Film Festivals AU

Environmental film festivals in Australia and surf cinema

Environmental film festivals in Australia listed here include Environmental Films Australia and events focused on surf, nature or related themes. The list also includes broader festivals with relevant programming. Read the category brief to check how closely your film must connect with the environment or surf culture, then confirm accepted formats, runtime limits and premiere requirements before submitting.

Submission calendar (5)

├─┤ 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
NISFFSubmissions: opening TBC; closing TBC. Next submission window TBC. Festival: Aug 2027 (approx.).
Weindorfer Short Film FestivalSubmissions: opening TBC; closing TBC. Opening TBC · Closes Aug. Festival: Sep 2027 (approx.).
EFFASubmissions: opens Jun 2027 (approx.); closes 31 Aug 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens mid-year · Closes late Aug. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.).
Fraser Shorts Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes Sep 2027 (approx.). Opens Oct · Closes Sept. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.).
BBFFSubmissions: opens Nov 2026 (approx.); closes 31 Aug 2027. Opens Nov · Closes late Aug. Festival: 22 Oct 2027 – 31 Oct 2027.

5 festivals

Sorted by next festival date · Narrow these down with more filters

  1. Genre, identity & specialised

    Noosa International Surfilm Festival (NISFF)

    Noosa Heads, QLD
    Next: Aug 2027 (in 9 months)

    Submission dates TBC

    Festival
    August
    Entries
    Next submission window TBC
    Fees
    Next fee schedule not confirmed
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    International surf and ocean features, documentaries, shorts, animation and experimental films. Strong preference is given to premieres. Selected films must meet Australian screening exclusivity and online-availability restrictions.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Surf & environment

    Details for Noosa International Surfilm Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  2. Genre, identity & specialised

    Weindorfer Short Film Festival

    Launceston, TAS · Launceston Conference Centre
    Next: Sep 2027 (in 10 months)

    Submission dates TBC

    Festival
    September
    Entries
    Opening TBC · Closes Aug
    Fees
    Fee schedule not confirmed
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    Films of 2–12 minutes connecting with Australia's natural environment, positive environmental action or the legacy of Kate and Gustav Weindorfer. Open and under-19 categories are restricted to Australian residents, including all members of group entries. Winners receive cash prizes.

    • Shorts
    • Youth & students
    • Surf & environment
    • Uplifting stories
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Weindorfer Short Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  3. Genre, identity & specialised

    Environmental Films Australia (EFFA)

    Melbourne, VIC · Kino Cinema & Palace Westgarth
    Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

    Entries open Jun 2027

    Festival
    October
    Entries
    Opens mid-year · Closes late Aug
    Fees
    ~$25–$50 AUD depending on category
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    Formerly Environmental Film Festival Australia. Volunteer-run Melbourne festival of documentary, narrative, experimental and animated films about climate, environments and the natural world. Features 40+ minutes, shorts 1–39 minutes; Australian, NZ and First Nations work especially welcome.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Documentary
    • Surf & environment
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Environmental Films Australia Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  4. Short film

    Fraser Shorts Film Festival

    Maryborough / Hervey Bay, QLD · Brolga Theatre and Big Screen Cinema
    Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

    Open for entries · closes Sep 2027

    Festival
    October
    Entries
    Opens Oct · Closes Sept
    Fees
    $30 flat fee · Previous-cycle rate; currency unconfirmed
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    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.

    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Music videos
    • Experimental & underground
    • First Nations
    • Regional filmmakers
    • Local / state-made
    • Youth & students
    • Surf & environment

    Details for Fraser Shorts Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  5. 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)