The 2026 Central Victorian Indigenous Film Festival which takes place from Wednesday May 27 to Wednesday June 3, during National Reconciliation Week will celebrate with a range of films, videos and other activities at venues in Bendigo, Castlemaine and Yandoit.
The festival officially kicks off at 4.30pm Wednesday May 27 at Bendigo Library with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony. There will be an official opening followed by the announcement of the 2026 Koori Youth Flick Fest winners and screenings of this year's entries.
This year's festival showcases an exciting range of activities, discussions and First Nations films, documentaries and videos starring and telling stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People from Central Victoria and across Australia.
Screenings include documentaries My Survival as an Aboriginal (Essie Coffey) and Moort: Calling Dingo back to Country at Castlemaine's Theatre Royal, Tanna at Yandoit's Old Church in the Bush, Wash my Soul in the Rivers Flow at Bendigo Library and We are still Here and Carriberrie both screening at the Discovery Science and Technology Centre.
Other activities taking place during the week include a Dja Dja Wurrung CBD Cultural Walking Tour and short films hosted by DUMAWUL and a number of films for children including Grandpa Honeyant Storytime, Dance with Tom and Dance with Thalu all at Bendigo Library.
The 2026 theme for National Reconciliation Week is All In. This theme is a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day. It emphasizes that reconciliation requires active participation from everyone, not just First Nations People and involves commitment from all of us to truth-telling, justice, and shared history.
National Reconciliation Week continues to shape Australia's journey towards a more just, equitable and reconciled nation.
The City of Greater Bendigo is committed to reconciliation and is looking forward to seeing everyone come together to celebrate National Reconciliation Week at the 2026 Central Victoria Indigenous Film Festival.
