Australian film festivals 2026–27: dates & submission deadlines

Submission windows and festival dates for the current filters
Festival	Dates by month
CCFFSubmissions: opens Mar 2026 (approx.); closes 1 Sep 2026. Opens Mar · Closes early Sept. Festival: 14 Nov 2026 – 21 Nov 2026.
BFFSubmissions: opens Jul 2026 (approx.); closes 29 Oct 2026. Opens Jul · Closes late Oct. Festival: 25 Feb 2027 – 6 Mar 2027.
SFFSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 26 Feb 2027. Opens Oct · Closes late Feb. Festival: 9 Jun 2027 – 20 Jun 2027.
UDFFSubmissions: opens Mar 2027 (approx.); closes Jun 2027 (approx.). Opens Mar · Closes June. Festival: Sep 2027 (approx.).
AIFFSubmissions: opens Jan 2027 (approx.); closes Jun 2027 (approx.). Opens Jan · Closes June. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.).
CSFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2027 (approx.); closes 30 Jun 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Feb · Closes late Jun. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.).
Fraser Shorts Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes Sep 2027 (approx.). Opens Oct · Closes Sept. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.).
AFINSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 27 Jun 2027. Opens late Oct · Closes late Jun. Festival: 10 Oct 2027 – 23 Oct 2027.

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

CCFF
Genre, identity & specialised

Central Coast Film Festival (CCFF)

Ettalong Beach, NSW · Cinema Paradiso
Next: 14 Nov 2026 (in 5 days)

Entries open Mar 2027

Festival
14–21 Nov 2026

Entries
Opens Mar · Closes early Sept

Fees
$10–$115 AUD across categories · Student and local rates available

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Australian and international features, mid-length films and shorts, with documentary, animation, music video and experimental categories. Dedicated categories recognise Central Coast productions, students, under-18 filmmakers and First Nations work.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Music videos
- Experimental & underground
- First Nations
- Local / state-made
- Youth & students
Details for Central Coast Film Festival 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Fraser Shorts Film Festival
Short film

Fraser Shorts Film Festival

Maryborough / Hervey Bay, QLD · Brolga Theatre and Big Screen Cinema
Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

Open for entries · closes Sep 2027

Festival
October

Entries
Opens Oct · Closes Sept

Fees
$30 flat fee · Previous-cycle rate; currency unconfirmed

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Short films across fiction, documentary, animation, experimental, environmental, First Nations, music video and student categories. Screenings take place in Maryborough and Hervey Bay. Only films made in the Fraser Coast region qualify for the local category.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Music videos
- Experimental & underground
- First Nations
- Regional filmmakers
- Local / state-made
- Youth & students
- Surf & environment
Details for Fraser Shorts Film Festival 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)

Australian film festivals, sorted by what's next

Submission calendar (8)

Central Coast Film Festival (CCFF)

Birrarangga Film Festival (BFF)

Sydney Film Festival (SFF)

Underdog Film Fest (UDFF)

Adelaide Independent Film Festival (AIFF)

Canberra Short Film Festival (CSFF)

Fraser Shorts Film Festival

AFIN International Film Festival (AFIN)

Submission windows and festival dates for the current filters
Festival
CCFF
BFF
SFF
UDFF
AIFF
CSFF
Fraser Shorts Film Festival
AFIN