The festival will run from May 29 to June 7, and screen features, shorts, documentaries and more via YouTube.
It’ll also include music, comedy and conversations, with the lineup set to be announced close to the event’s dates.
The virtual festival will raise funds for the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Director of the Sydney Film Festival, Nashen Moodley, said the event was “unprecedented”.
“The festival is truly delighted to partner with these great festivals to celebrate our international community of storytellers and audiences,” Moodley said.
“Sydney Film Festival looks forward to presenting Australian cinema in this global arena, and to bring joy and entertainment to audiences in need of relief.
“Over the past 67 years, SFF has been a platform for discovery, discussion, shared experiences and the exchange of ideas through film.
“In this challenging and uncertain climate, film is more vital than ever – bringing people together, online, to collectively explore the world and our times.
“Though we can’t be together in a cinema at the moment, we are excited to bring the Festival, and other international film festival selections, to homes around the world.”
The festival creators seek to provide unity and raise awareness for coronavirus relief efforts: a sidebar on video pages welcomes audiences to donate to WHO and local relief partners in each region.
