Laughs, love and The Oils on Sydney Film Festival slate

Maybe it's a sign of the times - there's more comedy and romance on the 2024 Sydney Film Festival slate.

Organisers usually bemoan a lack of lighter fare to choose from when programming the annual cinematic showcase, according to festival director Nashen Moodley.

"This year it's the opposite, we have so many films that are really funny," he told AAP.

"It's a reaction, perhaps, to difficult circumstances in the world, and filmmakers are making these films that offer a bit of lightness."

Among his picks are Rich Peppiatt's comedy Kneecap, which stars three real-life Belfast rappers who have created their own genre of Irish punk rap.

There's also Kinds of Kindness, the latest offering from Oscar-winning Poor Things director Yorgos Lanthimos, coming directly from the Cannes Film Festival.

Again starring Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe, Moodley promises all kinds of mischief, strangeness and dark humour.

"I think people are going to be screaming with laughter and screaming with other emotions when they see it," Moodley said.

The festival opens with the world premiere of Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line, featuring unseen interviews and live gig and studio footage tracing the band's 45-year career.

There's the famous "Sorry" suits at the Sydney Olympics, their outback tour with the Warumpi Band, and an Exxon protest gig in New York.

The film is powerful and beautifully made, using narration and archival footage in unconventional ways, said Moodley.

"When we think about what's happening in the world and the responsibility of artists in times of turmoil, The Hardest Line provides one such answer."

There are many more, with the festival presenting 197 films from 69 countries, including 28 world premieres.

One of these is Australian boxing drama Kid Snow set in the world of 1970 tent-boxing in West Australia starring Billy Howle and Tom Bateman.

Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner Sujo features, and recent Berlinale Golden Bear winner Dahomey.

There's also the first Indian film to appear in competition at Cannes in three decades, Payal Kapadia's romance All We Imagine As Light.

As for the ongoing debate on romantic comedies, Moodley believes the genre is not dead - but speaking personally, he may not necessarily want to watch them.

"They'd have to be really good," he laughs.

The 71st Sydney Film Festival runs from June 5 to 16.