Skeleton puppets, punk photography and a nocturnal film festival are just some of the weird and wonderful attractions that can be found after dark in Footscray next month.
The 2025 Sleepless Footscray Festival takes place from May 2-18 featuring dozens of public art displays, space activations and performances that only begin once the sun goes down.
Among the attractions will be the much loved Footscray institution, Snuff Puppets, who will be hosting Skullies Cinema.
Held at the historic Footscray Drill Hall on May 2 and 4, the cinema will screen a dozen fun and experimental short Snuff Puppet films, with Skullies – human-sized skeleton puppets – acting as hosts.
From cinematography to photography, Footscray’s Melynda von Wayward will be showcasing images from her youth in Melbourne’s punk scene in ‘Punk a Photographic Journey.’
The installation will be on display at CO-CO Bananas record store for the duration of the festival, with pictures of events such as infamous ‘Punk Pub Crawl’ and other punk gigs around Melbourne between the years 2004 – 2007.
“Come along and see gravity defying hairdos, handcrafted studded jackets, vibrant clothing and the anti-social attitude that goes hand in hand with being a punk,” said Ms von Wayward.
On May 6 and 7, the Melbourne Nocturnal Film Festival (MNFF) will be held in collaboration with Sleepless.
Featuring weird and wonderfully off-beat short films from Australian directors, MNFF will be held at Footscray’s Bluestone Church.
BAD ART: The Rejection Rebellion, The Door in Question and the Footscray Hotel Choir are among the many other events and attractions on the line-up in this year’s Sleepless Festival.
For more information: https://sleeplessfestival.com/
