Following its successful debut at the 2025 Adelaide Fringe, HeARTflicks Charity Film Screening returns for 2026 bringing together brilliant short films and one magnificent feature length film from around the world continuing HeARTflicks’ mission of raising community awareness of domestic and family violence to foster empathy, dialogue and meaningful community engagement of these issues. This year the organisers have expanded the number of screenings of the films with the remaining screening on Friday 20 March to include a Q&A session with the directors of the four films to be shown that night.
Curator Steven Coy’s international call for this year’s HeARTflicks gathered a group of remarkable films and the finalist award winners were:
– Tidal, director, Sofia Poli, Australia
– The Bull, director, Jevan Chowdhury, United Kingdom
– Spider-Zan, director, Maryam Khodabakhsh, Iran
– Football Crazy, director, Katie Harriman, United Kingdom
– All Three Counts, directors, Natalie Scarman and Aron Giagu, Australia
– A Perfect Night, director, Angelo Raaijmakers, Netherlands
From the earlier screenings audience members were asked to vote for their favourite film and Australian short Wise Words by director, writer and producer Louis Dickins was chosen as the People’s Choice Award – Best Picture winner. Also, the HeARTflicks judges chose their Judges’ Award – Best Picture which was won by Aphelion by director, writer and producer Steven Willems.
On the 20 March screening, Tidal, All Three Counts, Wise Words and Aphelion will be shown.
Tidal by first-time Australian director Sofia Poli, shows the consequences of arguments in the home and how the two sisters (Amelie Stone and Zara Rose) spend time to get away from abuse and how the abuse affects everyone connected.
In All Three Counts, which features Robbie Greenwell, Nic Micalakis, Vanessa Ricks, Steven Coy and Effie Dawson, directors Natalie Scarman and Aron Giagu depict the use of power and promotes the notion that those that see abuse should say something about it.
Louis Dickins’ Wise Words shifts gears for a lighter look at the power of simple conversation and how even a chat to a stranger on a park bench can inspire change. It features Don Bridges, Ani Priyo and Louis Dickins.
These are followed by Steve Willems’ intense Aphelion, which is set in a single room. The ninety minute feature stars Nick Drummond and Talia Davida who deliver superb performances as the darkness of drug addiction and cycles of abuse engulf them. The film is raw and confronting and Williems’s film making skills are outstanding as he brings the audience into the grittiness of the room.
In Australia, intimate partner violence contributes to approximately 41 deaths each year — the equivalent of one woman killed every nine days. HeARTflicks Charity Film Screening aims to do something about this terrible statistic in presenting these exceptional films. With the added bonus of a Q&A session from the directors, the screening on 20 March promises to be a marvellous night that all should try to attend.
Profits assist Zahra Foundation.
Reviewed by Rob McKinnon
Rating; 5/5
HeARTflicks Charity Film Screening
Remaining showing: Fri 20 Mar
Time: 7.00 pm
Venue: Cinema 1 at The Piccadilly
Booking details: HeARTflicks Charity Film Screening | Adelaide Fringe – 20 February – 22 March 2026
To book tickets to Heartflicks Charity Film Screening, please visit https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/heartflicks-charity-film-screening-af2026.
