Sydney Film Festival to open with the Australian Premiere of the most talked about Australian film of the year, Together

Sydney Film Festival today announces the Australian Premiere of the most talked about Australian film of the year, Together. Written and directed by Australian filmmaker Michael Shanks and starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco, his debut feature will open the 72nd edition of the Festival on Wednesday 4 June at the State Theatre, followed by a post-screening celebration at Sydney Town Hall.

Fresh from becoming the breakout-hit at Sundance, Together is a bold new Australian feature that blends domestic drama with a devilishly supernatural twist. Real-life couple Brie and Franco star as Millie and Tim, who relocate to the country in search of a quieter life. While Millie adjusts with ease, Tim finds the transition harder - and begins to lean heavily on her support. A series of strange events, an unnervingly friendly neighbour (played by Damon Herriman), and a supernatural encounter in a nearby cave send the couple on a ride that will bring them closer “together” than ever. The film will be released in Australia by Kismet Films.

“We are thrilled to open the 2025 Festival with Together, a fiercely original work that showcases the creative ambition of a new voice in Australian cinema,” said Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley. “Michael Shanks has crafted a bold and inventive debut that shifts seamlessly between tones, anchored by fully committed performances from Alison Brie and Dave Franco.”

“Having Together open Sydney Film Festival is a huge honour,” said Writer and Director Michael Shanks. “Despite our US leads, this is an Australian film through and through and I’m so proud to showcase what amazing crew and cast we have in our local industry. I got altitude sickness in Utah when the film premiered in Sundance, and thankfully that’s far less likely to happen when it premieres in Sydney.”

The full Sydney Film Festival program is announced on Wednesday 7 May 2025. The first titles from Sydney Film Festival’s 2025 program alongside the Jafar Panahi Retrospective strand can be found online at sff.org.au.

Sydney Film Festival runs from 4-15 June 2025. Opening Night Gala tickets, Flexipasses and Subscriptions to Sydney Film Festival 2025 are on sale now.  Call 1300 733 733 or visit sff.org.au for more information.