The SXSW Screen Festival To Debut Highly Anticipated Prestige Biopic

SXSW Sydney has announced its headliners for the 2025 Screen Festival, with prestige biopics, horror sequels, and commended internal award contenders sharing the stage.

The festival will feature more than 1,600 events, with 400 conference sessions, 300 music performances, 150 professional development workshops, 95 film screenings, 300 music performances, 400 brand activations, and 150 games showcases.

Commencing from the 23 September – 19 October, the festival’s film program allows Australian audiences an early bird access to major international and local film titles.

The festival’s ‘Screen’ program will operate as one of the event’s most prestigious hubs, as it will offer industry insights, training, and networking within the realm of film.

So, what’s on..

Opening the festival is Scott Cooper’s Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, a biopic that depicts the creation and influentialism of Bruce Springsteen’s 1982 album Nebraska.

Following this, highly popularised films including the sequel Black Phone 2 returns with Ethan Hawke reprising his role as the Grabber in Blumhouse’s horror franchise.

Matt Johnson’s film Nirvana: The Band- The Show- The Movie brings life to music and film that expands upon the recent cult television series about the band.

The Cannes hit Die My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsay brings prestige as famous actors including Robert Pattinson, Nick Nolte, and Jennifer Lawrence appears as one of the festival’s most appraised screenings,

Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos new film Bugonia, following the success of Poor Things and The Favourite, returns with an all star cast to tell the tale of a darkly comedic story.

Mary Bronstein’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, hits close to home with Rose Byrne headlining a compelling story of humanities struggles, also described as Byrne’s most heartfelt performances.

The Sydney Screen Festival screenings commence as follows:

• Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere – Mon 13 Oct, 7pm, Seymour Centre

• Black Phone 2 – Tue 14 Oct, 7.30pm, Seymour Centre
• Nirvanna: The Band- The Show- The Movie – Wed 15 Oct, 7.30pm, Seymour Centre
• Die My Love – Thu 16 Oct, 7.30pm, Seymour Centre
• Bugonia – Fri 17 Oct, 7.30pm, Seymour Centre
• If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – Sat 18 Oct, 6.30pm, Ritz Cinema

SXSW making an impact

SXSW Sydney has confirmed that the commended producer and filmmaker Paul Feig will feature as the 2025 festival headliner.

Known for his roles in infamously known films including Bridesmaids, A Simple Favour, Ghostbusters, Spy, and The Heat, Feig will deliver a keynote and receive appraisal on his contributions to the culture of modern film composure.

With decades of industry knowledge, Feig’s keynote draws upon his career of witty dialogue, ensemble casts, and his devotion to focus on underrepresented voices.Bringing shock waves and creativity to the screen, tickets for the SXSW 2025 Screen Festival are available for purchase now.