Ask Hugo Weaving about how hard it is for Australian films at a time when Avengers: Endgame is swamping cinemas, and the veteran actor points to a little-seen revenge drama that is director Jennifer Kent's follow-up to the acclaimed The Babadook.

"The Nightingale was at Venice last year and it made a big splash," said the Matrix, Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogy star at the launch of the Sydney Film Festival program. "In the same year that Roma was winning awards there, The Nightingale was winning awards too – but we haven't seen it yet in this country."

Bryan Brown, Rachel Ward and Hugo Weaving at the launch of the program for next month's Sydney Film Festival at Sydney Town Hall. Credit:Cole Bennetts

While impressing at Cannes or Venice was once an excellent way of launching an Australian film, Weaving said it was no longer enough, which made the Sydney Film Festival – running from June 5 to 16 and in its 66th year – even more important.