Film Festivals AU

Film festivals in South Australia

Film festivals in South Australia listed here include Adelaide Film Festival, Adelaide Independent Film Festival and Fleurieu Film Festival in McLaren Vale. The state filter also includes a national touring festival with South Australian screenings. Compare formats and programme interests, then check runtime limits, production eligibility and premiere rules for the entry category you intend to use.

Submission calendar (4)

├─┤ 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
FFFSubmissions: opens Jun 2026 (approx.); closes 1 Dec 2026. Opens Jun · Closes early Dec. Festival: 6 Feb 2027 – 6 Feb 2027.
NIFFASubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 10 Jan 2027. Opens Oct · Closes Jan. Festival: 17 Mar 2027 – 27 Jun 2027.
AIFFSubmissions: opens Jan 2027 (approx.); closes Jun 2027 (approx.). Opens Jan · Closes June. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.).
AFFSubmissions: opens Nov 2026 (approx.); closes 8 Jun 2027. Opens Nov · Closes early Jun. Festival: 20 Oct 2027 – 31 Oct 2027.

4 festivals

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

  1. Short film

    Fleurieu Film Festival (FFF)

    McLaren Vale, SA · McLaren Vale Visitor Centre
    Next: 6 Feb 2027 (in 3 months)

    Closing soon · entries close 1 Dec

    Festival
    February
    Entries
    Opens Jun · Closes early Dec
    Fees
    $20–$35 AUD ($28–$33 student)
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    South Australia's premier outdoor short film festival held in the McLaren Vale wine region. Screens short fiction and documentaries with cash prizes and awards across Australian and international categories. Max 15 minutes.

    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Independent cinema
    • Regional filmmakers
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Fleurieu Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  2. Genre, identity & specialised

    National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA)

    Sydney, NSW
    Next: 17 Mar 2027 (in 4 months)

    Open for entries · closes 10 Jan 2027

    Festival
    17 Mar–27 June 2027 · National circuit
    Entries
    Opens Oct · Closes Jan
    Fees
    Shorts $35–$75 · Features $50–$115 · Student rates available; currency unconfirmed
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    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.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Multicultural & diaspora

    Details for National Indian Film Festival of Australia Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  3. Short film

    Adelaide Independent Film Festival (AIFF)

    Adelaide, SA · Capri Theatre and Mercury Cinema
    Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

    Entries open Jan 2027

    Festival
    October
    Entries
    Opens Jan · Closes June
    Fees
    Paid categories vary · Middle Eastern short-film category free
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    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.

    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Screenplays
    • Independent cinema
    • First Nations
    • Local / state-made
    • Youth & students

    Details for Adelaide Independent Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  4. Major

    Adelaide Film Festival (AFF)

    Adelaide, SA · Adelaide Studios
    Next: 20 Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

    Open for entries · closes 8 Jun 2027

    Festival
    October
    Entries
    Opens Nov · Closes early Jun
    Fees
    Shorts $40–$75 AUD · Features $80–$130 AUD
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    South Australia's premier screen event showcasing Australian and international narrative features, documentaries, shorts, and series. Competitive festival requiring South Australian premieres for feature-length films.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Series & web series
    • VR / XR
    • Independent cinema
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Adelaide Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)