Australian film festivals, sorted by what's next

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

1. LCA

   Short film

   Lights! Canberra! Action! (LCA)

   Canberra, ACT · Senate Rose Gardens, Old Parliament House
   Next: Mar 2027 (in 4 months)

   Entries open Feb 2027

   Festival

   March

   Entries

   Opens Feb · Closes early Mar

   Fees

   $22 student/under-18/inclusive teams · $33 general; currency unconfirmed

   Submit via

   Direct portal (festival website)

   Ten-day filmmaking challenge using an announced theme and Canberra items or locations, followed by a public gala screening. Films can run up to seven minutes including credits. Student, under-18 and disability-inclusive team categories have reduced entry rates.

   • Shorts
   • Animation
   • Disability
   • Local / state-made
   • Youth & students

   Details for Lights! Canberra! Action! Submit ↗ (external site) Website ↗ (external site)

2. NIFFA

   Genre, identity & specialised

   National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA)

   Sydney, NSW
   Next: 17 Mar 2027 (in 4 months)

   Open for entries · closes 10 Jan 2027

   Festival

   17 Mar–27 June 2027 · National circuit

   Entries

   Opens Oct · Closes Jan

   Fees

   Shorts $35–$75 · Features $50–$115 · Student rates available; currency unconfirmed

   Submit via

   FilmFreeway

   National festival accepting features, documentaries and shorts connected to India, the Indian diaspora or Indo-Australian culture. Australian premiere required, and competition films must not be publicly available online. The 2027 circuit includes Sydney, regional NSW and other Australian capitals and regional centres.

   • Features
   • Shorts
   • Documentaries
   • Animation
   • Multicultural & diaspora

   Details for National Indian Film Festival of Australia Submit ↗ (external site) Website ↗ (external site)

3. SFC

   Genre, identity & specialised

   Space Faring Civilisation Film Festival (SFC)

   Canberra, ACT · Tuggeranong Arts Centre
   Next: 13 Aug 2027 (in 9 months)

   Open for entries · closes 1 Jun 2027

   Festival

   13–14 Aug 2027

   Entries

   Opens Sept · Closes early June

   Fees

   Shorts $15–$50 · Features $50–$90 · Student rates and free workshop category; currency unconfirmed

   Submit via

   FilmFreeway

   Science-grounded, optimistic narratives, documentaries and animation, with shorts up to 30 minutes and a selected feature premiere. Features require Canberra premiere status; shorts have no prior-screening restriction. The workshop-participant category is free.

   • Features
   • Shorts
   • Documentaries
   • Animation
   • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
   • Science
   • Uplifting stories

   Details for Space Faring Civilisation Film Festival Submit ↗ (external site) Website ↗ (external site)

4. 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)

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)