THE HISTORY OF SUFF

The Sydney Underground Film Festival is entering its 18th year in 2024 - creeping up on 20 years fast! 

 

SUFF is a not-for-profit annual film festival. The first festival was held at Factory Theatre in Marrickville in September 2007. The festival has run every year since! Not even a pandemic could stop SUFF, as the festival continued online for two years in 2020 and 2021. The year 2022 marked a return to in-person screenings, with the festival partnering up with Event Cinemas George Street with the support of a special Screen NSW / Create NSW grant. Last year, the 2023 festival was held at Dendy Cinemas in Newtown for the very first time. Dendy Newtown is a venue that is very dear to a lot of Sydney-siders and a venue that SUFF audiences have been crying out for us to host events at - so we are psyched to host the festival from this location! 

To date, the festival has screened over 1,700 films from more than 30 countries in the past 17 years. SUFF is an integral part of Sydney’s film industry and screen culture, providing not only audiences with access to otherwise underrepresented features, documentaries, and shorts, but also providing screen practitioners and the local industry with screening, networking, and development opportunities.

SUFF is more than just a film festival; it’s an artistic and community-driven enterprise with a desire to create memorable screen-based experiences that capture a unique culturally connected audience. It's for anyone and everyone who want to watch and discuss films and increase their filmmaking skills in an inclusive, welcoming, and fun environment.