15.9 C
Byron Shire
June 5, 2026
Local NewsFeaturedByron Echo

Flickerfest celebrates 35 years of filmmaking

By Aslan Shand

Latest News

Local NewsThe Echo - 0

Building sites ‘blitzed’ between Coffs Harbour and Tweed Heads

More than 100 building sites from Coffs Harbour to Tweed Heads have been inspected, which has been described as a 'blitz' by the NSW Labor government.
Read more

Other News

Local NewsThe Echo - 0

Bay FM’s Karena Wynn-Moylan wins at Aus Audio Awards

Australia’s top radio and podcast talent were crowned at the inaugural Australian Audio Awards last Thursday night at Carriageworks in Sydney. Entries were judged on their technical expertise, audio quality, content and impact.
Read more
Byron EchoMandy Nolan - 0

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Saying Goodbye to a Very Handsome Man

Last week an old friend of mine died. His name was Gary Cook. We met here in Byron Bay, when I was 23. He would have been in his early 30s. He was handsome. And funny. And weird. And self-involved. He used to come to Ringos, where I worked as a waitress. He’d sing to himself, bludge cigarettes, and shine up the serviette holder. He loved looking at himself. He’d laugh and say, ‘God, I’m a handsome man,’ and then he’d laugh this really infectious laugh
Read more
Local NewsEve Jeffery - 0

Remembering the Peacekeepers

Last Friday a small group gathered at the Cenotaph in Mullumbimby to commemorate International UN Peacekeeper Day.
Read more
Byron EchoAlistair Bell, Byron Bay - 0

Rail trail funding 1

The Echo reports ‘fury’ over the federal government’s failure to fund the rail trail. I recall fury when government...
Read more
Local NewsThe Echo - 0

Northern Rivers philanthropic org reveals 2025 achievements

Not-for-profit philanthropic organisation,  Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF), have released their annual report for 2025, revealing $2.4m was raised, and 121 projects funded across the region.
Read more
Local NewsThe Echo - 0

Animals on country roads safety campaign launches

Motorists are being urged to slow down and stay alert for wildlife as Transport for NSW launches its annual ‘Animals on Country Roads’ safety campaign.
Read more

Aurelia StClair and Sharon Shostak respectively the lead actress and director of Cool People Who Have Done Amazing Things; Suzie Whitman and Andy Bambach director and producer of Alchemy Of Eucalyptus; Stanley Cook, writer director and producer of My Friend Artemis; festival organisers Jack, Bronwyn Kidd, and Shane Rennie – although Jack really didn’t do much! and the fabulous Sam Clarke writer, director and producer of Light In Dark Places. Jeff ‘I Don’t Understand Moving Pictures’ Dawson

Celebrating 35 years and a new baby on her hip, Flickerfest Festival Director Bronwyn Kidd said it is exciting to be bringing the opportunity to local and Australian filmmakers to showcase their films this weekend in Mullumbimby.

Flickerfest started on the grounds of the Balmain High School in 1991 as the only international short films festival in Australia. It moved to the Bondi Pavilion in 1996, then also began showing in the Northern Rivers in 1995 alongside Byron All Shorts, which focuses on local talent, with Bronwyn becoming festival director in 1997.

‘I had been working on my SBS documentary Walking With My Sisters about the Arakwal people and their Native Title claim so I had been visiting the area since 1991,’ she told The Echo. 

‘Flickerfest had been running for six years and I realised that this was something that I really wanted to do, so I stepped in as festival director. We then became accredited by the Oscars in 2002, with four awards, providing a pathway to the Oscars. This cemented the festival’s reputation as a major platform for celebrating and discovering new talent.

Bigger every year

This year they have had their highest-ever entries, with 3,750.

‘It just keeps growing every year,’ said Bronwyn.

‘As Main Arm residents, bringing the festival home each year is always a highlight of what Shane and I do. Supporting and seeing local filmmakers – from high school productions to those who go on to forge Australian film industry recognition – such as Jahvis Loveday – makes it extremely worthwhile. We love sharing the films and connecting our local community through the event.’

Flickerfest and Byron All Shorts open in Mullumbimby this Thursday with over 30 films being shown throughout the weekend. For tickets and more information, go to:  https://iq.org.au/flickerfest-mullumbimby-byron-all-shorts-2026.

Previous articleHooked on Roundup
Next articleRobotic surgery tech unveiled at Lismore hospital

For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Local News

Council tightens ‘affordable housing’ rules

Paul Bibby - 0
Byron Council has tightened its definition of ‘affordable housing’ in a bid to make access to housing more equitable on major projects like the former Mullumbimby Hospital site and 57 Station Street.
Read more
Local News

Push to slow traffic outside Coorabell Hall

Paul Bibby - 0
The campaign to slow traffic on the short stretch of Coolamon Scenic Drive outside Coorabell Hall is gradually gathering momentum, with Byron Council supporting a lower speed limit despite advice the road may not meet state criteria.
Read more
Local News

Temporary home for Queer Family after heated debate

Paul Bibby - 0
Byron Shire Council has voted to provide struggling local LGBTQIA+ support service Queer Family Inc with temporary access to a Council-owned property at peppercorn rent, following an impassioned plea from the organisation and a lengthy debate over governance and fairness.
Read more
Byron Echo

Naturism

Vincent Marty - 0
For decades, naturism has struggled with a strange communication barrier. Most naturist educational material contains nudity, which means it is often automatically classified as NSFW...
Read more

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire