French Girls 1

Directed by Hyun Lee
Australia
2026
82 mins
A young woman enters the uniquely absurd world of modelling in this Sydney microbudget marvel. The impressive debut feature of Hyun Lee (Asian Girls, SFF Dendy Awards 2018).

Mia (Mia Kidis) is happily drifting through life working on construction sites when she’s scouted by a Sydney model agent. Suddenly, she’s making more money than ever while working less – something her boyfriend loves to point out. Mia quietly observes this strange new world of modelling with deep uncertainty. Is this really the life she wants? With one curious turn after another, she finds herself in trouble with the law. Full of insouciance, familiar local talent and gorgeously shot by cinematographer Dimitri Zaunders (The Golden Spurtle, SFF 2025), French Girls is an irresistibly charming, refreshingly perceptive take on societal representations of femininity and the disappointing realities of labour.

Special Guests

Hyun Lee
Director

Hyun Lee is a Korean-Australian writer and director based in Sydney. Her short film ASIAN GIRLS had its world premiere at SXSW South by Southwest Film Festival in 2018 and was a recipient of the ScreenNSW: Emerging Filmmakers’ Fund. The film was distributed exclusively online through Gunpowder and Sky’s horror platform Alter where it has amassed over a million views. Her recent TV writing credits include Paramount+ series FAKE starring Asher Keddie and David Wenham. The series broke subscription and streaming records and won the Australian Writers’ Guild Award for Limited Series.

Tickets

Sun 14 June 2026, 1:45pm
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 1
1 Guest
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
Aboriginal FlagTorres Strait Flag

Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.

We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Don’t miss a thing!

Whether you’re in Sydney or one of our rural locations, sign up to our newsletters for all the latest news and offers.

Don't miss a thing!

Whether you're in Sydney or one of our rural locations, sign up to our newsletters for all the latest news and offers.