2025 Blacktown Shorts Film Festival
Blacktown Shorts Film Festival has returned for 2025
Event details
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Thursday 30 October 2025 | 7:30pm |
| Ticket | Price per ticket |
|---|---|
| Standard | $30 |
| Concession | $26 |
| Ticket + Drink | |
| Standard | $39* |
| Concession | $36* |
$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction
*Includes one standard ticket plus one drink redeemable on the day of the event from the Western Foyers Bar. Drink options include one glass of house red or white wine, prosecco, house beer or soft drink.
The Ticket + Drink entitles a patron to one standard entry to the film screening plus one drink. Drink options include one glass of house red or white wine, prosecco, house beer or soft drink. Red wine must be consumed prior to entering the theatre.
Redeem your drink prior to the film start time. The voucher must be redeemed on the same day as the film screening date displayed on your ticket. The drink voucher is only redeemable at the bar located in the Sydney Opera House Western Foyers. For further information please contact the Box Office: +61 2 9250 7777
Alcoholic beverages are subject to the NSW Responsible Service of Alcohol Act.
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
General Public tickets on-sale
9am, Wednesday 10 September 2025
For those requiring assistance, wheelchair or companion seating, accessible seating locations are available. Bookings can be made by calling the Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 or by email.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
About the artists
Blacktown Arts is an award-winning leader in the development and presentation of contemporary arts in Australia. Dharug and First Nations Elders, artists and communities are at heart of everything they do.
Blacktown Arts are committed to exploring innovative, culturally-diverse work that reflects Blacktown and western Sydney. They support artistic innovation and provide curated creative experiences across First Nations programs, visuals arts, performance, festivals and events, residencies and more.
They manage Blacktown City’s art collections, present dynamic public art across the region, and lead cultural strategy for Blacktown City.
LoneFish are known for crafting meditative and unique film experiences, with a focus on telling distinctive stories. Recent credits include BI-MOK (2023), directed by Baro Lee, which was selected for international competitions including Beijing International Short Film Festival, Pendance Film Festival in Toronto, and is currently available for streaming on NOWNESS ASIA, a sister arm of the prestigious global platform NOWNESS.
Other credits include ECHOES OF THE LAKE (2024), directed by Baro Lee and written by Gerard Cabellon, created in partnership with JBL - a hybrid of film, music, and dance that premiered with a live performance as part of the OUT OF OFFICE program by AndPeople, and had its international premiere at the Utah Film Festival. Their first film, HIRUAERAK (2019) directed by Baro Lee, premiered in competition at Antenna Film Festival.
LoneFish are in pre-production on their next short film, in partnership with executive producers GoodOil, written and directed by AACTA and ARIA nominated Vanilla Tupu.
Praxis Pictures is an independent production company from Australia. The production company specialises in high-concept, genre-driven filmmaking from directorial driven voices. Our award winning short films have gone on the screen at Sydney Film Festival, Series Mania, SXSW, St Kilda Film Festival and many more. Our principle is to work with directorial-driven visions and concepts, creating and building a unique world for the film and creatives to inhibit.
Vonne Patiag is an AACTA, AWGIE, Logie and SPA Award-nominated Filmmaker and Actor based in Western Sydney. His credits include Significant Others (ABC), The Unusual Suspects (SBS), Here Out West (ABC), Too Many Ethnics, Tomgirl (SBS), and Halal Gurls (ABC).
He was a participant in the prestigious TIFF Filmmaker Lab 2021 in support of the feature adaptation of Tomgirl and was part of the Talent USA Delegate 2022 sponsored by Screen Australia.
In 2020 he produced and co-wrote The Unusual Suspects with Aquarius Films, and feature film anthology Here Out West with Co-Curious and Emerald Productions. His latest short ‘Too Many Ethnics’ premiered at Flickerfest in 2023.
Chidiebube Uba is an Igbo-Nigerian emerging screen producer and curator based in Sydney, Australia. Her interdisciplinary and highly collaborative practice across screen and arts programming aims to push relevant social and cultural discourse to the forefront.
After completing a Bachelor of Communication at Western Sydney University (2019), she leapt into further creative practice development and study at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (2022 MAS: Producing graduate). This was followed by Chidiebube being selected to take part in the Inclusive Producers program with Bus Stop Films (2023) where she assisted in the production of short films I’ve Got You (dir. Duncan Ragg), and Dinner Expectations (dir. Angela Blake). Chidiebube has produced short films such as The Spiders on my Lashline (prod. 2024), This Town Talks (prod. 2024), Peaches ‘n’ Cream (dir. 2024), Wetin Una Go Choose? (prod. 2021), and Ayo (prod. 2021).
In addition to producing for screen, Chidiebube’s role as a program producer and curator sees her working closely with industry and community to facilitate art opportunities for underrepresented groups and individuals.
Baro Lee and Gerard Cabellon are co-directors whose work blends filmmaking and dance to explore diasporic identity and underground culture. Gerard is a Western Sydney-based artist and co-founder of Common House, with past film works 2767 and Prodigal Son featured in Blacktown’s arts program.
Baro is a Korean-Australian filmmaker whose films Bi-Mok and Hiruaerak have screened internationally, including on NOWNESS. Their recent collaboration, Echoes of the Lake, premiered as a film and live performance, selected for the Utah Film Festival.
Olivia Jeavons is a producer with nearly eight years of experience across both advertising and film production. In her full-time role as an advertising producer, she works across a variety of formats to deliver large-scale creative campaigns ranging from TVCs and OOH to experiential, podcasts and animation. In her work at LoneFish Productions, Olivia produces a diverse slate of short form and experimental narrative projects, alongside co-founders, Milly Olrog and Baro Lee.
Milly Olrog is a Gadigal-based producer working across a diverse slate of scripted projects spanning short form, television, and feature films. She currently works as a Producer at Goalpost Pictures, where she worked on two seasons of Black Snow for Stan Australia and Sundance Now (US), serving as Associate Producer on Season 1 and Co-Producer on Season 2. Her other credits include Director’s Assistant on Benjamin Millepied’s debut feature Carmen. Milly is a co-founder of LoneFish, a production collective formed with Olivia Jeavons and Baro Lee.
Hebah Ali (she/her) is a writer and director based in South-West Sydney, Australia. Her second short film, Rage Bait, was selected for the 2025 SXSW Sydney film festival and is screening later this year. She is currently developing her first feature film with LA-based Invention Studios, and was a part of their 2024 Comedy Incubator, alongside her co-writer Mohammad. She is also, in pre-production to direct episodes of the web series, Tint, currently in development with Screen Australia funding. Burqini Body is her third short film.
Eric Zac Perry (he/him) is a film and television producer and founder of Praxis Pictures. Driven by a passion for high-concept genre filmmaking, Zac is quickly building a distinctive and fast-growing body of work. He has produced an expansive catalogue of award winning shorts and webseries including BUTTON PUSHER (Sydney FFl 2025), BASED AMY (Motel X 2025), RAGE BAIT (SXSW Sydney 2025), BLUEBIRD (St Kilda FF 2025) and SPACE RATS (Series Mania 2024).
After graduating AFTRS in 2020, Zac started his career working at Netflix Animation. He has since worked in various capacities as a freelance producer and 1st AD working for agencies and brands like Chanel, Glassons and Heinemann. He is currently in development for his two feature films with the support of Screen Australia.
Dylan Mangunay is a Filipino-Australian filmmaker and content creator based in Western Sydney. With a background in storytelling across film and digital media, Dylan creates work that is emotionally grounded, visually distinctive, and culturally resonant. His projects often explore themes of identity, community, and mental health, drawing from personal experience and the lived realities of those around him.
As a director and creative producer, Dylan has worked on branded content, tour documentaries, and artist features—most notably for grentperez— blending humor, sincerity, and a strong visual language. Rooted in a DIY ethos but informed by a sharp cinematic eye, Dylan’s work captures the raw and intimate moments that define human connection.
He is currently expanding into narrative short films, aiming to tell stories that are specific in culture but universal in feeling.
Esky Escandor is a multifaceted artist as a writer, stand-up comedian, community organiser, and youth worker. Born and raised in western Sydney, Esky’s writings reflect his Filipino heritage and experiences within his communities. His passion for building stronger communities is reflected in his works and collaborations.
His filmmaking productions have garnered acclaim, with his short film/music video Good As Gold earning multiple nominations and winning Best Music Video of the Year at the Made In The West Film Festival. Beyond his creative endeavors, Esky actively contributes to society as a youth worker at Street University Mt Druitt and as the director of Opn.Src, an arts collective based in Western Sydney.
Dulce Aguilar is a Filipino-Australian producer who hails from the streets of Blacktown. With over a decade of production experience across live action and animation. Her directorial and producing work has screened in multiple festivals and on ABC iView. Dulce is Head of Production at KAPWA, an Oscar-shortlisted film and animation studio, best known for its Academy-Award shortlisted Love in the Time of March Madness, and its work for Adult Swim, ESPN, and the Grammy-nominated concert film, Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever (Disney+). Dulce also leads Kapwa’s Film & Episodic development activities in conjunction with Kapwa founder Robertino Zambrano. Dulce and Robertino are currently in late development on their own original series, Fish Boi, through the SBS and Screen Australia Digital Originals initiative.
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Attending this event
Venue information
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six minute walk to the Opera House.
Frequently asked questions
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. Resale restriction applies. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Please contact Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
Location and access
Playhouse
The Playhouse is located in the north-western corner of Sydney Opera House, best accessed through the Western Foyers.