The 2025 SXSW Sydney Screen Festival Award winners have been revealed, with a New Zealand horror/comedy taking home the coveted Best Feature Film award.
Coming out on top, “The Weed Eaters”, created by local legends Causeway Films (“Talk to Me”, “The Babadook”) and directed by Callum Devlin, begins with a sincere, deadpan portrait of millennial friendship, before an idyllic New Years getaway in isolated Canterbury take an unexpected turn when a bad batch of cursed weed unleashes horrific after-effects.
It stars Alice May Connolly (“The Power of the Dog”), and features cameos from The Bats’ Paul Kean and NZ comedian David Correos.
Elsewhere, the Audience Award went to “Welcome Back to My Channel” from Australian writer/director Jorrden Daley. The found footage horror film follows influencer Suki who brings her boyfriend Leo home to Australia. On a camping trip, they’re disturbed first by Leo’s prankster friend, Cass, and then by the discovery of a lost little girl, before they’re set upon by the girl’s knife-wielding cannibalistic family.
Independently produced series “Lake Boga” was awarded Best Episodic. Created by Australian duo Ben Bryan and Nick Capper, it follows Nathan, an experienced ex-military assassin that is hired to find and destroy every single meth lab in the state, after the meth-addicted daughter of a mysterious businessman named The Baron is declared missing, presumed dead.
Best Short Film went to Australian production “Siblings”, directed by Julian Tynan. It follows Zoe and Adam who return to their Nana’s house to compete in a series of absurd games to determine the best sibling and crucially, win a ride home on the back of their Mother’s motorbike, but as the games escalate it is clear that something is not right.
“Rejoice” took home the award for Best New Wave, directed by Australian filmmaker Lucinda De Palma. Palma’s bachelor graduate film follows Rejoice, as she lives out her everyday life, roaming the streets, crashing parties and attracting trouble, all the while vividly dreaming of fighting everyone and anyone – including those close to her.
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Finally, Party Dozen’s “Coup de Gronk”, directed by Ollie Jones, was awarded Best Music Video.