The 2025 Revelation Perth International Film Festival returns July 2–13 with its mix of bold storytelling and boundary-pushing cinema.
Spanning Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, and The Backlot, the festival screens over 45 features and documentaries, plus more than 100 short films. Local WA talent shines alongside international acts, delivering everything from punk-fuelled rebellion to deeply personal narratives. Here are four standout picks you won’t want to miss.
“Skeleton Girls. A Kidnapped Society”
A punk-infused indie shot in WA, “Skeleton Girls. A Kidnapped Society” is raw, rebellious and local. Directed by Richard Eames, the film explores themes of youth, chaos and identity, blurring the lines between DIY punk and lo-fi noir. It’s loud, urgent and unfiltered. A reminder that Perth stories can hold their own on any international stage.
This punk-tinged indie, shot in WA, is raw, rebellious, and unapologetically local. Directed by Richard Eames, it explores themes of youth, chaos, and identity, blending DIY punk energy with lo-fi noir. Loud, urgent, and unfiltered. It’s a bold reminder that Perth stories can hold their own on any international stage.
WA-made and proudly so, this compelling documentary follows Mana the Polynesian Warrior, a wrestler, community figure and cultural icon. But this is more than a story about sport. “School of Hard Knocks” is a portrait of strength, cultural connection and finding your voice in a world that often misunderstands you. It celebrates resilience, family and the power of telling your own story.
“Fran” (40th Anniversary Screening)
Before streaming platforms and social media hot takes, there was “Fran,” a raw and emotionally charged drama that hit hard when it premiered in 1985. Now, forty years later, Noni Hazlehurst’s unforgettable performance returns to the big screen. Shot in WA and still as powerful as ever, this anniversary screening is a rare chance to revisit a local classic that helped shape Australian screen culture.
Always a crowd favourite, this annual showcase of Western Australian short films delivers big ideas in small packages. “Get Your Shorts On!” is where emerging filmmakers find their voice and where local creativity takes centre stage.
Check out the full program at www.revelationfilmfest.org.