{
  "today": "2026-11-09",
  "total": 71,
  "matched": 8,
  "offset": 0,
  "limit": 500,
  "filters": {
    "q": "",
    "facets": {
      "focus": [
        "first-nations"
      ]
    },
    "open": false,
    "month": null,
    "runtime": null,
    "sort": "upcoming"
  },
  "festivals": [
    {
      "id": "central-coast-film-festival",
      "name": "Central Coast Film Festival",
      "shortName": "CCFF",
      "location": "Ettalong Beach, NSW",
      "venue": "Cinema Paradiso",
      "summary": "Australian and international features, mid-length films and shorts, with documentary, animation, music video and experimental categories. Dedicated categories recognise Central Coast productions, students, under-18 filmmakers and First Nations work.",
      "websiteUrl": "https://www.centralcoastfilmfestival.com/",
      "submissionUrl": "https://filmfreeway.com/CentralCoastFilmFest",
      "imageUrl": null,
      "sources": [
        "https://filmfreeway.com/CentralCoastFilmFest"
      ],
      "verifiedOn": "2026-11-09",
      "festival": {
        "text": "14–21 Nov 2026",
        "startMonth": 11,
        "endMonth": 11,
        "startDate": "2026-11-14",
        "endDate": "2026-11-21"
      },
      "submissions": {
        "text": "Opens Mar · Closes early Sept",
        "openMonth": 3,
        "closeMonth": 9,
        "closeDay": null,
        "deadline": "2026-09-01"
      },
      "platform": "FilmFreeway",
      "fees": {
        "text": "$10–$115 AUD across categories · Student and local rates available",
        "min": 10,
        "max": 115,
        "currency": "AUD"
      },
      "maxRuntimeMinutes": null,
      "tags": {
        "category": [
          "specialised"
        ],
        "state": [
          "nsw"
        ],
        "format": [
          "feature",
          "short",
          "documentary",
          "animation",
          "music-video"
        ],
        "focus": [
          "experimental",
          "first-nations",
          "local",
          "youth"
        ],
        "cost": [
          "student"
        ],
        "platform": [
          "filmfreeway"
        ]
      },
      "updatedAt": "2026-11-09T01:06:57Z",
      "next": {
        "status": "upcoming",
        "exact": true,
        "startDate": "2026-11-14",
        "endDate": "2026-11-21",
        "monthsAway": 0,
        "daysAway": 5,
        "sortDate": "2026-11-14"
      },
      "submissionStatus": {
        "status": "closed",
        "closesOn": "2027-09-30",
        "closeExact": false,
        "opensOn": "2027-03-01",
        "daysToClose": 325,
        "closingSoon": false
      },
      "url": "https://film-festivals.au/festivals/central-coast-film-festival"
    },
    {
      "id": "birrarangga-film-festival",
      "name": "Birrarangga Film Festival",
      "shortName": "BFF",
      "location": "Melbourne, VIC",
      "venue": "RMIT - The Capitol",
      "summary": "Australia's premier Indigenous-led biennial film festival celebrating First Nations storytelling through cinema. Features, documentaries, shorts, animations, and VR/XR works, requiring the director or writer/producer to be Indigenous. No premiere status required.",
      "websiteUrl": "https://www.birrarangga.world/",
      "submissionUrl": "https://filmfreeway.com/BirraranggaFilmFestival-1",
      "imageUrl": "https://www.birrarangga.world/media/site/9c380c6ce7-1738637361/banner-1-1408x-1200x630-crop.png",
      "sources": [
        "https://filmfreeway.com/BirraranggaFilmFestival-1",
        "https://www.birrarangga.world/"
      ],
      "verifiedOn": "2026-11-08",
      "festival": {
        "text": "Feb / Mar",
        "startMonth": 2,
        "endMonth": 3,
        "startDate": "2027-02-25",
        "endDate": "2027-03-06"
      },
      "submissions": {
        "text": "Opens Jul · Closes late Oct",
        "openMonth": 7,
        "closeMonth": 10,
        "closeDay": 29,
        "deadline": "2026-10-29"
      },
      "platform": "FilmFreeway",
      "fees": {
        "text": "Free to $10 AUD (Shorts) · $10–$25 AUD (Features)",
        "min": 0,
        "max": 25,
        "currency": "AUD"
      },
      "maxRuntimeMinutes": null,
      "tags": {
        "category": [
          "specialised"
        ],
        "state": [
          "vic"
        ],
        "format": [
          "feature",
          "short",
          "documentary",
          "animation",
          "xr"
        ],
        "focus": [
          "independent",
          "first-nations"
        ],
        "premiere": [
          "none"
        ],
        "cost": [
          "free"
        ],
        "platform": [
          "filmfreeway"
        ]
      },
      "updatedAt": "2026-11-08T12:34:33Z",
      "next": {
        "status": "upcoming",
        "exact": true,
        "startDate": "2027-02-25",
        "endDate": "2027-03-06",
        "monthsAway": 3,
        "daysAway": 108,
        "sortDate": "2027-02-25"
      },
      "submissionStatus": {
        "status": "closed",
        "closesOn": "2027-10-29",
        "closeExact": true,
        "opensOn": "2027-07-01",
        "daysToClose": 354,
        "closingSoon": false
      },
      "url": "https://film-festivals.au/festivals/birrarangga-film-festival"
    },
    {
      "id": "sydney-film-festival",
      "name": "Sydney Film Festival",
      "shortName": "SFF",
      "location": "Sydney, NSW",
      "venue": "State Theatre & Dendy Newtown",
      "summary": "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.",
      "websiteUrl": "https://www.sff.org.au/",
      "submissionUrl": "https://filmfreeway.com/SydneyFilmFestival",
      "imageUrl": "https://cms.sff.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DSC_3285-1-scaled.jpg",
      "sources": [
        "https://cms.sff.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/26-10-12-SFF2027-Submissions-Open-MR.pdf",
        "https://filmfreeway.com/SydneyFilmFestival",
        "https://www.sff.org.au/info/submissions/"
      ],
      "verifiedOn": "2026-11-08",
      "festival": {
        "text": "June",
        "startMonth": 6,
        "endMonth": 6,
        "startDate": "2027-06-09",
        "endDate": "2027-06-20"
      },
      "submissions": {
        "text": "Opens Oct · Closes late Feb",
        "openMonth": 10,
        "closeMonth": 2,
        "closeDay": 26,
        "deadline": "2027-02-26"
      },
      "platform": "FilmFreeway",
      "fees": {
        "text": "~$45 AUD flat fee (free for First Nations & Screenability)",
        "min": 45,
        "max": 45,
        "currency": "AUD"
      },
      "maxRuntimeMinutes": null,
      "tags": {
        "category": [
          "major"
        ],
        "state": [
          "nsw"
        ],
        "format": [
          "feature",
          "short",
          "documentary"
        ],
        "focus": [
          "independent",
          "first-nations"
        ],
        "recognition": [
          "academy",
          "cash-prize"
        ],
        "premiere": [
          "required"
        ],
        "cost": [
          "waivers"
        ],
        "platform": [
          "filmfreeway"
        ]
      },
      "updatedAt": "2026-11-08T08:08:12Z",
      "next": {
        "status": "upcoming",
        "exact": true,
        "startDate": "2027-06-09",
        "endDate": "2027-06-20",
        "monthsAway": 7,
        "daysAway": 212,
        "sortDate": "2027-06-09"
      },
      "submissionStatus": {
        "status": "open",
        "closesOn": "2027-02-26",
        "closeExact": true,
        "opensOn": null,
        "daysToClose": 109,
        "closingSoon": false
      },
      "url": "https://film-festivals.au/festivals/sydney-film-festival"
    },
    {
      "id": "underdog-film-fest",
      "name": "Underdog Film Fest",
      "shortName": "UDFF",
      "location": "Kingston, Logan, QLD",
      "venue": "Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct",
      "summary": "Independent short-film festival in Logan, welcoming diverse filmmakers including First Nations and LGBTQIA+ creators. Australian-made films compete; international shorts may enter an out-of-competition category using a requested waiver. Selected films require hardcoded English subtitles.",
      "websiteUrl": "https://www.underdogfilmfest.com.au/",
      "submissionUrl": "https://filmfreeway.com/UnderdogFilmFest",
      "imageUrl": null,
      "sources": [
        "https://filmfreeway.com/UnderdogFilmFest"
      ],
      "verifiedOn": "2026-11-09",
      "festival": {
        "text": "September",
        "startMonth": 9,
        "endMonth": 9,
        "startDate": null,
        "endDate": null
      },
      "submissions": {
        "text": "Opens Mar · Closes June",
        "openMonth": 3,
        "closeMonth": 6,
        "closeDay": null,
        "deadline": null
      },
      "platform": "FilmFreeway",
      "fees": {
        "text": "Early entry $7.50 student / $12.50 general · Later rates unconfirmed",
        "min": null,
        "max": null,
        "currency": null
      },
      "maxRuntimeMinutes": null,
      "tags": {
        "category": [
          "short"
        ],
        "state": [
          "qld"
        ],
        "format": [
          "short"
        ],
        "focus": [
          "independent",
          "lgbtqia",
          "first-nations",
          "local"
        ],
        "cost": [
          "waivers",
          "student"
        ],
        "platform": [
          "filmfreeway"
        ]
      },
      "updatedAt": "2026-11-09T01:06:57Z",
      "next": {
        "status": "upcoming",
        "exact": false,
        "startDate": "2027-09-01",
        "endDate": null,
        "monthsAway": 10,
        "daysAway": 296,
        "sortDate": "2027-09-01"
      },
      "submissionStatus": {
        "status": "closed",
        "closesOn": "2027-06-30",
        "closeExact": false,
        "opensOn": "2027-03-01",
        "daysToClose": 233,
        "closingSoon": false
      },
      "url": "https://film-festivals.au/festivals/underdog-film-fest"
    },
    {
      "id": "adelaide-independent-film-festival",
      "name": "Adelaide Independent Film Festival",
      "shortName": "AIFF",
      "location": "Adelaide, SA",
      "venue": "Capri Theatre and Mercury Cinema",
      "summary": "Australian and international short films in any genre, completed in any year, with no strict premiere requirement. Includes animation, documentary, student, South Australian and First Nations categories, plus a screenplay program. Student films have a shorter 20-minute limit.",
      "websiteUrl": "https://auteursforum.com/aiff/",
      "submissionUrl": "https://filmfreeway.com/AdelaideIndependentFilmFestival",
      "imageUrl": null,
      "sources": [
        "https://filmfreeway.com/AdelaideIndependentFilmFestival",
        "https://auteursforum.com/aiff/latestnews/submissions-for-aiff26-are-now-open"
      ],
      "verifiedOn": "2026-11-09",
      "festival": {
        "text": "October",
        "startMonth": 10,
        "endMonth": 10,
        "startDate": null,
        "endDate": null
      },
      "submissions": {
        "text": "Opens Jan · Closes June",
        "openMonth": 1,
        "closeMonth": 6,
        "closeDay": null,
        "deadline": null
      },
      "platform": "FilmFreeway",
      "fees": {
        "text": "Paid categories vary · Middle Eastern short-film category free",
        "min": null,
        "max": null,
        "currency": null
      },
      "maxRuntimeMinutes": 30,
      "tags": {
        "category": [
          "short"
        ],
        "state": [
          "sa"
        ],
        "format": [
          "short",
          "documentary",
          "animation",
          "screenplay"
        ],
        "focus": [
          "independent",
          "first-nations",
          "local",
          "youth"
        ],
        "premiere": [
          "none"
        ],
        "cost": [
          "free"
        ],
        "platform": [
          "filmfreeway"
        ]
      },
      "updatedAt": "2026-11-09T01:06:57Z",
      "next": {
        "status": "upcoming",
        "exact": false,
        "startDate": "2027-10-01",
        "endDate": null,
        "monthsAway": 11,
        "daysAway": 326,
        "sortDate": "2027-10-01"
      },
      "submissionStatus": {
        "status": "closed",
        "closesOn": "2027-06-30",
        "closeExact": false,
        "opensOn": "2027-01-01",
        "daysToClose": 233,
        "closingSoon": false
      },
      "url": "https://film-festivals.au/festivals/adelaide-independent-film-festival"
    },
    {
      "id": "canberra-short-film-festival",
      "name": "Canberra Short Film Festival",
      "shortName": "CSFF",
      "location": "Canberra, ACT",
      "venue": "Dendy Cinemas Canberra Centre",
      "summary": "Long-running ACT short film festival screening national and international shorts up to 20 minutes across fiction, documentary, animation, music videos, and local categories.",
      "websiteUrl": "https://www.csff.com.au/",
      "submissionUrl": "https://filmfreeway.com/CanbShrtFilmFest",
      "imageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bf08f5_3984df30960f4202b538330f94d84574%7Emv2.png/v1/fit/w_2500,h_1330,al_c/bf08f5_3984df30960f4202b538330f94d84574%7Emv2.png",
      "sources": [
        "https://filmfreeway.com/CanbShrtFilmFest",
        "https://www.csff.com.au/"
      ],
      "verifiedOn": "2026-11-08",
      "festival": {
        "text": "October",
        "startMonth": 10,
        "endMonth": 10,
        "startDate": null,
        "endDate": null
      },
      "submissions": {
        "text": "Opens Feb · Closes late Jun",
        "openMonth": 2,
        "closeMonth": 6,
        "closeDay": 30,
        "deadline": null
      },
      "platform": "FilmFreeway",
      "fees": {
        "text": "~$25–$45 AUD",
        "min": 25,
        "max": 45,
        "currency": "AUD"
      },
      "maxRuntimeMinutes": 20,
      "tags": {
        "category": [
          "short"
        ],
        "state": [
          "act"
        ],
        "format": [
          "short",
          "documentary",
          "animation",
          "music-video"
        ],
        "focus": [
          "independent",
          "first-nations",
          "local"
        ],
        "recognition": [
          "cash-prize"
        ],
        "premiere": [
          "none"
        ],
        "cost": [
          "student"
        ],
        "platform": [
          "filmfreeway"
        ]
      },
      "updatedAt": "2026-11-08T08:08:12Z",
      "next": {
        "status": "upcoming",
        "exact": false,
        "startDate": "2027-10-01",
        "endDate": null,
        "monthsAway": 11,
        "daysAway": 326,
        "sortDate": "2027-10-01"
      },
      "submissionStatus": {
        "status": "closed",
        "closesOn": "2027-06-30",
        "closeExact": true,
        "opensOn": "2027-02-01",
        "daysToClose": 233,
        "closingSoon": false
      },
      "url": "https://film-festivals.au/festivals/canberra-short-film-festival"
    },
    {
      "id": "fraser-shorts-film-festival",
      "name": "Fraser Shorts Film Festival",
      "shortName": null,
      "location": "Maryborough / Hervey Bay, QLD",
      "venue": "Brolga Theatre and Big Screen Cinema",
      "summary": "Short films across fiction, documentary, animation, experimental, environmental, First Nations, music video and student categories. Screenings take place in Maryborough and Hervey Bay. Only films made in the Fraser Coast region qualify for the local category.",
      "websiteUrl": "https://www.frasershorts.com.au/",
      "submissionUrl": "https://filmfreeway.com/Frasershorts",
      "imageUrl": null,
      "sources": [
        "https://www.frasershorts.com.au/enter-awards/",
        "https://filmfreeway.com/Frasershorts"
      ],
      "verifiedOn": "2026-11-09",
      "festival": {
        "text": "October",
        "startMonth": 10,
        "endMonth": 10,
        "startDate": null,
        "endDate": null
      },
      "submissions": {
        "text": "Opens Oct · Closes Sept",
        "openMonth": 10,
        "closeMonth": 9,
        "closeDay": null,
        "deadline": null
      },
      "platform": "FilmFreeway",
      "fees": {
        "text": "$30 flat fee · Previous-cycle rate; currency unconfirmed",
        "min": null,
        "max": null,
        "currency": null
      },
      "maxRuntimeMinutes": 45,
      "tags": {
        "category": [
          "short"
        ],
        "state": [
          "qld"
        ],
        "format": [
          "short",
          "documentary",
          "animation",
          "music-video"
        ],
        "focus": [
          "experimental",
          "first-nations",
          "regional",
          "local",
          "youth",
          "environment"
        ],
        "platform": [
          "filmfreeway"
        ]
      },
      "updatedAt": "2026-11-09T01:06:57Z",
      "next": {
        "status": "upcoming",
        "exact": false,
        "startDate": "2027-10-01",
        "endDate": null,
        "monthsAway": 11,
        "daysAway": 326,
        "sortDate": "2027-10-01"
      },
      "submissionStatus": {
        "status": "open",
        "closesOn": "2027-09-30",
        "closeExact": false,
        "opensOn": null,
        "daysToClose": 325,
        "closingSoon": false
      },
      "url": "https://film-festivals.au/festivals/fraser-shorts-film-festival"
    },
    {
      "id": "afin-international-film-festival",
      "name": "AFIN International Film Festival",
      "shortName": "AFIN",
      "location": "Brisbane, QLD",
      "venue": "SunPAC & Dendy Cinemas Portside",
      "summary": "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.",
      "websiteUrl": "https://www.afinfestival.com/",
      "submissionUrl": "https://filmfreeway.com/AFINInternationalFilmFestival",
      "imageUrl": "https://www.afinfestival.com/og/section/home.png",
      "sources": [
        "https://filmfreeway.com/AFINInternationalFilmFestival",
        "https://www.afinfestival.com/"
      ],
      "verifiedOn": "2026-11-08",
      "festival": {
        "text": "October",
        "startMonth": 10,
        "endMonth": 10,
        "startDate": "2027-10-10",
        "endDate": "2027-10-23"
      },
      "submissions": {
        "text": "Opens late Oct · Closes late Jun",
        "openMonth": 10,
        "closeMonth": 6,
        "closeDay": 27,
        "deadline": "2027-06-27"
      },
      "platform": "FilmFreeway",
      "fees": {
        "text": "Shorts $26–$44 AUD · Features $33–$50 AUD (free for First Nations)",
        "min": 22,
        "max": 50,
        "currency": "AUD"
      },
      "maxRuntimeMinutes": null,
      "tags": {
        "category": [
          "specialised"
        ],
        "state": [
          "qld"
        ],
        "format": [
          "feature",
          "short",
          "documentary",
          "animation",
          "series",
          "screenplay"
        ],
        "focus": [
          "genre",
          "horror",
          "independent",
          "first-nations"
        ],
        "premiere": [
          "preferred"
        ],
        "cost": [
          "waivers",
          "student"
        ],
        "platform": [
          "filmfreeway"
        ]
      },
      "updatedAt": "2026-11-08T12:34:33Z",
      "next": {
        "status": "upcoming",
        "exact": true,
        "startDate": "2027-10-10",
        "endDate": "2027-10-23",
        "monthsAway": 11,
        "daysAway": 335,
        "sortDate": "2027-10-10"
      },
      "submissionStatus": {
        "status": "open",
        "closesOn": "2027-06-27",
        "closeExact": true,
        "opensOn": null,
        "daysToClose": 230,
        "closingSoon": false
      },
      "url": "https://film-festivals.au/festivals/afin-international-film-festival"
    }
  ]
}