The Byron Bay Film Festival (BBFF) will raise the curtain on its 2025 program with the Byron premiere of BIRTHRIGHT, a razor-sharp debut feature from writer-director Zoe Pepper. The festival runs from 17–26 October, with BIRTHRIGHT launching celebrations on Friday October 17 at a red-carpet gala screening at Palace Byron Bay, followed by an after-party at Byron’s stylish Tokyo Doll, complete with karaoke.

The film features an accomplished ensemble including Travis Jeffrey (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), Maria Angelico (The Newsreader), Michael Hurst (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys), and Linda Cropper (High Country). Jeffrey and Angelico will be in attendance, along with producer and Byron local Cody Greenwood (Under the Volcano, Girl Like You) and director Zoe Pepper.

A funny and darkly twisted family satire, BIRTHRIGHT explores generational inequality and the chasm between Baby Boomers and Millennials. When jobless Cory (Jeffrey) and his pregnant wife Jasmine (Angelico) move back in with his parents, Richard (Hurst) and Lyn (Cropper), what begins as awkward inter-generational cohabitation spirals into paranoia, desperation and surreal humour. As Cory’s grip on reality frays, his quest for success takes an unexpected turn with explosive consequences for the family.

Pepper, an acclaimed theatre director making her feature debut, describes the film as “unsettling, irreverent and emotional, but best of all, it’s fun.” She adds: “BIRTHRIGHT is about the collapse of my generation’s worldview. We were raised to believe that hard work would be rewarded with a home and stability. But the rules have changed. This story channels my fears, and the satire that comes with them.”

Festival Director J’aimee Skippon-Volke says opening with BIRTHRIGHT sets the tone for a program that celebrates bold new Australian voices:
“The Byron Bay Film Festival has always championed fearless storytelling. Zoe Pepper’s debut is bitingly relevant, wickedly funny and deeply moving – the perfect way to launch our 2025 edition.”

The Opening Night Gala and After Party are presented with the generous support of Tokyo Doll, Bimbadgen Estate, Papa Salt, Lord Byron Distillery and Fever-Tree.

Tickets are available now at www.bbff.com.au