Film festivals in Canberra and the ACT listed here include Canberra Short Film Festival, Lights! Canberra! Action! and science-focused events. The list brings together finished-film submissions and a filmmaking challenge, so check the entry process before preparing your film. Confirm any theme, production period or local connection required, along with runtime limits and the festival’s submission platform.
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
Festival
Dates by month
LCASubmissions: opens Feb 2027 (approx.); closes Mar 2027 (approx.). Opens Feb · Closes early Mar. Festival: Mar 2027 (approx.).
NIFFASubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 10 Jan 2027. Opens Oct · Closes Jan. Festival: 17 Mar 2027 – 27 Jun 2027.
SFCSubmissions: opens Sep 2026 (approx.); closes 1 Jun 2027. Opens Sept · Closes early June. Festival: 13 Aug 2027 – 14 Aug 2027.
CSFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2027 (approx.); closes 30 Jun 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Feb · Closes late Jun. 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.
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.
National festival accepting features, documentaries and shorts connected to India, the Indian diaspora or Indo-Australian culture. Australian premiere required, and competition films must not be publicly available online. The 2027 circuit includes Sydney, regional NSW and other Australian capitals and regional centres.
Canberra, ACT · Tuggeranong Arts Centre Next: 13 Aug 2027 (in 9 months)
Open for entries · closes 1 Jun 2027
Festival
13–14 Aug 2027
Entries
Opens Sept · Closes early June
Fees
Shorts $15–$50 · Features $50–$90 · Student rates and free workshop category; currency unconfirmed
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Science-grounded, optimistic narratives, documentaries and animation, with shorts up to 30 minutes and a selected feature premiere. Features require Canberra premiere status; shorts have no prior-screening restriction. The workshop-participant category is free.
Palmerston, Canberra, ACT Next: 14 Aug 2027 (in 9 months)
Open for entries · closes 31 May 2027
Festival
14–22 Aug 2027 · Online and community screenings
Entries
Opens Aug · Closes May
Fees
$10–$60 across categories · Student rates and requested waivers; currency unconfirmed
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Science-themed features, shorts, documentaries, animation, experimental films and television series. Films are considered for jury awards and a separate online/community screening program during National Science Week. Student fee waivers can be requested; awards are trophies rather than cash.
Canberra, ACT · Dendy Cinemas Canberra Centre Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)
Entries open Feb 2027
Festival
October
Entries
Opens Feb · Closes late Jun
Fees
~$25–$45 AUD
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Long-running ACT short film festival screening national and international shorts up to 20 minutes across fiction, documentary, animation, music videos, and local categories.
