with fantastic chemistry.

PAPI CHULO

A deep, dark comedy dealing with LGBT mental health

Full of dark revelations and scattered with offbeat satire, the film has an important message to share, bravely telling a story rarely seen on screen, let alone from within the LGBT community.

BOOKSMART

Say hello to the next great voice in female filmmaking

A fun, hilarious, and instantly and infinitely quotable film, making it a must-see for all ages and sexes. Debut director Olivia Wilde has proven herself to be a fantastic new voice in filmmaking.

MY NAME IS DANIEL

A step forward for disability representation

This documentary offers an insightful look into living life with a physical disability, but its structure could use a little more work.

THE MIRACLE OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

A time capsule of dying languages and civilisations

The film looks at the cultures whose story ‘The Little Prince’ belongs to, and offers a time capsule of their dying languages and civilisations.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, COLIN BURSTEAD

A toxic family car crash

An entertaining - if not uncomfortable - film, this family has more secrets and infighting than an episode of 'Keeping up with the Kardashians', so sit back and watch the drama unfold.

THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN DOCUMENTARY

Whose documentary is it anyway?

This film is a horrible legacy of a dying man, and a disappointment for fans hoping to see a favourite one last time. But if you're looking for a film that subverts all expectations, this is for you.

RETROSPEKT

An idiosyncratic thriller with powerful substance

Mystery hangs in the air for the duration of ‘Retrospekt’. It’s by no means an easy watch, but it’s a film with a lot to say and a creative way of saying it.

MINUSCULE - MANDIBLES FROM FAR AWAY

Not for meep

While the blend of live action and cutesy animation of the insect characters is wonderful and the soundtrack is outstanding, this film is best left to those seven years old and under.

A DOG CALLED MONEY

An uneven mix of music, imagery and poetry

An intriguing snapshot of PJ Harvey’s creative process, but little else. It's less of a portrait of an artist or a travelogue and more of an outline of the relationship between poetry and imagery

MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL

The man behind the jazz legend

By humanising a musical genius, we end up with an engrossing, hilarious, informative and heartbreaking look at the Miles Davis that music fans thought they knew.

ALPHA: THE RIGHT TO KILL

A gritty, vividly realistic glimpse at Philippine's "war on drugs"

Brillante Mendoza shines a light on Philippines' current problem. It's clear he doesn't believe thousands of deaths will change the situation. One of the most important films you could now take in.

SKIN

Inside the mind of white supremacists

The film does leave it up to audience to decide how they feel about the whole story, but is worth checking out to start a conversation about these issues and whether a racist can really be changed.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

A shocking and abrasive assessment of terrorism

A shocking and abrasive assessment of terrorism, and will be especially confronting to Western audiences.

ANIMALS

Hedonistic female friendship and the art of growing up

Gritty but not too gritty, the film voyeuristically observes the modern right of passage of identity, resilience and the hard choices we have to make.

MYSTIFY: MICHAEL HUTCHENCE

INXS lead singer still touching hearts years after his death

Hutchence's charm and impact on people will not wane. Whether it's to hear those songs again, remember the legend, or even to learn something new, this new documentary is worth seeing.

BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON

Literally run out to see this stellar comedy

Everyone across the board brings their A-game to bring this really fresh and heartwarming comedy to life. Put on your joggers and sweatpants to run out and see this one.

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2

Crowd-pleasingly generic... again

There are many, many worse films you could show you children if they like animals - it’s a harmless 90 minutes and its not like their aren’t laughs. It’s a shame the film isn’t a lot more creative.

JUDY & PUNCH

A dark fairytale from a fresh Australian voice

Part fairytale and part black comedy, the film is a period story with a message that’s vital to current society. Writer and director Mirrah Foulkes is an exciting young Australian storyteller.

SCHOOL OF SEDUCTION

Husband hunting in Russia

A jaw-dropping look at one of the many new businesses designed to help women get ahead in Russia.

LADYWORLD

Experimental thriller not so thrilling

The format of experimental thriller ends up hindering the message of the film, and after the initial shock of the film's controversy, it just gets predictable and hard to follow.

STUPID YOUNG HEART

Irresponsible teens with no consequences

While the film highlights incredibly important and tough social issues, they’re undercooked and lack any real punch. It's sad, concerning and engaging enough, but ultimately it's a futile journey.

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

The spiritual sequel to Bend It Like Beckham

The film just didn’t resonate. It lacked the humour, the heart and the finesse of Gurinda Chadha’s previous films, and therefore it falls short.

KURSK

When tragedy and bureaucracy collide

Moments of suspense are abound but not abundant. This isn't a traditional "submarine movie", but the themes of bureaucratic interference and media manipulation are more relevant than ever today.

HAIL SATAN?

A hell of a fascinating documentary

This is an unconventional community battling conformity and demanding separation of church and state. Set aside your preconceived notions of Satanism - it's a hell of an eye-opening experience.

NEVER LOOK AWAY

An artistic and spiritual epic

The rare kind of work where politics, history, art and love collide into an almost operatic crescendo. Like the title suggests, it’s riveting viewing.

STANDING UP FOR SUNNY

A comedy without the comedy but very sweet

Despite its many flaws, the film is very sweet and adorable and pushes some great messages about love and self-acceptance. Let's call this one a diamond in the rough.

SHOOTING THE MAFIA

An interesting but unclear picture

The film never quite brings together the determined woman and her trailblazing work into a coherent portrait. It's is an interesting but disjointed look at one of the great photographers of our time.

TITO AND THE BIRDS

A flight of imagination

With a script that is as richly textured as the artwork, ‘Tito and the Birds’ is a moving and human story that boasts a big heart and reminds us that we aren’t alone in the troubles we face.

THE WANDERING CHEF

A delicious tale of human connection

This documentary is the perfect example of how a strong and gratifying narrative can leave technicalities and logistics in the dust.

THE NIGHTINGALE

A blunt and brutal period piece

This is not an easy film to watch and certainly not one to expect to come out of feeling terrific. But it will make you will feel something, which is a rare thing for a film to be able to do today.

LEFTOVER WOMEN

Feminists beware, this one's a blood boiler

Prepare yourselves for a way of life we never knew existed - caught between the old and the new, culture and duty versus what you want, we see it all via the subjects of this documentary.

THE DEAD DON'T DIE

A zombie comedy that's anything but grave

A luxuriously paced, wittily gory zombie comedy, it’s part social commentary, part homage to cinema, and all ridiculous. You’d be dead right to want to check it out.

VARDA BY AGNÈS

The final film of a French New Wave legend

It allows the audience to watch a legend of cinema take stock of her life's work and share some last bits of wisdom.