Film Festivals AU

Submission windows and festival dates for the current filters
Festival	Dates by month
Made in the West Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Mar 2026 (approx.); closes 9 Oct 2026 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Mar · Closes early Oct. Festival: Nov 2026 (approx.).
PFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2026 (approx.); closes 4 Dec 2026. Opens Feb · Closes early Dec. Festival: 8 Jan 2027 – 12 Jan 2027.
FLiCKERFESTSubmissions: opens Jun 2026 (approx.); closes 14 Oct 2026. Opens Jun · Closes mid-Oct. Festival: 22 Jan 2027 – 31 Jan 2027.
FFFSubmissions: opens Jun 2026 (approx.); closes 1 Dec 2026. Opens Jun · Closes early Dec. Festival: 6 Feb 2027 – 6 Feb 2027.
AIFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2026 (approx.); closes 18 Sep 2026 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Feb · Closes mid-Sep. Festival: 12 Feb 2027 – 13 Feb 2027.
SKFFSubmissions: opens Sep 2026 (approx.); closes 15 Jan 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Sep · Closes mid-Jan. Festival: 3 Jun 2027 – 13 Jun 2027.
Heart of GoldSubmissions: opens Mar 2027 (approx.); closes 30 Jun 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Mar · Closes mid-year. Festival: Sep 2027 – Oct 2027 (approx.).
CSFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2027 (approx.); closes 30 Jun 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Feb · Closes late Jun. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.).
Port Shorts Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Apr 2027 (approx.); closes 1 Sep 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Apr · Closes early Sep. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.).

9 of 33 festivals · sorted by next festival date · Clear filters

Made in the West Film Festival
Short film

Made in the West Film Festival

Liverpool, NSW · Event Cinemas Liverpool
This month

Entries open Mar 2027

Festival
November

Entries
Opens Mar · Closes early Oct

Fees
$35–$50 AUD (early bird to late round)

Submit via
Direct portal (festival website)

Western Sydney's flagship short film festival, screening finalists at Event Cinemas Liverpool. Films must be under 30 minutes and have cast, crew or locations from Western Sydney.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Series & web series
- Music videos
- Regional filmmakers
- Local / state-made
- Cash prizes
Details for Made in the West Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
PFF
Short film

Peninsula Film Festival (PFF)

Rosebud, VIC · Rosebud Village Green
Next: 8 Jan 2027 (in 2 months)

Closing soon · entries close 4 Dec

Festival
January

Entries
Opens Feb · Closes early Dec

Fees
$25 AUD standard ($15 Emerging Filmmaker Award)

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Iconic outdoor short film festival on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, judged live by a panel of celebrity judges with up to $30K in cash and prizes.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Independent cinema
- Regional filmmakers
- Youth & students
- Cash prizes
Details for Peninsula Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
FLiCKERFEST
Short film

Flickerfest (FLiCKERFEST)

Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW · Bondi Pavilion
Next: 22 Jan 2027 (in 2 months)

Entries open Jun 2027

Festival
January

Entries
Opens Jun · Closes mid-Oct

Fees
~$17–$60 AUD (Specsavers TVC ad competition free)

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Australia's leading Academy Award® and BAFTA qualifying international short film festival, staged at Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach. Requires Australian premieres for competitive shorts up to 35 minutes.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Independent cinema
- Youth & students
- Academy Award® qualifying
- BAFTA qualifying
- Cash prizes
Details for Flickerfest Submit (external site) Website (external site)
FFF
Short film

Fleurieu Film Festival (FFF)

McLaren Vale, SA · McLaren Vale Visitor Centre
Next: 6 Feb 2027 (in 3 months)

Closing soon · entries close 1 Dec

Festival
February

Entries
Opens Jun · Closes early Dec

Fees
$20–$35 AUD ($28–$33 student)

Submit via
FilmFreeway

South Australia's premier outdoor short film festival held in the McLaren Vale wine region. Screens short fiction and documentaries with cash prizes and awards across Australian and international categories. Max 15 minutes.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Independent cinema
- Regional filmmakers
- Cash prizes
Details for Fleurieu Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
AIFF
Short film

Australia Independent Film Festival (AIFF)

Brisbane, QLD · Palace Cinemas James Street
Next: 12 Feb 2027 (in 3 months)

Entries open Feb 2027

Festival
February

Entries
Opens Feb · Closes mid-Sep

Fees
~$25–$50 AUD depending on category

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Brisbane-based celebration of exceptional independent cinema from Queensland, Australia, and internationally. Features narrative shorts, documentaries, student films, and screenplays with no strict premiere restrictions.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Screenplays
- Independent cinema
- Cash prizes
Details for Australia Independent Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
SKFF
Short film

St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF)

St Kilda, Melbourne, VIC · The Astor Theatre & Alex Theatre
Next: 3 Jun 2027 (in 7 months)

Open for entries · closes 15 Jan 2027

Festival
June

Entries
Opens Sep · Closes mid-Jan

Fees
Top Shorts ~$35–$60 AUD · Free for Under the Radar (youth)

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Australia's longest-running short film festival, produced by the City of Port Phillip and accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscar® qualifying). Showcases Australia's Top Short Films competition. Victorian premiere required.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Music videos
- Independent cinema
- Youth & students
- Academy Award® qualifying
- AACTA qualifying
- Cash prizes
Details for St Kilda Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Heart of Gold
Short film

Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival (Heart of Gold)

Gympie, QLD
Next: Sep 2027 (in 10 months)

Entries open Mar 2027

Festival
September / October

Entries
Opens Mar · Closes mid-year

Fees
~$30–$50 AUD

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Regional Queensland festival celebrating heartwarming, inspiring, and uplifting short films from Australia and worldwide. Features fiction, documentary, animation, and student works. Max 30 minutes.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Regional filmmakers
- Uplifting stories
- Cash prizes
Details for Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
CSFF
Short film

Canberra Short Film Festival (CSFF)

Canberra, ACT · Dendy Cinemas Canberra Centre
Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

Entries open Feb 2027

Festival
October

Entries
Opens Feb · Closes late Jun

Fees
~$25–$45 AUD

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Long-running ACT short film festival screening national and international shorts up to 20 minutes across fiction, documentary, animation, music videos, and local categories.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Music videos
- Independent cinema
- First Nations
- Local / state-made
- Cash prizes
Details for Canberra Short Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Port Shorts Film Festival
Short film

Port Shorts Film Festival

Port Douglas, QLD · Rex Smeal Park
Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

Entries open Apr 2027

Festival
October

Entries
Opens Apr · Closes early Sep

Fees
~$30–$45 AUD

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Tropical outdoor short film festival in Far North Queensland and an official AACTA Awards qualifying event. Features Open, Local, Music Video, and Reel Futures youth categories under the palms at Rex Smeal Park.
- Shorts
- Music videos
- Regional filmmakers
- Youth & students
- AACTA qualifying
- Cash prizes
Details for Port Shorts Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

Australian film festivals, sorted by what's next

Submission calendar (9)

Made in the West Film Festival

Peninsula Film Festival (PFF)

Flickerfest (FLiCKERFEST)

Fleurieu Film Festival (FFF)

Australia Independent Film Festival (AIFF)

St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF)

Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival (Heart of Gold)

Canberra Short Film Festival (CSFF)

Port Shorts Film Festival

Festival
Made in the West Film Festival
PFF
FLiCKERFEST
FFF
AIFF
SKFF
Heart of Gold
CSFF
Port Shorts Film Festival