Australian film festivals, sorted by what's next

71 festivals and their submission windows, from the major international festivals to short film, genre and identity-focused events. Every listing links straight to the festival's official website and submission page.

Submission calendar (14)

├─┤ Submissions ▬ Festival ┄ Approximate / recurring dates │ Today: 2026-11-09
Next festival edition and its preceding submission window; closed windows stay visible. Dashed boxes show possible months, not confirmed days. Scroll for all festivals and months; hover a row for dates.

Submission windows and festival dates for the current filters
Festival
FOA
MQFF
MFF
SF3
Understory Film Festival
Trop Jr
BFF
GIFF
SWIFF / Nextwave
SKFF
AUYFF
SFC
VSFF
AIFF

Choose your calendar

Includes festival dates for all current matches. Approximate dates cover the possible months and are marked tentative. This is a one-time import; changes here will not sync automatically.

Festival type All Major Short film Genre, identity & specialised

Search festivals Open for entries now Sort by

Filters (1)

Festival month

My film's runtime minutes

Hides festivals with a lower maximum runtime.

State / territory NSW (22) VIC (20) QLD (16) WA (7) SA (4) TAS (3) ACT (5) NT (2)

Accepts Features (36) Shorts (70) Documentaries (55) Animation (45) Series & web series (14) Music videos (19) VR / XR (7) Screenplays (7)

Focus Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult) (11) Horror (7) Comedy (1) Science (2) Documentary (3) Experimental & underground (9) Independent cinema (30) LGBTQIA+ (7) Women & gender-diverse (3) First Nations (8) Disability (3) Multicultural & diaspora (2) Regional filmmakers (18) Local / state-made (15) Youth & students (18) Smartphone filmmaking (4) Surf & environment (5) Uplifting stories (4)

Awards & qualifying Academy Award® qualifying (4) BAFTA qualifying (2) AACTA qualifying (3) Cash prizes (44)

Premiere rules Premiere required (17) Premiere preferred (9) No premiere requirement (25)

Entry fees Free entry (14) Fee waivers available (8) Student rates (34)

Submit via FilmFreeway (65) Festhome (3) Festival website (8)

Clear all

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

FOA
Genre, identity & specialised

Focus on Ability Short Film Festival (FOA)

Chatswood, Sydney, NSW · The Concourse
This month

Entries open Feb 2027

Festival
October / November

Entries
Opens Feb · Closes Jul

Fees
Free entry

Submit via
Direct portal (festival website)

International short film festival organised by NOVA Employment celebrating the achievements and abilities of people with disability. Free to enter for films up to 5 minutes across school, open, and international short film and documentary categories, competing for substantial cash and mentoring prizes alongside online public voting.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Disability
- Youth & students
- Uplifting stories
- Cash prizes
Details for Focus on Ability Short Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
MQFF
Genre, identity & specialised

Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF)

Melbourne, VIC · ACMI & Village Jam Factory
This month

Entries open May 2027

Festival
November

Entries
Opens May · Closes early Aug

Fees
Free for Australian entrants (waiver code by email); fees apply to international entries

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Australia's oldest and largest LGBTQIA+ film festival, screening more than 140 features, shorts and documentaries across Melbourne. Entry is free for Australian filmmakers.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- LGBTQIA+
- Cash prizes
Details for Melbourne Queer Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
MFF
Genre, identity & specialised

Multicultural Film Festival (MFF)

Melbourne, VIC
This month

Submission dates TBC

Festival
June premiere · Tour to Nov · Online season from Nov

Entries
Current entries closed · Next window TBC

Fees
Free

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Short films exploring multiculturalism, cultural diversity and social cohesion, with Victorian, national and international eligibility varying by award. Includes fiction, documentary, animation and music video. The 2026 program premiered at ACMI, tours Victoria and has an SBS On Demand season.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Music videos
- Multicultural & diaspora
- Cash prizes
Details for Multicultural Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
SF3
Genre, identity & specialised

SmartFone Flick Fest (SF3)

Sydney, NSW · Sydney Opera House
This month

Open for entries · closes 1 Sep 2027

Festival
October / November

Entries
Opens Nov · Closes early Sep

Fees
SF3 Kids Free · Shorts $25–$40 AUD · Features $40–$60 AUD

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Australia's international smartphone film festival dedicated to films shot entirely on mobile phones and tablets. Features competitions for Gala Shorts (under 20 mins), Feature Films, SF3 Kids, and SF3 Mini.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Youth & students
- Smartphone filmmaking
- Cash prizes
Details for SmartFone Flick Fest Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Understory Film Festival
Short film

Understory Film Festival

Cairns, QLD · Tank 5, Tanks Arts Centre
Next: 21 Nov 2026 (in 12 days)

Entries open Jun 2027

Festival
21 Nov 2026

Entries
Opens June · Closes Oct

Fees
Free

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Short films by North and Far North Queensland filmmakers, including residents from Townsville through Cape York, the Gulf and Torres Strait Islands. Accepts documentary, animation, drama, experimental work and music videos; Best Film and People's Choice each receive a $2,500 cash prize.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Music videos
- Regional filmmakers
- Local / state-made
- Cash prizes
Details for Understory Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Trop Jr
Short film

Trop Jr

Melbourne, VIC · The Astor
Next: 4 Dec 2026 (in 25 days)

Entries open Aug 2027

Festival
4 Dec 2026

Entries
Opens Aug · Closes Oct

Fees
Free

Submit via
Direct portal (festival website)

Australian short film festival for filmmakers aged 15 and under. The 2026 signature item is MAP, and the Melbourne grand final is invitation only.
- Shorts
- Youth & students
Details for Trop Jr Submit (external site) Website (external site)
BFF
Genre, identity & specialised

Birrarangga Film Festival (BFF)

Melbourne, VIC · RMIT - The Capitol
Next: 25 Feb 2027 (in 3 months)

Entries open Jul 2027

Festival
Feb / Mar

Entries
Opens Jul · Closes late Oct

Fees
Free to $10 AUD (Shorts) · $10–$25 AUD (Features)

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Australia's premier Indigenous-led biennial film festival celebrating First Nations storytelling through cinema. Features, documentaries, shorts, animations, and VR/XR works, requiring the director or writer/producer to be Indigenous. No premiere status required.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- VR / XR
- Independent cinema
- First Nations
Details for Birrarangga Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
GIFF
Genre, identity & specialised

Gippsland International Film Festival (GIFF)

Warragul / Gippsland, VIC · West Gippsland Arts Centre, Peninsula Cinemas Warragul and regional halls
Next: 12 Mar 2027 (in 4 months)

Open for entries · closes 13 Jan 2027

Festival
12–19 Mar 2027

Entries
Opens Mar · Closes Jan

Fees
Paid categories vary · GIFF x Spark youth category free; paid-fee currency unconfirmed

Submit via
FilmFreeway

International and Australian shorts, including regional and Gippsland categories, with features considered by arrangement. Previously screened and publicly available films can be considered without a premiere requirement. Student rates and a free local youth category are available.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Regional filmmakers
- Local / state-made
Details for Gippsland International Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
SWIFF / Nextwave
Genre, identity & specialised

Screenwave / Nextwave Youth Film Fest (SWIFF / Nextwave)

Coffs Harbour, NSW · CHEC Theatre
Next: Apr 2027 (in 5 months)

Entries open Jun 2027

Festival
April

Entries
Opens mid-year · Closes late Oct

Fees
Free entry for Australian youth (ages 10–25)

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Presented by SWIFF (Screenwave International Film Festival), Nextwave is Australia's largest regional youth short film festival open to filmmakers aged 10-25 with films up to 5 minutes.
- Shorts
- Regional filmmakers
- Youth & students
- Cash prizes
Details for Screenwave / Nextwave Youth Film Fest 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)
AUYFF
Genre, identity & specialised

Australia Youth Film Festival (AUYFF)

Sydney, NSW
Next: 30 Jul 2027 (in 8 months)

Open for entries · closes 31 May 2027

Festival
30–31 July 2027

Entries
Opens July · Closes May

Fees
Free

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Accepts shorts, documentaries, animation and music videos from Australia-based filmmakers aged 15–24, including students and non-students of any nationality. Entries must have been completed within two years of the deadline; previously published films are accepted.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Music videos
- Youth & students
Details for Australia Youth Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
SFC
Genre, identity & specialised

Space Faring Civilisation Film Festival (SFC)

Canberra, ACT · Tuggeranong Arts Centre
Next: 13 Aug 2027 (in 9 months)

Open for entries · closes 1 Jun 2027

Festival
13–14 Aug 2027

Entries
Opens Sept · Closes early June

Fees
Shorts $15–$50 · Features $50–$90 · Student rates and free workshop category; currency unconfirmed

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Science-grounded, optimistic narratives, documentaries and animation, with shorts up to 30 minutes and a selected feature premiere. Features require Canberra premiere status; shorts have no prior-screening restriction. The workshop-participant category is free.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
- Science
- Uplifting stories
Details for Space Faring Civilisation Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
VSFF
Short film

Very Short Film Festival (VSFF)

Hobart, TAS · State Cinema
Next: 3 Sep 2027 (in 10 months)

Entries open Feb 2027

Festival
September

Entries
Opens Feb · Closes early May

Fees
Free entry

Submit via
FilmFreeway

National short film festival premiering 2 to 5 minute Australian stories in Hobart before a nationwide tour. Competition films must incorporate the annual signature theme ('TURN' for 2027) and premiere at the festival. Free to enter across 18 & Under and 19 & Over categories.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Independent cinema
- Regional filmmakers
- Youth & students
- Cash prizes
Details for Very Short Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
AIFF
Short film

Adelaide Independent Film Festival (AIFF)

Adelaide, SA · Capri Theatre and Mercury Cinema
Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

Entries open Jan 2027

Festival
October

Entries
Opens Jan · Closes June

Fees
Paid categories vary · Middle Eastern short-film category free

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Australian and international short films in any genre, completed in any year, with no strict premiere requirement. Includes animation, documentary, student, South Australian and First Nations categories, plus a screenplay program. Student films have a shorter 20-minute limit.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Screenplays
- Independent cinema
- First Nations
- Local / state-made
- Youth & students
Details for Adelaide Independent Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

Browse Australian film festivals

Submissions

Open for entries now

Festival type

Short film festivals
Major festivals
Short films in Victoria
Short films in NSW
Short films in Queensland

State / territory

New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
Western Australia
South Australia
Tasmania
Canberra & ACT
Northern Territory

Accepts

Feature films
Animation
Screenplays
Music videos
Web series & TV
VR / XR

Focus

Horror
Sci-fi, fantasy & genre
Documentary
LGBTQIA+ & queer
First Nations
Youth & students
Experimental & underground
Regional
Smartphone filmmaking
Surf & environment
Women & gender-diverse
Disability
Independent cinema

Awards & qualifying

Oscar, BAFTA & AACTA qualifying

Entry fees

Free to enter

Australian film festivals, sorted by what's next

Submission calendar (14)

Focus on Ability Short Film Festival (FOA)

Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF)

Multicultural Film Festival (MFF)

SmartFone Flick Fest (SF3)

Understory Film Festival

Trop Jr

Birrarangga Film Festival (BFF)

Gippsland International Film Festival (GIFF)

Screenwave / Nextwave Youth Film Fest (SWIFF / Nextwave)

St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF)

Australia Youth Film Festival (AUYFF)

Space Faring Civilisation Film Festival (SFC)

Very Short Film Festival (VSFF)

Adelaide Independent Film Festival (AIFF)