Sydney Film Festival unveils Screenability program, live-action How to Train Your Dragon announced for Family program
This year’s Sydney Film Festival (4–15 June) has shared the Screenability lineup of films by filmmakers living with disability and two new feature films in its Family program, including the Australian premiere of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon.
The announcement:
The 72nd Sydney Film Festival (4–15 June) today announces the 2025 Screenability program, showcasing six films by filmmakers living with disability, along with two feature films in the Family program, including the Australian Premiere of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon.
“Our Screenability program is a vital part of Sydney Film Festival’s commitment to making the Festival accessible and inviting – to both filmmakers and audiences. Fantastically entertaining films giving insight into the lives of people living with Disability, made by people living with Disability,” said SFF Festival Director Nashen Moodley. “Our Family program exists because we all remember those formative cinema experiences that turned us into lifelong film fans, and we want kids to have that experience at SFF.”
Family films
Bring the whole family to Sydney Film Festival for an unforgettable big-screen adventure, with two new family features.
The magic of dragons returns in How to Train Your Dragon, a live-action reimagining of the beloved animation. On the island of Berk, young Viking Hiccup (Mason Thames, The Black Phone) defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Directed by three-time Oscar nominee and Golden Globe-winner Dean DeBlois (Lilo & Stitch), with cutting-edge visual effects and an all-star cast including Gerard Butler, this soaring tale of friendship, courage and destiny is a big screen family crowd-pleaser.
Adding a spooky twist to the family fun is Night of the Zoopocalypse, a wildly entertaining, kid-friendly zombie comedy. When a meteor crash turns the animals of Colepepper Zoo into zombies, a grumpy mountain lion (voiced by David Harbour, Stranger Things) and a feisty wolf (Gabbi Kosmidis) must team up to escape the chaos. Executive produced by horror legend Clive Barker (Hellraiser, Candyman), this colourful and hilarious animated adventure introduces younger viewers to the spooky delights of the horror genre.
Screenability
Sydney Film Festival proudly presents its Screenability program for a ninth consecutive year – showcasing a vibrant line-up of films created by filmmakers living with disability.
Curated by Screenability Programmer Rebecca McCormack, this year’s program features six titles, including three feature films and three Australian shorts.
The selection includes Life After, a Special Jury Award winner at Sundance by Reid Davenport (SFF 2022’s I Didn’t See You There), which investigates the tangled ethics of assisted dying through the story of Elizabeth Bouvia, a disabled woman who sparked a national debate on autonomy and the value of disabled lives. Also featured is Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, a powerful documentary directed by Shoshannah Stern that reflects on the life, career and advocacy work of the Academy Award-winning actor. Racewalkers, winner of the Slamdance Grand Jury Prize, brings a heartfelt twist to the classic sports buddy comedy, following an unlikely coach-athlete duo united by ambition and resilience.
Three Australian short films also feature in the program: Where the World is Quiet, in which Australian of the Year Grace Tame shares a personal reflection on autism and finding solace through long-distance running; Dark Matter, Leo Berkeley’s observational essay on living with multiple sclerosis; and With Love, Lottie, a charming exploration of a disabled teenager’s search for love.
Rebecca McCormack said, “Screenability continues to celebrate the voices of filmmakers living with Disability, offering vital perspectives and fresh storytelling that challenge, move, and inspire. This year’s line-up brings together award-winning international features and home-grown shorts that showcase a rich diversity of experience and creativity.”
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 Opening Night Gala screening and Jafar Panahi Retrospective strand can be found online at sff.org.au.
Source: Original Spin
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