It’s our biggest announcement of the year! Not only are tickets now on sale to all SF3 screenings BUT we have selected our finalists. Get your tix to our 11th Annual SF3 Gala Finals happening Friday January 23rd, 2026 in the Playhouse at the Sydney Opera House at 8:30pm. Walk the red-carpet, get your photo on our photo wall, mingle with VIPs and our filmmakers at the world’s most iconic theatre. Get them now before they sell-out – https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/…/smartfone-flick-fest…
AND here are the 16 best smartphone shorts for our Gala Finals (in alphabetical order):
Cactus by Brandon Geoffrey Fairly & Steve Wilson-Alexander
A man struggling with addiction is inspired by a plant to turn his life around.
DRIFTER by Kieton Beilby & Damian Overton
Plagued by a growing paranoia, a man isolates himself from the world to disconnect from reality.
Echo by Denise Roberts
In a powerless apartment shrouded in darkness, Clem and Rob huddle together, a flickering flashlight their only defense against the unknown. A strange sound at the door and a haunting, distorted whisper warn them they’re not alone. In one chilling moment, Clem realizes the truth: whatever is in the dark is wearing a familiar face.
Fed Up by Nathan Colquhoun
In a clash of cultures, cuisines, and tennis loyalties, a Serbian-Australian family Christmas unravels when one guest unknowingly brings their greatest enemy to the table – Roger Federer.
Le Pointe Finale by Dianne Weller
Crushed by a relentless tide of bullying, a schoolgirl’s desperate pleas go unanswered/ Until, feeling abandoned and unseen, she’s forced to confront the devastating, irreversible choice she believes is her only escape.
My Wife Made Me Talk by Philippe Klaus
A Vietnam war bride takes English classes to disguise her accent. But as her husband struggles to adapt to civilian life, she finds settling into Australia more difficult than foreseen…
Starring award winning actor Kathy Luu (Rhapsody of Love, The Good Place), this is a fresh take on a silent film with an all original score.
Our Tallulah by Stephen Lord
A young girl (10 years old), played by Molly Cartwright (The Conjuring: Last Rites), is struggling and is in desperate need of parental guidance. The sudden loss of her grandmother, the recent birth of her baby brother, her mother’s release from prison and her father spiralling into addiction, engulf her life.
Tallulah is at a loss and looking for help.
Skin Hunger by Thomas Finch & Lena Fellows
When a young carer takes on the responsibility of a spirited elderly woman, their daily interactions transform into a profound exploration of human connection, vulnerability, and the healing power of touch.
Squashbox by SJ van Breda
SQUASHBOX is a short poetic documentary that tells the story of the history, meeting, and work of Qadasi & Maqhinga, a SAMA (South African Music Award) Award-winning South African maskandi duo.
Qadasi & Maqhinga are a Maskandi duo on a mission to revive and celebrate the powerful sounds of traditional Maskandi music. Both highly accomplished artists in their own right, their shared vision and unique synergy have produced a world-class fusion that resonates with audiences locally and internationally — a sound deeply rooted in the heritage of South African folk and Zulu culture.
Sundown Syndrome by Claudia Carmen Fick & Livia Hendricks
From the gentle chaos of a warm family kitchen where the weight of motherhood once consumed her, to the cold stark present where memory no longer holds. Haunted by the relentless ticking of a clock and the ghost of a ringing phone, Elsie relives a life of love, duty and loss of self as reality fractures. Elsie is caught in the haunting beauty of a life she once longed to escape but now cannot quite let go of.
SUPERBOYFRIEND by Kristy McDonnell & Nehir Hatipoglu
When Elys is disillusioned by her boyfriend, she decides to take matters into her own hands. And since it’s 2050 —that means changing him, entirely. In this Sci-Fi horror, audiences are invited to question the cost of “The Perfect Partner”.
The 5-Minute Empire by Tez Frost
Self-made guru prepares for his first speaking event, but faces challenges when hustling for the spotlight.
The Devil You Don’t Know by Tyrone Bruinsma
A young woman haunted by a dark entity seeks an exorcism from a Chinese spiritualist. However, it soon becomes apparent that this dark entity will not let her go without a fight.
Umami by Aida Bahrami
Visiting Paris with her indifferent husband, Charlotte encounters an escort who opens her eyes to the world of sex for hire. Invited to meet a client herself, she returns to put her marriage on a new footing.
Unsaved by Kirk Mihelakos
When productive order dissolves into subtle chaos, an office worker begins to question what holds her world together.
Viol8te by Narelle Nash
One Man. One Woman. One night. An examination of gender dynamics and female rage. How accepting are we as a society of raw expressions of female anger? When the lines of justice and revenge are blurred, which side are you on?
Come see them on the big screen at the Sydney Opera House!
