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program overview

The Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival program is released closer to the festival once all films, guests and events are confirmed.This usually happens around April–May.

While the full schedule is still being finalised, the festival follows a well-established format each year, combining film screenings with special events, industry conversations and community experiences across Winton.

get program updates

Across the nine days of the festival, audiences can expect around five screenings per day, split across daytime and evening sessions.

Daytime sessions are held at the Sarah Riley Theatre, located within the Waltzing Matilda Centre. These sessions typically showcase a mix of Australian feature films, documentaries and short films.
Evening screenings take place at the iconic Royal Theatre, where films are enjoyed under the outback stars in one of Australia’s most memorable cinema settings.
Vision Splendid is more than a series of film screenings. Each year, the program includes a range of special events designed to bring audiences, filmmakers and guests together.
These typically include:
- Opening Night Gala
- Breakfast with the Stars sessions, featuring conversations with filmmakers and industry guests
- Special events at local locations, such as the Australian Age of Dinosaurs and the The Dustarena
- Community and partner events unique to Winton
Exact dates, venues and ticketing for these events are announced once the program is finalised.
A much-loved part of the Vision Splendid program is our live music and film experience.
In past festivals, we’ve welcomed Brisbane rock band Shade Hadie to perform a live score alongside a classic film, transforming the screening into a shared, one-of-a-kind experience under the stars.
The festival proudly hosts a Short Film Competition, celebrating emerging Australian filmmakers. Screenings of shortlisted films and the announcement of winners take place on the closing night of the festival.
Workshops, panels and industry sessions are also programmed across the festival period, offering insight into filmmaking, storytelling and screen careers.

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special guests

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ANNOUNCED SOON

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ANNOUNCED SOON

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ANNOUNCED SOON

Each year, Vision Splendid welcomes a lineup of special guests to celebrate Australian cinema with us in Winton. While our 2026 guests are yet to be announced, the festival has a long history of bringing some of Australia’s most respected screen industry figures to the Outback.

In past years, we’ve been proud to host guests including Bruce Beresford, David Wenham, Simon Baker, Sigrid Thornton, Deborah Mailman, Leah Purcell, Luke Sparke, Ivan Sen, John Jarratt, and Chris Haywood, among many others.

Guest announcements are made closer to the festival once the program is finalised. To be the first to know who’s joining us in 2026, we recommend subscribing to our mailing list.

People attending an outdoor event with round tables, a DJ setup, and a speaker system in a fenced yard with trees.

A group of people sitting at a table, smiling and engaging in a social gathering, with food and drinks on the table at the Vision Splendid Film Festival.

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