Capital Film Festival 2026: Your ultimate cheat sheet
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Five days, two venues and a whole lot of cinema to choose from. The Capital Film Festival returns from Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 October.
Now in its fifth year, the festival is expanding beyond Dendy Cinemas Canberra, with the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) joining as a venue partner and brings award-winning international films, Australian stories, documentaries and some wonderfully unexpected premises to Canberra.
Not sure where to start? Consider this your guide to what’s on, what’s worth a look and how to plan your festival outing.
The quick facts
The Capital Film Festival runs from Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 October at Dendy Cinemas Canberra and Arc Cinema at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.
What should I see?
There’s something for every taste (you can check out the full program here). To help you find something that’s your cup of tea, we’ve curated a few recommendations for you!
For the big night out
Paper Tiger screens on closing night of the festival.
The opening: The Fox is a darkly funny Australian folk tale featuring Jai Courtney, Emily Browning, Damon Herriman, Olivia Colman and Sam Neill. The Opening Night Gala includes drinks, canapés, music and a Q&A with director Dario Russo. Catch it on Wednesday 21 October, 7 pm at Dendy.
The finale: Paper Tiger closes the festival with a crime thriller starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller. Set in 1986 New York, it follows two brothers whose ambitions become tangled with the Russian mob. It wraps things up on Sunday 25 October – arrivals 7 pm, film 7.30 pm at Dendy.
For fashion, satire and glorious weirdness
Don’t miss the Australian premiere of I Love Boosters
I Love Boosters – Boots Riley’s colourful, absurdist satire follows a crew of women who shoplift designer clothes and take on a fashion mogul played by Demi Moore. Grab your gang and get along to Dendy on Friday 23 October, 8.30 pm.
Jim Queen – A Parisian gay influencer contracts a fictional virus that turns queer people straight in this outrageous short satire, complete with musical numbers. It’s screening Saturday 24 October, 8.45 pm at Dendy.
Bitter Christmas – A celebrated film director’s attempt to write an autofictional screenplay takes a turn after an unexpected event disrupts his life. It’s on Friday 23 October, 6.15 pm at Dendy.
Whistle – Step inside the world of competitive whistling and meet the colourful characters chasing victory. Director Christopher Nelius joins the audience for a Q&A after the Saturday screening. It’s screening on Saturday 24 October, 6 pm and on Sunday 25 October, 4.45 pm at Dendy.
For international cinema and big conversations
Mia Wasikowska will join director Kuba Dorabialski and producer Alex White for a Q&A following Agata The Writer.
Agata the Writer – The ACT premiere of a film that was selected for the Venice and Adelaide Film Festivals. Mia Wasikowska stars as a disillusioned Sydney writer who travels to Sarajevo to write a novel set during the Bosnian War. As she speaks with survivors, locals and artists, she is challenged on her motivations and who has the right to tell their stories. The screening includes a Q&A with special guests Mia Wasikowska, director Kuba Dorabialski and producer Alex White. Don’t miss it on Saturday 24 October, 8.30 pm at Dendy.
Fjord – A Romanian family’s new life in Norway unravels when concerns are raised about their eldest daughter. Directed by Cristian Mungiu and starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve. See it on Saturday 24 October, 5.45 pm at Dendy.
Minotaur – A Russian CEO finds his professional life, political allegiances and marriage colliding in this drama about corruption and complicity. You have a couple of chances to see this one at Dendy – Thursday 22 October, 6 pm and encore Saturday 24 October, 3.30 pm.
Yellow Letters – The Berlin Golden Bear winner follows a playwright and his actor wife as political interference threatens their careers and family life. Showing at Arc Cinema at the NFSA on Saturday 24 October, 7 pm.
Fatherland – German writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika travel across a country in ruins in this story set in 1949. Catch it on Sunday 25 October, 5 pm at Dendy.
Erupcja – A reunion in Poland rekindles an unexpected connection between two women, throwing romantic plans into disarray. It screens on Thursday 22 October, 8.50 pm at Dendy.
Coward – A young Belgian soldier heads to the First World War front, hoping to prove his bravery. See it on Saturday 24 October, 6.15 pm at Dendy.
For documentaries that get under your skin
American Doctor was named best International Documentary at Sydney Film Festival
American Doctor – Three American doctors – Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian – risk their lives providing medical care amid a genocide. It’s showing on Sunday 25 October, 12.30 pm atDendy.
Poster Boy: Becoming Zyzz – Revisit Australian internet personality Aziz Shavershian and the complicated legacy of online fitness culture, masculinity and body image. A Storytelling for Change panel follows the screening. Catch both the film and discussion on Saturday 24 October, 1 pm at Dendy.
Cycle of Love – An extraordinary journey sees Delhi street artist PK Mahanandia cycle thousands of miles to reunite with the woman he loves. It’s screening on Friday 23 October, 9 pm at Dendy.
Whispers in the Woods – Photographer Vincent Munier searches France’s Vosges mountains for rare wildlife alongside his father and son. Expect beautiful landscapes and a score by Warren Ellis on Saturday 24 October, 1.15 pm at Dendy.
Nuisance Bear – A polar bear’s ancient migration route collides with the modern human world in this documentary about wildlife, tourism and conservation. You have two slots to choose from – Thursday 22 October, 6.15 pm or Saturday 24 October, 4 pm – both at Dendy.
The Story of Documentary Film and My Survival as an Aboriginal screen together on Sunday 25 October at 2 pm at Arc Cinema at the NFSA. The first explores documentary filmmaking in the 1970s and 1980s; the second is Essie Coffey’s landmark documentary, made with filmmaker Martha Ansara and restored by the NFSA in 2017.
The Tale of Silyan – Inspired by Balkan folklore, this documentary follows a North Macedonian farmer whose life changes after he rescues an injured stork. Screening Sunday 25 October, 5.15 pm at Dendy.
For stories of identity, resistance and belonging
No Good Men is screening at NFSA Canberra.
No Good Men – In Kabul in 2021, camerawoman Naru tries to leave her abusive husband and protect her young son as the Taliban prepares to return to power. It’s showing on Saturday 24 October, 2 pm at Arc Cinema at the NFSA.
Big Girls Don’t Cry – Sid is ready to push beyond her comfortable life and test the boundaries of growing up. But as she drifts away from a childhood friend and into an increasingly vapid new crowd, an unexpected connection with her older sister’s friend helps her find someone who sees her for who she really is. Co-presented with Queer Screen, the film was an official selection at Sundance, SXSW, MIFF and TIFF. It’s screening on Sunday 25 October, 2.15 pm at Dendy.
Josephine – After witnessing a crime in Golden Gate Park, an eight-year-old girl struggles with trauma, while her parents try to help her feel safe again. See it on Thursday 22 October, 8.30 pm and again on Friday 23 October, 6.30 pm, at Dendy.
To Hold a Mountain – A mother and daughter in Montenegro defend their ancestral mountain against a proposed NATO military training ground. Screening Saturday 24 October, 3.15 pm at Dendy.
Boss Cat – After her mother’s death, a young woman with Down syndrome finds connection and independence through a krump dance community. The Sunday 25 October, 12.45 pm screening at Dendy includes a Q&A with director Genevieve Clay-Smith, followed by a masterclass on accessible filmmaking.
Wild Horse Nine – Martin McDonagh’s film follows two CIA agents sent to Easter Island in 1973, with the Chilean coup looming in the background. Starring John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Parker Posey and Tom Waits. You can see it on Friday 23 October, 6 pm or Sunday 25 October, 2.45 pm at Dendy.
What about the special events?
A few screenings come with extra reasons to book (i.e. drinks and canapés, music and scintillating discussion). You can check them out here.
Are there any short films?
Indeed there are!
The festival is presenting a selection of award-winning short films in partnership with the Canberra Short Film Festival, including Focus, Downpour, 7 Reasons Why and Our Choir Has Always Been Travelling. You can see them paired with films throughout the festival.
How do I book?
Explore the full program, check session availability and book tickets at capitalfilmfestival.com.au.
