Best of 2024

Celebrating the best films released in Australian cinemas this year.

You're not imagining things – films are getting longer, and our attention spans are getting shorter.

At a time when our collective appetite for short-form media is at its peak, studies confirm that our ability to focus is dwindling. Yet, our attention spans are also expanding, adapting to a culture of multitasking and constant visual stimuli. Short-form media has become so embedded in our lives that we consume it between other tasks, often while juggling multiple forms of input.

Nevertheless, narrative films in 2024 are steadily growing longer, and the year’s most celebrated films, both critically and commercially, tend to lean toward extended runtimes. In the darkened space of a theatre, with phones switched off, we’re asked to do the opposite of what TikTok algorithms have trained us to do: to engage deeply and continuously, without interruption or distraction.

Many of the films in this program embrace this shift. Some films have more modest lengths (The Room Next Door is a very reasonable 107 minutes), whereas others will no doubt challenge viewers (Occupied City comes in at 4.5 hours). However, each film will reward those willing to dive into a more focused cinematic experience.

So cut out the noise, step into the dark and break free from the algorithm as we celebrate the best films of 2024.

– Reece Goodwin, Curator (Film & TV)