Australian film festivals, sorted by what's next

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

1. MUFF

   Genre, identity & specialised

   Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF)

   Melbourne, VIC
   Next: 26 Nov 2026 (in 17 days)

   Entries open Dec

   Festival

   November

   Entries

   Opens Dec · Closes late Oct

   Fees

   ~$35–$55 AUD

   Submit via

   FilmFreeway

   Long-running independent festival showcasing cutting-edge, cult, experimental, transgressive, and alternative Australian and international cinema across feature, short, and documentary formats. Submissions via FilmFreeway with no premiere requirement; selected films are bound by an irrevocable screening agreement.

   • Features
   • Shorts
   • Documentaries
   • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
   • Horror
   • Experimental & underground
   • Independent cinema

   Details for Melbourne Underground Film Festival Submit ↗ (external site) Website ↗ (external site)

2. FFFA

   Genre, identity & specialised

   Fantastic Film Festival Australia (FFFA)

   Melbourne, VIC & Sydney, NSW · Lido Cinemas & Ritz Cinemas
   Next: 23 Apr 2027 (in 5 months)

   Open for entries · closes 31 Jan 2027

   Festival

   April / May

   Entries

   Opens late Sep · Closes late Jan

   Fees

   $30–$60 AUD depending on tier and category

   Submit via

   FilmFreeway

   Genre festival for sci-fi, horror, fantasy and boundary-pushing cinema, screening at Lido Cinemas (Melbourne) and Ritz Cinemas (Sydney). Australian features compete for the $10,000 Fantastic Film Prize, presented with Umbrella Entertainment. VIC and NSW premieres required for features.

   • Features
   • Shorts
   • Animation
   • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
   • Horror
   • Cash prizes

   Details for Fantastic Film Festival Australia Submit ↗ (external site) Website ↗ (external site)

3. SLSFF

   Short film

   Sparrowland Short Film Festival (SLSFF)

   Brisbane, QLD · PIP Theatre
   Next: 6 Aug 2027 (in 9 months)

   Open for entries · closes 31 May 2027

   Festival

   August

   Entries

   Opens Aug · Closes late May

   Fees

   ~$10–$30 AUD

   Submit via

   FilmFreeway

   Independent short film festival held at PIP Theatre in Milton, Brisbane, dedicated to unique, heartfelt short films up to 20 minutes. Accepts drama, comedy, horror, queer, animation, student, music video, and documentary works. No premiere requirements.

   • Shorts
   • Documentaries
   • Animation
   • Series & web series
   • Music videos
   • Horror
   • Independent cinema
   • LGBTQIA+
   • Youth & students

   Details for Sparrowland Short Film Festival Submit ↗ (external site) Website ↗ (external site)

4. Dark Nights Film Fest

   Genre, identity & specialised

   Dark Nights Film Fest

   Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW · The Reservoir Cinema
   Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

   Submission dates TBC

   Festival

   October

   Entries

   Opening TBC · Closes Aug

   Fees

   Fee schedule not confirmed

   Submit via

   FilmFreeway

   Horror and dark-genre short films, webisodes, narrative music videos and unproduced screenplays. Film submissions must be under 30 minutes, retain NSW premiere status and meet public-availability restrictions. The festival reserves most short-film slots for its open call.

   • Shorts
   • Animation
   • Series & web series
   • Music videos
   • Screenplays
   • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
   • Horror
   • Independent cinema

   Details for Dark Nights Film Fest Submit ↗ (external site) Website ↗ (external site)

5. Monster Fest

   Genre, identity & specialised

   Monster Fest

   Melbourne, VIC · Cinema Nova
   Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

   Entries open Jan 2027

   Festival

   October

   Entries

   Opens early year · Closes early Sep

   Fees

   Shorts $35–$60 AUD · Features $60–$90 AUD

   Submit via

   FilmFreeway

   Horror, dark fantasy and extreme genre cinema. Features (60–120 min, Australian premiere) and shorts (15 min or less, Victorian premiere). Strict anti-AI policy.

   • Features
   • Shorts
   • Animation
   • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
   • Horror
   • Cash prizes

   Details for Monster Fest Submit ↗ (external site) Website ↗ (external site)

6. 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)

7. 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)