Australian film festivals 2027: dates & submission deadlines

Submission windows and festival dates for the current filters
Festival	Dates by month
GCFFSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 22 Jan 2027. Opens mid-Aug · Closes late Jan. Festival: 28 Apr 2027 – 9 May 2027.
SFFSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 26 Feb 2027. Opens Oct · Closes late Feb. Festival: 9 Jun 2027 – 20 Jun 2027.
RevSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 28 Feb 2027. Opens late Aug · Closes late Feb. Festival: 7 Jul 2027 – 18 Jul 2027.
CinefestOZSubmissions: opens Feb 2027 (approx.); closes 1 Jun 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Feb · Closes June 1. Festival: Aug 2027 – Sep 2027 (approx.).
MIFFSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 16 Feb 2027. Opens mid-Oct · Closes mid-Feb. Festival: 5 Aug 2027 – 22 Aug 2027.
DIFFSubmissions: opens Mar 2027 (approx.); closes 18 Jun 2027. Opens Mar · Closes mid-Jun. Festival: 9 Sep 2027 – 19 Sep 2027.
AFFSubmissions: opens Nov 2026 (approx.); closes 8 Jun 2027. Opens Nov · Closes early Jun. Festival: 20 Oct 2027 – 31 Oct 2027.
BBFFSubmissions: opens Nov 2026 (approx.); closes 31 Aug 2027. Opens Nov · Closes late Aug. Festival: 22 Oct 2027 – 31 Oct 2027.

8 of 71 festivals · sorted by next festival date · Clear filters

GCFF
Major

Gold Coast Film Festival (GCFF)

Gold Coast, QLD · HOTA (Home of the Arts)
Next: 28 Apr 2027 (in 5 months)

Open for entries · closes 22 Jan 2027

Festival
April / May

Entries
Opens mid-Aug · Closes late Jan

Fees
Scripts & Web Series $20–$40 AUD · Shorts & Features $40–$70 AUD

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Queensland festival held at HOTA celebrating features, SIPFEST short films, web series, and screenplays. Queensland premiere strictly required for feature and short film competition entries. AACTA Award-qualifying for features.
- Features
- Shorts
- Series & web series
- Screenplays
- Independent cinema
- AACTA qualifying
- Cash prizes
Details for Gold Coast Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
SFF
Major

Sydney Film Festival (SFF)

Sydney, NSW · State Theatre & Dendy Newtown
Next: 9 Jun 2027 (in 7 months)

Open for entries · closes 26 Feb 2027

Festival
June

Entries
Opens Oct · Closes late Feb

Fees
~$45 AUD flat fee (free for First Nations & Screenability)

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Features, documentaries and shorts (under 40 min). NSW premiere strictly required for features. Home of the Academy-qualifying Dendy Awards, Sustainable Future Award, and the $20,000 Documentary Australia Award.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Independent cinema
- First Nations
- Academy Award® qualifying
- Cash prizes
Details for Sydney Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Rev
Major

Revelation Perth International Film Festival (Rev)

Perth, WA · Luna Cinemas Leederville
Next: 7 Jul 2027 (in 8 months)

Open for entries · closes 28 Feb 2027

Festival
July

Entries
Opens late Aug · Closes late Feb

Fees
$40–$60 AUD flat fee across categories

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Western Australia's champion of independent, underground, documentary, and experimental screen culture. Western Australian premieres required for all feature-length projects.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- VR / XR
- Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
- Experimental & underground
- Independent cinema
- Local / state-made
- Cash prizes
Details for Revelation Perth International Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
CinefestOZ
Major

CinefestOZ

Busselton / Margaret River, WA
Next: Aug 2027 (in 9 months)

Entries open Feb 2027

Festival
August / September

Entries
Opens Feb · Closes June 1

Fees
~$50–$100 AUD depending on category

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Premieres Australian and French-Australian features, documentaries, and shorts across regional WA. Home of the prestigious $100,000 AUD CinefestOZ Film Prize; Western Australian premiere required.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Series & web series
- Music videos
- VR / XR
- Independent cinema
- Regional filmmakers
- Cash prizes
Details for CinefestOZ Submit (external site) Website (external site)
MIFF
Major

Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF)

Melbourne, VIC · ACMI, The Capitol, Forum Melbourne
Next: 5 Aug 2027 (in 9 months)

Open for entries · closes 16 Feb 2027

Festival
August

Entries
Opens mid-Oct · Closes mid-Feb

Fees
Shorts $50–$95 AUD · Features $90–$145 AUD

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Australia's largest and most significant film festival and home of the MIFF Shorts Awards (Academy Award®, BAFTA, and Canadian Screen Award qualifying). Victoria premiere required for all selections.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- VR / XR
- Independent cinema
- Academy Award® qualifying
- BAFTA qualifying
- Cash prizes
Details for Melbourne International Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
DIFF
Deckchair Cinema photo by DaHuzyBru, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized).

Major

Darwin International Film Festival (DIFF)

Darwin, NT · Deckchair Cinema
Next: 9 Sep 2027 (in 10 months)

Entries open Mar 2027

Festival
September

Entries
Opens Mar · Closes mid-Jun

Fees
$15 AUD flat fee ($10 student)

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Iconic outdoor cinema festival held at the waterfront Deckchair Cinema in Darwin. Features international, Australian, and Southeast Asian cinema; selected shorts receive a $100 screening fee.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Independent cinema
- Regional filmmakers
- Cash prizes
Details for Darwin International Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
AFF
Major

Adelaide Film Festival (AFF)

Adelaide, SA · Adelaide Studios
Next: 20 Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

Open for entries · closes 8 Jun 2027

Festival
October

Entries
Opens Nov · Closes early Jun

Fees
Shorts $40–$75 AUD · Features $80–$130 AUD

Submit via
FilmFreeway

South Australia's premier screen event showcasing Australian and international narrative features, documentaries, shorts, and series. Competitive festival requiring South Australian premieres for feature-length films.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Series & web series
- VR / XR
- Independent cinema
- Cash prizes
Details for Adelaide Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
BBFF
Major

Byron Bay International Film Festival (BBFF)

Byron Bay, NSW · Palace Byron Bay
Next: 22 Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

Open for entries · closes 31 Aug 2027

Festival
October

Entries
Opens Nov · Closes late Aug

Fees
$30–$75 AUD depending on category and tier

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Celebrates independent cinema across dramatic features, documentaries, shorts, animations, surf/environmental films, and VR/XR. Prefers NSW premieres for major titles and awards cash prizes.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Music videos
- VR / XR
- Screenplays
- Independent cinema
- Regional filmmakers
- Surf & environment
- Cash prizes
Details for Byron Bay International Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

Australian film festivals, sorted by what's next

Submission calendar (8)

Gold Coast Film Festival (GCFF)

Sydney Film Festival (SFF)

Revelation Perth International Film Festival (Rev)

CinefestOZ

Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF)

Darwin International Film Festival (DIFF)

Adelaide Film Festival (AFF)

Byron Bay International Film Festival (BBFF)

Submission windows and festival dates for the current filters
Festival
GCFF
SFF
Rev
CinefestOZ
MIFF
DIFF
AFF
BBFF