Film festivals in Victoria listed here include Melbourne International Film Festival, St Kilda Film Festival, Geelong Pride Film Festival and Gippsland International Film Festival. The selection spans general programmes and festivals with particular film, community or genre interests. Check accepted formats, premiere history and the rules for local categories before entering; a Victorian screening location does not necessarily restrict entry to Victorian filmmakers.
Submission calendar (20)
├─┤ 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.
MQFFSubmissions: opens May 2026 (approx.); closes 3 Aug 2026 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens May · Closes early Aug. Festival: Nov 2026 (approx.).
MFFSubmissions: opening TBC; closing TBC. Current entries closed · Next window TBC. Festival: Jun 2026 – Nov 2026 (approx.).
TOFFSubmissions: opening TBC; closing TBC. No current open call. Festival: 19 Nov 2026 – 6 Dec 2026.
MUFFSubmissions: opens Dec 2025 (approx.); closes 28 Oct 2026. Opens Dec · Closes late Oct. Festival: 26 Nov 2026 – 29 Nov 2026.
Trop JrSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 23 Oct 2026. Opens Aug · Closes Oct. Festival: 4 Dec 2026 – 4 Dec 2026.
PFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2026 (approx.); closes 4 Dec 2026. Opens Feb · Closes early Dec. Festival: 8 Jan 2027 – 12 Jan 2027.
BFFSubmissions: opens Jul 2026 (approx.); closes 29 Oct 2026. Opens Jul · Closes late Oct. Festival: 25 Feb 2027 – 6 Mar 2027.
GIFFSubmissions: opens Mar 2026 (approx.); closes 13 Jan 2027. Opens Mar · Closes Jan. Festival: 12 Mar 2027 – 19 Mar 2027.
NIFFASubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 10 Jan 2027. Opens Oct · Closes Jan. Festival: 17 Mar 2027 – 27 Jun 2027.
MWFFSubmissions: opens May 2026 (approx.); closes 2 Oct 2026. Opens May · Closes early Oct. Festival: 18 Mar 2027 – 21 Mar 2027.
GPFFSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 29 Jan 2027. Opens Aug · Closes late Jan. Festival: 15 Apr 2027 – 18 Apr 2027.
FFFASubmissions: opens Sep 2026 (approx.); closes 31 Jan 2027. Opens late Sep · Closes late Jan. Festival: 23 Apr 2027 – 16 May 2027.
MNFFSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 31 Mar 2027. Opens Aug · Closes Mar. Festival: 1 May 2027 – 2 May 2027.
SKFFSubmissions: opens Sep 2026 (approx.); closes 15 Jan 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Sep · Closes mid-Jan. Festival: 3 Jun 2027 – 13 Jun 2027.
MDFFSubmissions: opens Jun 2026 (approx.); closes May 2027 (approx.). Opens June · Closes May. Festival: Jul 2027 (approx.).
MIFFSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 16 Feb 2027. Opens mid-Oct · Closes mid-Feb. Festival: 5 Aug 2027 – 22 Aug 2027.
EFFASubmissions: opens Jun 2027 (approx.); closes 31 Aug 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens mid-year · Closes late Aug. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.).
Monster FestSubmissions: opens Jan 2027 (approx.); closes 1 Sep 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens early year · Closes early Sep. 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.
Melbourne, VIC · ACMI & Village Jam Factory This month
Entries open May 2027
Festival
November
Entries
Opens May · Closes early Aug
Fees
Free for Australian entrants (waiver code by email); fees apply to international entries
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Australia's oldest and largest LGBTQIA+ film festival, screening more than 140 features, shorts and documentaries across Melbourne. Entry is free for Australian filmmakers.
June premiere · Tour to Nov · Online season from Nov
Entries
Current entries closed · Next window TBC
Fees
Free
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Short films exploring multiculturalism, cultural diversity and social cohesion, with Victorian, national and international eligibility varying by award. Includes fiction, documentary, animation and music video. The 2026 program premiered at ACMI, tours Victoria and has an SBS On Demand season.
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.
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.
Melbourne, VIC · RMIT - The Capitol Next: 25 Feb 2027 (in 3 months)
Entries open Jul 2027
Festival
Feb / Mar
Entries
Opens Jul · Closes late Oct
Fees
Free to $10 AUD (Shorts) · $10–$25 AUD (Features)
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Australia's premier Indigenous-led biennial film festival celebrating First Nations storytelling through cinema. Features, documentaries, shorts, animations, and VR/XR works, requiring the director or writer/producer to be Indigenous. No premiere status required.
International and Australian shorts, including regional and Gippsland categories, with features considered by arrangement. Previously screened and publicly available films can be considered without a premiere requirement. Student rates and a free local youth category are available.
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.
Melbourne, VIC · ACMI Next: 18 Mar 2027 (in 4 months)
Entries open May 2027
Festival
March
Entries
Opens May · Closes early Oct
Fees
$20–$55 AUD depending on category and tier (waivers for First Nations & diverse creators)
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Short films (up to 20 min including credits) and web series with a woman or gender-diverse filmmaker in a key creative role, from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Moana Oceania. Narrative, documentary, animation, music video and experimental work; no features. Generative AI banned.
Melbourne, VIC · ACMI Next: Apr 2027 (in 5 months)
Open for entries · closes 5 Feb 2027
Festival
April 2027 · Screening dates TBC
Entries
Opens Nov · Closes early Feb
Fees
$15 AUD in FAQ · Payment currency conflicts with entry conditions
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Comedy shorts strictly under 10 minutes, including credits, screening at ACMI. Entry conditions require filmmakers to be over 18 and Australian citizens or permanent residents. Previously premiered films may enter, subject to a public-availability blackout through 18 April 2027; winner and audience prizes are offered.
Regional Victoria's premier LGBTQIA+ film festival celebrating queer cinema from Australia and around the world. Accepts narrative features, shorts, documentaries, animation, and web series.
Genre festival for sci-fi, horror, fantasy and boundary-pushing cinema, screening at Lido Cinemas (Melbourne) and Ritz Cinemas (Sydney). Australian features compete for the $10,000 Fantastic Film Prize, presented with Umbrella Entertainment. VIC and NSW premieres required for features.
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.
St Kilda, Melbourne, VIC · The Astor Theatre & Alex Theatre Next: 3 Jun 2027 (in 7 months)
Open for entries · closes 15 Jan 2027
Festival
June
Entries
Opens Sep · Closes mid-Jan
Fees
Top Shorts ~$35–$60 AUD · Free for Under the Radar (youth)
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Australia's longest-running short film festival, produced by the City of Port Phillip and accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscar® qualifying). Showcases Australia's Top Short Films competition. Victorian premiere required.
Melbourne, VIC · Cinema Nova Next: Jul 2027 (in 8 months)
Open for entries · closes May 2027
Festival
July
Entries
Opens June · Closes May
Fees
~$10–$62 AUD depending on tier and category
Submit via
FilmFreeway & Festhome
Dedicated Australian documentary showcase presenting local and international non-fiction features and shorts, VR/XR, and pitching competitions across cinema and streaming formats.
Melbourne, VIC · ACMI, The Capitol, Forum Melbourne Next: 5 Aug 2027 (in 9 months)
Open for entries · closes 16 Feb 2027
Festival
August
Entries
Opens mid-Oct · Closes mid-Feb
Fees
Shorts $50–$95 AUD · Features $90–$145 AUD
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Australia's largest and most significant film festival and home of the MIFF Shorts Awards (Academy Award®, BAFTA, and Canadian Screen Award qualifying). Victoria premiere required for all selections.
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.
Melbourne, VIC · Cinema Nova Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)
Entries open Jan 2027
Festival
October
Entries
Opens early year · Closes early Sep
Fees
Shorts $35–$60 AUD · Features $60–$90 AUD
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Horror, dark fantasy and extreme genre cinema. Features (60–120 min, Australian premiere) and shorts (15 min or less, Victorian premiere). Strict anti-AI policy.
