Australian film festivals, sorted by what's next

7 of 33 festivals · sorted by next festival date · Clear filters

1. Made in the West Film Festival

   Short film

   Made in the West Film Festival

   Liverpool, NSW · Event Cinemas Liverpool
   This month

   Entries open Mar 2027

   Festival

   November

   Entries

   Opens Mar · Closes early Oct

   Fees

   $35–$50 AUD (early bird to late round)

   Submit via

   Direct portal (festival website)

   Western Sydney's flagship short film festival, screening finalists at Event Cinemas Liverpool. Films must be under 30 minutes and have cast, crew or locations from Western Sydney.

   • Shorts
   • Documentaries
   • Animation
   • Series & web series
   • Music videos
   • Regional filmmakers
   • Local / state-made
   • Cash prizes

   Details for Made in the West Film Festival Submit ↗ (external site) Website ↗ (external site)

2. 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)

3. 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)

4. CinefestOZ

   Major

   CinefestOZ

   Busselton / Margaret River, WA
   Next: Aug 2027 (in 9 months)

   Entries open Feb 2027

   Festival

   August / September

   Entries

   Opens Feb · Closes June 1

   Fees

   ~$50–$100 AUD depending on category

   Submit via

   FilmFreeway

   Premieres Australian and French-Australian features, documentaries, and shorts across regional WA. Home of the prestigious $100,000 AUD CinefestOZ Film Prize; Western Australian premiere required.

   • Features
   • Shorts
   • Documentaries
   • Series & web series
   • Music videos
   • VR / XR
   • Independent cinema
   • Regional filmmakers
   • Cash prizes

   Details for CinefestOZ Submit ↗ (external site) Website ↗ (external site)

5. 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)

6. Port Shorts Film Festival

   Short film

   Port Shorts Film Festival

   Port Douglas, QLD · Rex Smeal Park
   Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

   Entries open Apr 2027

   Festival

   October

   Entries

   Opens Apr · Closes early Sep

   Fees

   ~$30–$45 AUD

   Submit via

   FilmFreeway

   Tropical outdoor short film festival in Far North Queensland and an official AACTA Awards qualifying event. Features Open, Local, Music Video, and Reel Futures youth categories under the palms at Rex Smeal Park.

   • Shorts
   • Music videos
   • Regional filmmakers
   • Youth & students
   • AACTA qualifying
   • Cash prizes

   Details for Port Shorts Film Festival Submit ↗ (external site) Website ↗ (external site)

7. BBFF

   Major

   Byron Bay International Film Festival (BBFF)

   Byron Bay, NSW · Palace Byron Bay
   Next: 22 Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

   Open for entries · closes 31 Aug 2027

   Festival

   October

   Entries

   Opens Nov · Closes late Aug

   Fees

   $30–$75 AUD depending on category and tier

   Submit via

   FilmFreeway

   Celebrates independent cinema across dramatic features, documentaries, shorts, animations, surf/environmental films, and VR/XR. Prefers NSW premieres for major titles and awards cash prizes.

   • Features
   • Shorts
   • Documentaries
   • Animation
   • Music videos
   • VR / XR
   • Screenplays
   • Independent cinema
   • Regional filmmakers
   • Surf & environment
   • Cash prizes

   Details for Byron Bay International Film Festival Submit ↗ (external site) Website ↗ (external site)