Perth’s favourite film festival — The Revelation Perth International Film Festival — is returning to Perth screens, running from July 2nd to 13th at Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, and The Backlot. The newly released program is packed with more than 45 feature films, 100 short films, world-class documentaries, and cult classics.
Now in its 28th year, Revelation (known affectionately as Rev) is one of Perth’s favourite cultural events on the calendar. More than just a film festival, it’s a celebration of cinematic artistry — spotlighting bold storytelling, boundary-pushing visuals, and the best of global and local filmmaking.
Festival Director Richard Sowada sums it up best: “This year’s program features everything from sweaty punk realism and psychedelic cult journeys to iconic restorations to animations exploding with colour and power and some of the most acclaimed films direct from the international festival scene. It’s global conversation told through the language of film.”
This year’s festival vibe: bold, diverse, and fiercely creative
Whether you’re a die-hard cinephile, a fan of genre-bending stories, or simply curious to see what’s making waves on the international festival circuit, Rev delivers.
This year’s lineup traverses an explosion of animation, genre-defying horror, coming-of-age tales, restored classics, and experimental gems. Expect big names, emerging voices, and plenty of surprises along the way.
Feature films not to miss
Kicking things off on opening night (July 2nd) is U ARE THE UNIVERSE — a hilarious sci-fi comedy about a space trucker who becomes the last human alive after Earth unexpectedly explodes. It’s a wild, irreverent ride to start the festival.
Other headline features include:
- Eddington — Fresh from Cannes, this contemporary Western black comedy from Ari Aster stars Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler. Set in pandemic-era New Mexico, it dives into themes of political polarisation and societal unrest.
- Mr Burton — A British biographical drama exploring the formative years of iconic Welsh actor Richard Burton, starring Harry Lawtey and Toby Jones.
- September Says — The directorial debut of Ariane Labed, based on Daisy Johnson’s novel. It’s a surreal, gothic-tinged psychological drama about the intense bond between two sisters.
- Spermageddon — A bold Norwegian animated musical comedy about two sperm on an epic journey — yes, really — exploring themes of consent, safe sex, and reproductive rights.
- The End — A post-apocalyptic musical drama set in an underground bunker after the world’s collapse, by acclaimed director Joshua Oppenheimer.
- The Last First Time — A tender, coming-of-age story about a young Mexican man discovering love and identity.
- Transcending Dimensions — A psychedelic genre-bender from Japan’s Toyoda Toshiaki, mixing sci-fi, fantasy, crime and spiritual cinema.
- Micro Budget — A sharp indie comedy about an aspiring filmmaker moving to LA to chase a streaming deal, with plenty of meta humour for film fans.
- Skeleton Girls — A gritty WA-made indie-punk feature from local director Richard Eames, offering an unflinching look at fractured modern society.
Rev also celebrates restored Aussie gems this year with Fran (starring Noni Hazlehurst) and Shame (starring Deborra-Lee Furness) returning to the big screen — both originally filmed in WA.
Documentary deep dives
Rev’s documentary program is always a standout, and 2025’s lineup is no exception — brimming with stories that challenge, inspire, and move audiences:
- Abebe: Butterfly Song — A musical odyssey following artist David Bridie’s journey to uncover the roots of a song that changed his life.
- Blue Road: The Edna O’brien Story — A vivid portrait of the legendary Irish writer, censorship fighter, and feminist trailblazer.
- Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me — A soulful tribute to the iconic blues singer who gave the world Hound Dog and Ball & Chain.
- Starman — A cosmic exploration of NASA robotics engineer and sci-fi author Gentry Lee, pondering the age-old question: are we alone?
- The Thinking Game — A thoughtful reflection on AI, cognition, and the fragile mechanics of the human mind.
Also on the bill: Eno (an evolving documentary about musician Brian Eno), Velvet Vision (delving into the underground art of James Bidgood), and Twst: Things We Said Today, a mesmerising documentary on The Beatles in 1965 New York.
Celebrating Wim Wenders and cinematic history
Rev 2025 marks Wim Wenders’ 80th birthday with big-screen presentations of his landmark works, including:
- Alice In The Cities (1974, beautifully restored in 4K)
- The American Friend (1977, cult neo-noir with Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz)
Also screening: a 4K restoration of Rome Open City (1945), the harrowing Italian wartime drama — a true piece of cinematic history.
The powerhouse short film program
Short films are the heart and soul of Revelation, and this year’s offering is the biggest yet — with 100+ shorts, including nearly 40 Australian works.
Look out for:
- Experimental — pushing the boundaries of form and narrative
- Horror & Sci-Fi — from eerie thrillers to cosmic journeys
- Short Docs — real-world stories with punch and poignancy
Local showcases include:
- Westralia Day
- City of Vincent Film Project
- First Nations Showcase — spotlighting storytelling by First Nations filmmakers
- Wimmin’s Work — new audio-visual works by WA women creatives
Free family fun
Families can enjoy the International Family Animation Explosion at the State Library of WA — a vibrant, free collection of animated shorts from around the world designed to entertain audiences of all ages.
How to get tickets
The full 2025 Revelation program is now live at www.revelationfilmfest.org.
Tickets for all sessions — including opening night — are on sale online. With many of the headline films and cult favourites sure to sell fast, it’s worth booking early.
