Experimental film festivals in Australia listed here include Sydney Underground Film Festival, Melbourne Underground Film Festival and Revelation Perth, alongside events with experimental categories. Compare the artistic brief and accepted formats to see where your work fits. Check runtime, screening and delivery requirements before entering, especially if the work needs an installation, live component or equipment beyond a standard cinema screening.
Submission calendar (9)
├─┤ 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
Festival
Dates by month
Bauhaus Bendigo Short Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Apr 2026 (approx.); closes Oct 2026 (approx.). Opens Apr · Closing dates conflict between Sept and Oct. Festival: 8 Nov 2026 – 15 Nov 2026.
CCFFSubmissions: opens Mar 2026 (approx.); closes 1 Sep 2026. Opens Mar · Closes early Sept. Festival: 14 Nov 2026 – 21 Nov 2026.
NiSFFSubmissions: opens Dec 2025 (approx.); closes 10 Nov 2026. Opens Dec · Closes early Nov. Festival: 20 Nov 2026 – 21 Nov 2026.
MUFFSubmissions: opens Dec 2025 (approx.); closes 28 Oct 2026. Opens Dec · Closes late Oct. Festival: 26 Nov 2026 – 29 Nov 2026.
CFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2026 (approx.); closes 1 Nov 2026 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Feb · Closes early Nov. Festival: Jan 2027 (approx.).
MNFFSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 31 Mar 2027. Opens Aug · Closes Mar. Festival: 1 May 2027 – 2 May 2027.
RevSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 28 Feb 2027. Opens late Aug · Closes late Feb. Festival: 7 Jul 2027 – 18 Jul 2027.
SUFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2027 (approx.); closes 15 Jul 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Feb · Closes mid-Jul. Festival: Sep 2027 (approx.).
Fraser Shorts Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes Sep 2027 (approx.). Opens Oct · Closes Sept. 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.
Bendigo, VIC · La Trobe Art Institute and Hargreaves Mall Civic Screen On now
Entries open Apr 2027
Festival
8–15 Nov 2026
Entries
Opens Apr · Closing dates conflict between Sept and Oct
Fees
$10–$50 across student and standard categories; currency unconfirmed
Submit via
FilmFreeway
International shorts exploring Bauhaus design, architecture and experimental film, with a Greater Bendigo residents' category. Selected films screen at a launch event and on the outdoor civic screen. Films must be suitable for a general audience.
Ettalong Beach, NSW · Cinema Paradiso Next: 14 Nov 2026 (in 5 days)
Entries open Mar 2027
Festival
14–21 Nov 2026
Entries
Opens Mar · Closes early Sept
Fees
$10–$115 AUD across categories · Student and local rates available
Submit via
FilmFreeway
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.
Newcastle, NSW · The Royal Exchange Hybrid Performance Space & Cinema Next: 20 Nov 2026 (in 11 days)
Closing soon · entries close 10 Nov
Festival
November
Entries
Opens Dec · Closes early Nov
Fees
~$7–$24 AUD ($6–$22 student)
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Short film festival held at The Royal Exchange in Newcastle celebrating Australian, regional NSW, and international short films up to 20 minutes across drama, comedy, horror, sci-fi, documentary, animation, and phone films. Newcastle premiere status strictly required.
Long-running independent festival showcasing cutting-edge, cult, experimental, transgressive, and alternative Australian and international cinema across feature, short, and documentary formats. Submissions via FilmFreeway with no premiere requirement; selected films are bound by an irrevocable screening agreement.
Yeppoon, QLD · Yeppoon Town Hall Next: Jan 2027 (in 2 months)
Entries open Feb 2027
Festival
January
Entries
Opens Feb · Closes early Nov
Fees
Shorts $10–$30 AUD · Features $50–$65 AUD
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Central Queensland festival screening features, documentaries, shorts (under 30 min), and experimental video art. Offers over $4,000 AUD in cash prizes across world-open and dedicated Central Queensland (CQ) categories. No premiere required for short films.
Collingwood, Melbourne, VIC · Eclipse Cinema Next: 1 May 2027 (in 6 months)
Open for entries · closes 31 Mar 2027
Festival
1–2 May 2027
Entries
Opens Aug · Closes Mar
Fees
$16–$40 standard entries · First Nations waivers; currency unconfirmed
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Australian-made narrative, documentary, animated and experimental shorts with an offbeat emphasis. Films must be strictly under 30 minutes. Premiere status is preferred but not required, and First Nations filmmakers can request a fee waiver.
Perth, WA · Luna Cinemas Leederville Next: 7 Jul 2027 (in 8 months)
Open for entries · closes 28 Feb 2027
Festival
July
Entries
Opens late Aug · Closes late Feb
Fees
$40–$60 AUD flat fee across categories
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Western Australia's champion of independent, underground, documentary, and experimental screen culture. Western Australian premieres required for all feature-length projects.
Marrickville, Sydney, NSW · The Factory Theatre Next: Sep 2027 (in 10 months)
Entries open Feb 2027
Festival
September
Entries
Opens Feb · Closes mid-Jul
Fees
Shorts $30–$55 AUD · Features $45–$75 AUD
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Dedicated to provocative, independent, counter-culture, and boundary-pushing cinema. Staged at The Factory Theatre in Marrickville across features, shorts, documentaries, and animation.
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.
