Film Festivals AU

Disability film festivals in Australia

Disability film festivals in Australia listed here include Focus on Ability and The Other Film Festival, alongside Lights! Canberra! Action!, which offers an inclusive-team entry category. These are different opportunities: a disability-led programme, a film’s subject and a team’s eligibility are separate considerations. Check whether submissions are invited, who can enter and any screening accessibility or delivery requirements before preparing your film.

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
FestivalDates by month
FOASubmissions: opens Feb 2026 (approx.); closes Jul 2026 (approx.). Opens Feb · Closes Jul. Festival: Oct 2026 – Nov 2026 (approx.).
TOFFSubmissions: opening TBC; closing TBC. No current open call. Festival: 19 Nov 2026 – 6 Dec 2026.
LCASubmissions: opens Feb 2027 (approx.); closes Mar 2027 (approx.). Opens Feb · Closes early Mar. Festival: Mar 2027 (approx.).

3 festivals

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  1. Genre, identity & specialised

    Focus on Ability Short Film Festival (FOA)

    Chatswood, Sydney, NSW · The Concourse
    This month

    Entries open Feb 2027

    Festival
    October / November
    Entries
    Opens Feb · Closes Jul
    Fees
    Free entry
    Submit via
    Direct portal (festival website)

    International short film festival organised by NOVA Employment celebrating the achievements and abilities of people with disability. Free to enter for films up to 5 minutes across school, open, and international short film and documentary categories, competing for substantial cash and mentoring prizes alongside online public voting.

    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Disability
    • Youth & students
    • Uplifting stories
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Focus on Ability Short Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  2. Genre, identity & specialised

    The Other Film Festival (TOFF)

    Melbourne, VIC
    Next: 19 Nov 2026 (in 10 days)

    Submission dates TBC

    Festival
    19 Nov–6 Dec 2026
    Entries
    No current open call
    Fees
    Not applicable to current curated program
    Submit via
    Curated program (no current open call)

    Disability-led international film festival run by Arts Access Victoria, centring Deaf and Disabled filmmakers and stories. The 2026 artistic program includes online screenings through ACMI Cinema 3 and events within Alter State.

    • Disability

    Details for The Other Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  3. 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)