Australian film festivals 2027: dates & submission deadlines

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 (3)

├─┤ 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	Dates by month
MWFFSubmissions: opens May 2026 (approx.); closes 2 Oct 2026. Opens May · Closes early Oct. Festival: 18 Mar 2027 – 21 Mar 2027.
SWIFFSubmissions: opens Jan 2026 (approx.); closes 30 Nov 2026. Opens Jan · Closes Nov. Festival: 11 Apr 2027 – 17 Apr 2027.
AWFFSubmissions: opening TBC; closing TBC. Opening TBC · Closes July. Festival: Sep 2027 (approx.).

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

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)
SWIFF
Genre, identity & specialised

Sydney Women’s International Film Festival (SWIFF)

Sydney, NSW · Palace Cinemas Moore Park
Next: 11 Apr 2027 (in 5 months)

Closing soon · entries close 30 Nov

Festival
11–17 Apr 2027

Entries
Opens Jan · Closes Nov

Fees
Shorts/music videos $37–$105 · Features $100–$200 · Other categories vary; currency unconfirmed

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Features, shorts, documentaries, animation, music videos, web series and screenplays supporting women and non-binary filmmakers. Film entries require both an eligible key creative and protagonist. NSW cinematic release and online availability restrictions apply, with exceptions for web series and music videos.
- Features
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Series & web series
- Music videos
- Screenplays
- Women & gender-diverse
- Smartphone filmmaking
Details for Sydney Women’s International Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
AWFF
Genre, identity & specialised

Australian Women’s Film Festival (AWFF)

Sydney, NSW · Event Cinemas George Street
Next: Sep 2027 (in 10 months)

Submission dates TBC

Festival
September

Entries
Opening TBC · Closes July

Fees
$36–$45 USD · Previous-cycle rates

Submit via
FilmFreeway

Short films with at least three female key creatives. Fiction must pass the Bechdel Test, with discretion for documentaries and other forms that cannot technically meet it. Films must not have been broadcast on Australian television or widely distributed online before the festival.
- Shorts
- Documentaries
- Animation
- Women & gender-diverse
Details for Australian Women’s Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

Submission windows and festival dates for the current filters
Festival
MWFF
SWIFF
AWFF

Australian film festivals, sorted by what's next

Submission calendar (3)

Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF)

Sydney Women’s International Film Festival (SWIFF)

Australian Women’s Film Festival (AWFF)