The Travelling Film Festival (TFF) is returning to Lismore Cinemas in September, bringing a selection of acclaimed films from the 2026 Sydney Film Festival to audiences in the Northern Rivers. The announcement was published by The Echo on 18 August 2026, with the Lismore program scheduled to run from 3 to 6 September.

The Lismore visit is particularly significant because the Travelling Film Festival is returning to the city's newly refurbished cinema for the first time since it reopened following the devastating floods. The festival will give local audiences an opportunity to experience films that have been recognised at major international film festivals without having to travel to Sydney or overseas.

The program follows what the Sydney Film Festival described as its highest-selling festival in its history. Selected highlights from the June Sydney program are being taken to regional cinemas across New South Wales as part of the Travelling Film Festival.

The Lismore program includes films connected with major festivals including Cannes, Venice, Berlin and Sydney. This gives local moviegoers access to a broad range of international cinema and Australian filmmaking. The program has been designed to offer audiences stories from different countries and cultures, covering a variety of styles and subjects.

The opening-night film at most Travelling Film Festival venues will be Whistle, an Australian-made documentary following the World Whistling Championships. The film explores the personalities and experiences surrounding the unusual international competition.

Another major film in the program is Fjord, the 2026 Palme d’Or winner at Cannes. The film stars Oscar nominees Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan and is among the high-profile international titles being brought to regional audiences.

The program also includes Ben’Imana, winner of the Camera d’Or at Cannes. The film comes from Rwanda and provides audiences with another international perspective. Other international selections include the Afghan romantic comedy No Good Men, the Korean film The World of Love, and Silent Friend, a Hungarian film directed by Ildikó Enyedi and starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

Australian filmmaking also features strongly in the Lismore program. Yesterday Island, a time-loop comedy filmed in Tasmania, is among the Australian titles being screened. Selected sessions will also include a range of Australian short films, giving audiences an opportunity to see local filmmaking talent alongside international productions.

Travelling Film Festival Manager Beatrix Brady said the program was an opportunity to bring the atmosphere and excitement of the Sydney Film Festival to regional audiences. The festival's aim is to connect audiences outside Sydney with films and experiences that might otherwise be less accessible.

Tickets for the Lismore program are already on sale, with the source reporting that they were selling fast. Audiences purchasing a Flexipass or full subscription can watch the complete program and save up to 30 per cent.

The Travelling Film Festival is scheduled for 3–6 September 2026 at Lismore Cinemas. The event is supported by Screen Australia, Screen NSW and GIO.

For Lismore, the festival's return represents an important cultural event following the cinema's reopening after the floods. It brings international cinema, Australian stories and regional audiences together while providing a major local entertainment program.