The Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF) is gearing up for its ninth edition, set to run from 20 to 24 March 2025. This year, the festival is all about shaking things up, with a programme that champions rebellious and radical filmmaking from women and gender-diverse creators across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the Pacific.
A Line-Up That Dares to Defy
Kicking off the festival is We Were Dangerous, directed by Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu. Set in 1954 New Zealand, this film follows a group of rebellious teens at a remote reform school who band together against an oppressive system. With a cast featuring Rima Te Wiata (Hunt for the Wilderpeople), Nathalie Morris (Bump), and newcomer Manaia Hall, it’s a story of hope and the power of female friendships.
Another highlight is Audrey, a wickedly funny tale about a washed-up soap star who adopts her comatose daughter’s identity to reclaim her life. Starring Jackie van Beek (The Breaker Upperers) and Hannah Diviney (Latecomers), this black comedy has earned the prestigious ReFrame Stamp for its commitment to gender-balanced hiring.
For those who like their cinema with a side of horror, the Almost Midnight Movie Marathon offers a double feature. First up is T Blockers, Alice Maio Mackay’s high-octane tribute to queer and genre cinema, where ancient parasites feed on hatred. Following that is Sasha Rainbow’s debut feature, Grafted, a twisted tale of transformation where a disfigured scholarship student resorts to terrifying science to gain popularity.
Shorts That Pack a Punch
MWFF’s short film programmes are equally daring. Freshly Squeezed Shorts 1 offers lively tales ranging from wedding jitters to embracing cultural identity. Next Gen Shorts shines a spotlight on emerging filmmakers exploring the messiness of womanhood and complex mother-daughter relationships.
ARTRAGEOUS! presents experimental shorts from the 1990s and early 2000s, emerging from the era of Australian third-wave feminism and the 90s surrealist revival. These rebellious and startling films are a rare treat for cinephiles.
Beyond the Screen
The festival isn’t just about watching films; it’s about engaging with the craft. A masterclass titled The Art of Visual Storytelling… on a Budget, led by art department expert Lucy Gouldthorpe (Love Me, Shantaram), will teach filmmakers how to shape the look, mood, and style of their stories for low-budget projects.
Industry professionals can look forward to the return of The Lifecycle of Film, co-presented by Women in Film and Television Victoria. This dynamic mentorship invites attendees to join intimate roundtable conversations led by industry experts, each focused on a different aspect of the screen industry—from development to exhibition.
‘All We Imagine As Light’ in the Spotlight
One of the standout films at this year’s Melbourne Women in Film Festival is Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, a Cannes Grand Prix-winning drama that marks a historic moment for Indian cinema. The first Indian film in the festival’s main competition in three decades, it follows two nurses from Kerala who have relocated to Mumbai, navigating love, loneliness, and quiet resistance in a city that often refuses to slow down.
Divya Prabha and Kani Kusruti deliver layered performances, portraying women caught between duty and desire. Anu, played by Prabha, juggles a secret relationship with a Muslim boyfriend, while Prabha’s character quietly drifts apart from her husband, who now lives abroad. When a domestic gift arrives unexpectedly, it sparks a shift that neither of them saw coming.
Kapadia, known for her searing documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing, takes a different approach here, weaving a story where the personal and political collide in hushed but powerful ways. The film’s triumph at Cannes, along with its two Golden Globe nominations, makes it one of the most anticipated screenings at MWFF 2025.
Festival Details
MWFF 2025 runs from Thursday, 20 March, to Monday, 24 March, at ACMI and Federation Square. A 3-Session Pass is available for $45 (concession $39, ACMI members $33), and a Full Festival Pass for $170 (concession $140, ACMI members $120).
With a programme that promises to provoke and disrupt, MWFF 2025 is setting the stage for stories that refuse to be boxed in.
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