Brisbane, Thank You — Our First VSFF Screening in Brisbane!

On Thursday 17 July 2025, we lit up the screen at New Farm Cinemas for our very first Brisbane screening.

As our debut in the city, it was a thrill to share this year’s finalist films with a brand-new audience. Brisbane showed up for emerging Australian filmmakers, embracing bold, funny, and moving stories from across the country.

The evening featured the official 2025 selection of twenty short films — including two standout Queensland works: The Kelp Collector by Lacelid Productions, directed by Jack Breedon, and Harvest, directed by Gerard Lambkin.

Following the screening, Festival Director Tamara Svirskis spoke with Gerard about the inspiration behind his film and how he responded to this year’s signature theme, Seed. Their conversation explored how a single idea can spark a powerful story — and the power of a five-minute narrative to resonate deeply with audiences.

Our Brisbane debut took place at New Farm Cinemas, a cultural icon that’s been part of cinema history since its origins as the Merthyr Picture Palace around 1921. It was a fitting backdrop for a night of fresh ideas and local creativity.

The crowd included local filmmakers, creatives, students, Screen Queensland representatives, and film lovers. One attendee shared,

“I was very impressed with the standard, variety and unique ideas — depicted in a variety of ways. Very well done to all participants.”
Another said,
“Loved it! So surprised at how the filmmakers told a story in such a short time! Loved the Q&A. Great to hear the creative process behind their ideas.”

A big thank you to Screen Queensland for supporting this event and helping us showcase these stories on the big screen.

We’ve pulled together a few highlights from the night — scroll down and take a look.