Sydney Film Festival Opens with Sundance Hit ‘Together’
Image: Supplied/Sydney Film Festival
The 72nd Sydney Film Festival will open in June with the Australian premiere of Together, a daring new feature from Melbourne-based writer-director Michael Shanks.
The film, which became one of the breakout titles at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, will screen on opening night, Wednesday 4 June, at the State Theatre, followed by a gala celebration at Sydney Town Hall.
Together stars real-life couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair of city dwellers who relocate to the countryside in search of peace and simplicity. But their attempt at a quiet life quickly unravels amid strange events, a creepily overfriendly neighbour (played by Australian actor Damon Herriman), and a surreal, supernatural encounter in a nearby cave. What begins as a portrait of domestic disconnection spirals into a surreal and body-horror-inflected ride, one that brings the couple closer “together” in terrifyingly unexpected ways.
Billed as a genre-bending blend of relationship drama, dark comedy, and supernatural horror, the film marks Shanks’ feature debut. Known for his sharp comedic work and VFX-laced shorts, the director brings a uniquely stylised vision to the screen, pairing emotional nuance with escalating unease.
Sydney Film Festival to open with “genre-bending blend of relationship drama”
Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley praised Together as “a fiercely original work” and a bold way to open the 2025 program. “Michael Shanks has crafted a film that shifts seamlessly between tones and genres, anchored by fearless performances from Brie and Franco,” Moodley said.
For Shanks, having the film open Sydney’s premier film event is a personal milestone. “Despite our US leads, this is an Australian film through and through,” he said. “I’m so proud to be showcasing the amazing talent we have in our local industry. I got altitude sickness at Sundance, so I’m especially glad the premiere in Sydney should be a bit easier on the body.”
The film will be released in Australia by Kismet Films later this year.
The full Sydney Film Festival program will be announced on Wednesday, 7 May, with early program highlights, including a retrospective on Iranian director Jafar Panahi, already available online. The Festival will run from 4 to 15 June, with tickets for the Opening Night Gala, Flexipasses, and full subscriptions now on sale at sff.org.au.
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