Join us on Saturday, 6 December, for the Animal Liberation Film Festival (ALFF)!

ALFF is Melbourne’s newest event dedicated to showcasing films that explore the ethical, cultural, and political dimensions of human-animal relations – and you’re all invited to come watch.

Today we are screening nearly 20 unique and original films: a 'vegan zombie' feature film, feature length documentaries, short films, short docos, animations, and experimental films.

Saturday Program

1pm–3pm	25 Cats from Qatar (2025) Dir. Mye Hoang (USA) 95 mins The nation of Qatar has a street cat population equal to the population of the entire country. Disease is rampant, and local adoption is rare. A Midwestern cafe owner decides to bring 25 cats to Wisconsin. + Animated Short Not a Rookie Sandpiper (2025) Dirs. Jens Møller (DNK), Lei Zhang (JPN) 15 mins
3pm–5pm	The Snake and The Whale (2025) Dir. John Carlos Frey (USA) 90 mins This award-winning investigative documentary explores the ongoing fight to remove four dams on the Snake River. At stake are Salmon and Steelhead runs, once among the greatest runs in the world, and the salmon-eating Southern Resident Orcas facing imminent extinction. + Short Experimentation Living Lessons in the Museum of Order (2023) Dir. Malic Amalya (USA)
5pm–7pm	ALFF Shorts (2025) 9 shorts - 113 mins. We are bringing you a curated selection of short films, animations, experimental, and short documentaries. Please see our program guide for more info.
7pm–9pm	Dogs and War in Ukraine (2025) Dir. Akane Yamada (JPN) 109 mins When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Japanese director Akane Yamada travelled to the war zone to document an often-overlooked story — the fate of animals and the people who refuse to abandon them.
9pm–11pm	A44 (2025) - AUSTRALIAN THEATRICAL PREMIERE Dir. Chris Cooney (USA) 109 mins When a mysterious infection transforms a small town into a horde of flesh-craving zombies, a college student becomes Amherst's unlikely last hope. With time running out and his mother missing, Harley and his loyal German shepherd, Indy, team up with a group of friends and embark on a desperate quest for a cure. Their only lead: a defunded scientist with a fragile prototype antidote. Facing impossible choices in a town consumed by madness, Harley must confront his deepest fears to save everything he holds dear.

1pm–3pm

25 Cats from Qatar (2025)

Dir. Mye Hoang (USA)

95 mins

The nation of Qatar has a street cat population equal to the population of the entire country. Disease is rampant, and local adoption is rare. A Midwestern cafe owner decides to bring 25 cats to Wisconsin.

+ Animated Short

Not a Rookie Sandpiper (2025)

Dirs. Jens Møller (DNK), Lei Zhang (JPN)

15 mins

3pm–5pm

The Snake and The Whale (2025)

Dir. John Carlos Frey (USA)

90 mins

This award-winning investigative documentary explores the ongoing fight to remove four dams on the Snake River. At stake are Salmon and Steelhead runs, once among the greatest runs in the world, and the salmon-eating Southern Resident Orcas facing imminent extinction.

+ Short Experimentation

Living Lessons in the Museum of Order (2023)

Dir. Malic Amalya (USA)

5pm–7pm

ALFF Shorts (2025)

9 shorts - 113 mins.

We are bringing you a curated selection of short films, animations, experimental, and short documentaries. Please see our program guide for more info.

7pm–9pm

Dogs and War in Ukraine (2025)

Dir. Akane Yamada (JPN)

109 mins

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Japanese director Akane Yamada travelled to the war zone to document an often-overlooked story — the fate of animals and the people who refuse to abandon them.

9pm–11pm

A44 (2025) - AUSTRALIAN THEATRICAL PREMIERE

Dir. Chris Cooney (USA)

109 mins

When a mysterious infection transforms a small town into a horde of flesh-craving zombies, a college student becomes Amherst's unlikely last hope. With time running out and his mother missing, Harley and his loyal German shepherd, Indy, team up with a group of friends and embark on a desperate quest for a cure. Their only lead: a defunded scientist with a fragile prototype antidote. Facing impossible choices in a town consumed by madness, Harley must confront his deepest fears to save everything he holds dear.

For the complete program guide, please visit our website.

ALFF spent considerable time reviewing, selecting and deliberating over the final line-up – and we are pleased to say that there is something for everyone. In curating this year’s inaugural festival, ALFF has chosen original films for their creativity, artistry, and compassion.

Some films, however, do present references and visual images of animal cruelty and suffering. We’re mindful of audience care — ALFF isn’t the “animal cruelty film festival.” To help audiences make informed decisions, we have developed an in-house ranking system to guide viewers.

ALFF was founded on the belief that through the power of film, we can help build a society in which animals are liberated from human oppression and exploitation. To this end, we are proud to present this program — the beginning of what we hope will be many festivals to come.

Can't join us but still want to contribute?

ALFF is a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation – donations over $2 are tax deductible. Every dollar helps us pay for the venue and marketing this event to more and more people. You can donate today: https://alff.org.au/donations

ABN 60 904 661 873