Creatively fearless short films
The ORION International Film Festival returns to the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery with a whole new curated selection of the 2026 winners.
The selection is rated for 15+
Nibbles provided, bar available
Dedicated to discovering original, thought-provoking films that push the boundaries of storytelling, ORION IFF continues to celebrate filmmaking that is bold, diverse, and creatively fearless.
ORION International Film Festival – SRAG Screening Program 2026
Bartogay Lake
Director: Katya Mokolo
Category: Short Narrative Film
Country: France
Duration: 9:25
An old man crosses the boundless Kazakh steppe alone, haunted by memories of a lost love. Stopping at Bartogay Lake with flowers in hand, he finds himself trapped inside his car when the door refuses to open, suspended between past and present.
Not Yet
Director: Holly Fraser
Category: Short Narrative Film
Country: Australia
Duration: 13:45
A psychological drama exploring grief, resentment, and enduring love, Not Yet examines the emotional weight of loss and the difficulty of moving forward.
Crianza
Directors: Julia Maixer, Emily Gularte
Category: Best Short Narrative Film
Country: United States
Duration: 3:00
Through the ritual of winemaking, a mother reflects on her daughter’s journey into womanhood and confronts the quiet ache of letting go.
Stranded
Directors: Reilly Archer-Whelan, Michael Whyntie
Category: Best Short Narrative Film | Comedy
Country: Australia
Duration: 7:05
When Kelly dumps Brian, his world collapses once again, echoing the time they survived a shipwreck together. As Brian flounders and Kelly flourishes, an unexpected rescue forces him to choose between independence and a second chance at love.
Wilted
Director: Senayt Mebrahtu
Category: Best Short Narrative Film
Country: Australia
Duration: 2:30
Far from the battlefield, Elleni becomes consumed by images of war, searching news footage for familiar faces. As reality and imagination blur, the film reveals the unseen toll of conflict on those left behind.
Strange Attractor
Director: Hadley Perkins
Category: Best Short Narrative Film
Country: Australia
Duration: 19:10
In a technology-saturated, dystopian Australia, Lyll, a self-styled nature hardman, leads a group of misfits in a radical attempt to disrupt modern isolation and reconnect individuals with the natural world.
INTERMISSION
The Cinema That Never Was
Director: Mark Wachholz
Category: Best Short Documentary Film
Country: Germany
Duration: 5:31
A meditation on the films that were never made, never written, never imagined. A tribute to the invisible cinema that exists only in possibility.
Who Loves the Sun
Director: Arshia Shakiba
Category: Best Short Documentary Film
Country: Canada
Duration: 19:30
Set in war-torn northern Syria, the film immerses viewers in the dangerous world of makeshift oil refineries. Through Mahmood’s story, it captures survival amid environmental devastation and conflict.
Flame
Director: Katrina Channells
Country: Australia
Duration: 10:35
Flame must reach her audience before it is too late.
Ball
Director: Fubao Fan
Category: Best Short Narrative Film
Country: China
Duration: 6:15
In the vast grasslands of Xinjiang, a Kazakh father gives his young son a football every year. Three years, three balls, one ritual. As the boy slowly uncovers the meaning behind this quiet tradition, he begins to understand a buried promise and a father’s unspoken love.
The Last Rehearsal
Director: Carling Ernstzen
Category: Best Short Narrative Film
Country: United Kingdom
Duration: 18:57
A beloved acting teacher reunites his favourite students for one final performance, confronting legacy, memory, and the enduring power of theatre.
Tickets $25, Bookings essential.