SHORT FILMS 2025
Full of heart, soul, laughter, horror, courage, wisdom—and a little mayhem. Across Bunbury, Busselton and Margaret River, our short film sets (each featuring 7-8 powerful short films) offer incredible value and an easy night out during the festival.
You’ll discover the best new filmmaking from across Australia, with a few familiar faces in the mix. Catch homegrown stars like Sean Keenan (Barons), Pete Rowsthorn (Kath & Kim), Lee Tiger Halley (Boy Swallows Universe), Michala Banas (Upper Middle Bogan), Susie Porter (Apple Cider Vinegar), and Jackson Gallagher (NCIS Sydney).
🎟️ Tickets just $25 full / $20 concession, some even includes complimentary Forester wine or Brewhouse tinnie, plus post-show Q&As with the filmmakers.
And for something special, don’t miss our three immersive events Horror in the Viewing Room set in a real funeral home, Mulled Wine Mondays – films by and about women, with warm mulled wine and Best Music Video Gig – watch, vote, and dance it out.
SHORT FILM AWARDS NIGHT
Thursday 4 September 2025, 6pm, Margaret River HEART
Celebrate the best of the fest at our red-carpet Short Film Awards night. All the top short films compete for Best Short Film 2025 and the $5000 prize. Enjoy a sparkling welcome with canapés and drinks.
DEADLY SHORTS
Tue 2 Sep, 6:00 pm – Orana Cinema Busselton
Wed 3 Sep, 7:00 pm – Stirling Street Arts Centre, Bunbury
Fri 5 Sep, 6:30 pm – Margaret River HEART
Indigenous storytelling at its finest. Powerful, personal, and essential viewing. “Nothing about us, without us.”
Screens with: KAYA BOODJA, WADJEMUP WIRIN BIDI, ANANGU WAY, THE MYSTERIOUS MAIDEN OF MONTEFIORES, ORNMOL, RE-IMAGINING OUT FUTURES: BIRTHING, ECHOES OF DISSENT
A PLACE TO CALL HOME
Wed 3 Sep, 6:30 pm – Margaret River HEART
Thu 4 Sep, 2:30 pm – Orana Cinema Busselton
Stories of longing, identity and belonging—tales that search for connection and meaning. Screens with: MANGO SEED, WHILE WE STILL HAVE TIME, HELP! EVERYTHING IS FINE, PACKED AWAY, DEPENDENT, E-MUM, HEMMA
HORROR IN THE VIEWING ROOM
Tue 2 Sep, 7:00 pm – William Barrett & Sons, Busselton – Selling Fast! Not for the faint of heart. Enter the eeriest venue of the fest—a real funeral home—for a night of spine-tingling short horror. Screens with: TERROR BY NIGHT, INTO THE EARTH, THE SHIRT OFF YOUR BACK, FLOWERS, WHEN DOGS BARK, WORKING HOLIDAY, SIDEWINDER AVENUE
HOME GROWN HEROS
Sat 6 Sep, 7pm – Orana Cinema Busselton
Be here first to witness the next generation of filmmaking talent. These are our ‘ones to watch’. Screens with: THE RECIPE FOR JAM, SKIN DEEP, BLUNT, IN THE DOGHOUSE, PASSING SIGNALS, SHE KINDA LIKED THE BEACH, EAT THE MEAT
LE GRAND BLUE
Fri 5 Sep, 8pm – Orana Cinema Busselton. Emotional depths meet oceanic themes. Stories shaped by water, change and movement.
Screens with: UNDER THE WATER, WHEN A KNIGHT JUMPS, RIPTIDE, HOWL, THE WAKE, THE TINSEL YEARS, CORDELIA DAUGHTER OF THE SEA, CYGNUS AND THE NIGHT OWL
MULLED WINE MONDAY
Mon 1 Sep, 6:00 pm – Margaret River HEART
Mon 1 Sep, 7:00 pm – Orana Cinema Busselton
Strong stories by and about women. Curl up with a mug of specially crafted CinefestOZ mulled wine and enjoy the ride.
Screens with: GRANITE HIGHWAY, BLUEBIRD, MIA, I’M THE MOST RACIST PERSON I KNOW, SAFE HANDS, PLAYED, HOWL
STRANGER THAN PARADISE
Wed 3 Sep, 7:00 pm – Orana Cinema Busselton. From heartwarming to hilarious, a journey through the strange, surreal, and sublime.
Screens with: FAMISHED, NOT A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT JORTS, HERO, SET MENU, FATHER WHERE ART THOU?, BURST, NO FEEDBACK, THOUGHTS & PRAYERS, FRACTURE, BLUEBIRD, MIA
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
Sun 31 Aug, 5:45 pm – Orana Cinema Busselton
Wed 3 Sep, 12:30 pm – Orana Cinema Busselton
Raw, real, and sometimes ridiculous. Tales of transformation, identity, and survival. Screens with: CHAT!, SOUNDBOY, MARS FUTURES, MR. WONDERFUL, CUT SHORT, FERAL, THEY KILL BY NIGHT, INTERVIEW WITH A HERO
BEST MUSIC VIDEO GIG
Fri 5 Sep, 6:00 pm – Froth Craft Brewery, Bunbury
Watch the most creative and compelling music videos that made it into the finals before the winner of the BEST MUSIC VIDEO for 2025 is announced! Get involved and be sure to vote in the Peoples Choice Award! Stay on to celebrate and be entertained with a live music performance. Whether you’re a music lover, a film lover or both, get here for the good vibes and celebrate our talent.
The 2025 Music Video Finalists are listed by title, artist/band and video director.
-Unreliable Narrator, Dullhouse – Directed by Reilly Mitchell
-In It Alone, Darcie Haven – Directed by Catherine Blakey
-The Trouble, Homebrand – Directed by Sophia Moldrich
-La Echolalia by Matteo Mazzella
-Doomsweepers: Apocalyptic Dream Team – Directed by Sarah Harper
-Breakthrough – Directed by Thomas Binns
-NOWAY, Kav B – Directed by Dan Collins & Max Mules
-Slow Down feat Matt Gresham, Downsyde – Directed by Steve Browne
Supported by The Southwest Set List, City of Bunbury, WAM, and RTRFM Radio.
🔞 U18s welcome until 9pm with an accompanying adult.
Proudly supported by: The Southwest Set List, City of Bunbury, WAM, RTRFM Radio.
Alongside the official film program, festivalgoers will be able to celebrate the rich Indigenous culture of the South West as part of the free DEADLY DAY events; support young filmmakers of the future as part of the CINESNAPS schools program; and, learn more about our flourishing screen industry at the dedicated INDUSTRY Program.
A variety of actors, filmmakers and industry executive GUESTS are now being confirmed to attend the 2025 festival.
BROWSE PROGRAM