Qualifying film festivals in Australia listed here carry an Academy Award®, BAFTA or AACTA tag; the tags describe different awards pathways. A festival entry or selection does not automatically qualify every film. Check the relevant awarding body’s current rules, the film category and any designated award or screening requirement before relying on a festival as part of your eligibility strategy.
├─┤ 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.
| Festival | Dates by month |
|---|---|
| FLiCKERFESTSubmissions: opens Jun 2026 (approx.); closes 14 Oct 2026. Opens Jun · Closes mid-Oct. Festival: 22 Jan 2027 – 31 Jan 2027. | |
| GCFFSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 22 Jan 2027. Opens mid-Aug · Closes late Jan. Festival: 28 Apr 2027 – 9 May 2027. | |
| SKFFSubmissions: opens Sep 2026 (approx.); closes 15 Jan 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Sep · Closes mid-Jan. Festival: 3 Jun 2027 – 13 Jun 2027. | |
| SFFSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 26 Feb 2027. Opens Oct · Closes late Feb. Festival: 9 Jun 2027 – 20 Jun 2027. | |
| MIFFSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 16 Feb 2027. Opens mid-Oct · Closes mid-Feb. Festival: 5 Aug 2027 – 22 Aug 2027. | |
| Port Shorts Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Apr 2027 (approx.); closes 1 Sep 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Apr · Closes early Sep. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.). |
Includes festival dates for all current matches. Approximate dates cover the possible months and are marked tentative. This is a one-time import; changes here will not sync automatically.
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Short film
Entries open Jun 2027
Australia's leading Academy Award® and BAFTA qualifying international short film festival, staged at Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach. Requires Australian premieres for competitive shorts up to 35 minutes.
Details for Flickerfest Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Major
Open for entries · closes 22 Jan 2027
Queensland festival held at HOTA celebrating features, SIPFEST short films, web series, and screenplays. Queensland premiere strictly required for feature and short film competition entries. AACTA Award-qualifying for features.
Details for Gold Coast Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Open for entries · closes 15 Jan 2027
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.
Details for St Kilda Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Major
Open for entries · closes 26 Feb 2027
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.
Details for Sydney Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Major
Open for entries · closes 16 Feb 2027
Australia's largest and most significant film festival and home of the MIFF Shorts Awards (Academy Award®, BAFTA, and Canadian Screen Award qualifying). Victoria premiere required for all selections.
Details for Melbourne International Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Apr 2027
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.
Details for Port Shorts Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Check the awarding body’s rules for your film category. Festival selection, a designated award and a qualifying screening can have different roles in eligibility. Meeting one festival condition does not establish that all other award entry requirements are satisfied.
