New Releases From Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts & More In 2016 Sydney Film Fest

The 63rd Sydney Film Festival is set to kick off next month and following the announcement that local film Goldstone will be opening this year's event, the full program has today been confirmed which will see over 250 films screened in just 12 days. 

A number of Hollywood stars feature in this year's program including US actor Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts in Demolition, a story about an investment banker struggling to cope after he loses his wife in a tragic car accident. Also starring Oscar winner Chris Cooper, the film will get its Australian premiere at SFF 2016.

Also featuring at this years event includes Lord Of The Rings alumni Viggo Mortensen who plays a father raising his six children with non-traditional values in Captain Fantastic, as well as Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe in comedy drama Swiss Army Man, the story of a suicidal man who engages in a relationship with a washed up corpse on an island. Directors Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert won the Best Director award in the dramatic category at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

Australia's Mel Gibson also stars in SFF 2016 film Blood Father, his first acting role since 2014, about an ex-con protecting his daughter from drug dealers who are trying to kill her. 

Black comedy Down Under will no doubt get locals talking, which focuses on the aftermath of the 2005 Cronulla riots and boasts a cast that includes David Field (Chopper), Damon Herriman (The Water Diviner) and Lincoln Younes (Home & Away).

Sydney-based film-maker Craig Boreham's arthouse flick Teenage Kicks is another to get its debut at the SFF, which is based on the multi-award winning short film Drowning and explores LGBTQI identity and sexuality. Girl Asleep, a film adapted from Matthew Whittet's play of the same name will also screen, set in 1970s Australia. 

Music fans won't want to miss Ethan Hawke's performance as jazz legend Chet Baker in Born To Be Blue, the story of the musician's comeback in the late '60s, as well as the already-announced Janis Joplin documentary Janis: Little Blue Girl (narrated by Cat Power) which is also proudly presented by The Music.

Another one not to miss is Sonita which tells the true story of an Iranian rapper who entered a music competition by the film's director in an attempt to get her out of an arranged marriage, though it is illegal for women to sing publicly in the country.

Documentary American Epic, which looks at the early history of US music, also features a number of huge names in the music industry including T Bone Burnett, Jack White and Alabama Shakes.

The 2016 SFF kicks off from Wednesday, 8 June through to Sunday 19 June — click here for a look at the entire program. 

more of what you can expect at this year's sydney film fest