The Newtown Flicks was established as a non-profit organisation in 2005, "to meet the demands of the underground Sydney short film industry".
The festival was created by Martin Kelly, Bill Jordan, and Spiros Hristias while the three worked as equipment operators in the bio box of New Theatre, a live performance venue in Newtown.
[citation needed] Over the years Newtown Flicks received grants from City of Sydney and Screen NSW.
[citation needed] After the 2012 festival, Newtown Flicks announced that the organisation was moving into film production.
In June 2010 Newtown Flicks Short Film Festival landed at the PACT Theatre, where the judging panel was led by director Bruce Beresford.