Australian film festivals 2026–27: dates & submission deadlines

Submission windows and festival dates for the current filters
Festival	Dates by month
MQFFSubmissions: opens May 2026 (approx.); closes 3 Aug 2026 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens May · Closes early Aug. Festival: Nov 2026 (approx.).
MWFFSubmissions: opens May 2026 (approx.); closes 2 Oct 2026. Opens May · Closes early Oct. Festival: 18 Mar 2027 – 21 Mar 2027.
MNFFSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 31 Mar 2027. Opens Aug · Closes Mar. Festival: 1 May 2027 – 2 May 2027.
SFFSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 26 Feb 2027. Opens Oct · Closes late Feb. Festival: 9 Jun 2027 – 20 Jun 2027.
SCINEMA International Science Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 31 May 2027. Opens Aug · Closes May. Festival: 14 Aug 2027 – 22 Aug 2027.
UDFFSubmissions: opens Mar 2027 (approx.); closes Jun 2027 (approx.). Opens Mar · Closes June. Festival: Sep 2027 (approx.).
AFINSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 27 Jun 2027. Opens late Oct · Closes late Jun. Festival: 10 Oct 2027 – 23 Oct 2027.
Cinematic Horror Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Apr 2027 (approx.); closes 31 Aug 2027. Opens Apr · Closes Aug. Festival: 31 Oct 2027 – 31 Oct 2027.

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

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)
MWFF
Genre, identity & specialised

Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF)

Melbourne, VIC · ACMI
Next: 18 Mar 2027 (in 4 months)

Entries open May 2027

Festival
March

Entries
Opens May · Closes early Oct

Fees
$20–$55 AUD depending on category and tier (waivers for First Nations & diverse creators)

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Short films (up to 20 min including credits) and web series with a woman or gender-diverse filmmaker in a key creative role, from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Moana Oceania. Narrative, documentary, animation, music video and experimental work; no features. Generative AI banned.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Series & web series
- Music videos
- Independent cinema
- Women & gender-diverse
- Cash prizes
Details for Melbourne Women in Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
MNFF
Short film

Melbourne Nocturnal Film Festival (MNFF)

Collingwood, Melbourne, VIC · Eclipse Cinema
Next: 1 May 2027 (in 6 months)

Open for entries · closes 31 Mar 2027

Festival
1–2 May 2027

Entries
Opens Aug · Closes Mar

Fees
$16–$40 standard entries · First Nations waivers; currency unconfirmed

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Australian-made narrative, documentary, animated and experimental shorts with an offbeat emphasis. Films must be strictly under 30 minutes. Premiere status is preferred but not required, and First Nations filmmakers can request a fee waiver.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Experimental & underground
- Local / state-made
Details for Melbourne Nocturnal 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)
SCINEMA International Science Film Festival
Genre, identity & specialised

SCINEMA International Science Film Festival

Palmerston, Canberra, ACT
Next: 14 Aug 2027 (in 9 months)

Open for entries · closes 31 May 2027

Festival
14–22 Aug 2027 · Online and community screenings

Entries
Opens Aug · Closes May

Fees
$10–$60 across categories · Student rates and requested waivers; currency unconfirmed

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Science-themed features, shorts, documentaries, animation, experimental films and television series. Films are considered for jury awards and a separate online/community screening program during National Science Week. Student fee waivers can be requested; awards are trophies rather than cash.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Series & web series
- Science
Details for SCINEMA International Science Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
UDFF
Short film

Underdog Film Fest (UDFF)

Kingston, Logan, QLD · Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct
Next: Sep 2027 (in 10 months)

Entries open Mar 2027

Festival
September

Entries
Opens Mar · Closes June

Fees
Early entry $7.50 student / $12.50 general · Later rates unconfirmed

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Independent short-film festival in Logan, welcoming diverse filmmakers including First Nations and LGBTQIA+ creators. Australian-made films compete; international shorts may enter an out-of-competition category using a requested waiver. Selected films require hardcoded English subtitles.
- Shorts
- Independent cinema
- LGBTQIA+
- First Nations
- Local / state-made
Details for Underdog Film Fest Submit (external site) Website (external site)
AFIN
Genre, identity & specialised

AFIN International Film Festival (AFIN)

Brisbane, QLD · SunPAC & Dendy Cinemas Portside
Next: 10 Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

Open for entries · closes 27 Jun 2027

Festival
October

Entries
Opens late Oct · Closes late Jun

Fees
Shorts $26–$44 AUD · Features $33–$50 AUD (free for First Nations)

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Brisbane-based international festival celebrating independent cinema across features, shorts, documentaries, animations, series, and screenplays. Features 22 award categories with crystal trophies and memberships, plus free entry for Australian First Nations filmmakers. No strict premiere required, though premieres are prioritised.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Series & web series
- Screenplays
- Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
- Horror
- Independent cinema
- First Nations
Details for AFIN International Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Cinematic Horror Film Festival
Genre, identity & specialised

Cinematic Horror Film Festival

Southport, Gold Coast, QLD · Dendy Cinemas Southport
Next: 31 Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

Entries open Apr 2027

Festival
31 Oct 2027

Entries
Opens Apr · Closes Aug

Fees
Shorts $25–$30 · Features $50–$100 · Other categories vary; currency unconfirmed

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Horror features, shorts, documentaries, animation, music videos and television pilots. No premiere requirement; recent work is prioritised. Student entries have a separate category and discretionary fee waivers are available.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Series & web series
- Music videos
- Horror
Details for Cinematic Horror Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

Australian film festivals, sorted by what's next

Submission calendar (8)

Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF)

Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF)

Melbourne Nocturnal Film Festival (MNFF)

Sydney Film Festival (SFF)

SCINEMA International Science Film Festival

Underdog Film Fest (UDFF)

AFIN International Film Festival (AFIN)

Cinematic Horror Film Festival

Festival
MQFF
MWFF
MNFF
SFF
SCINEMA International Science Film Festival
UDFF
AFIN
Cinematic Horror Film Festival