Film Festivals AU

Genre film festivals in Australia: sci-fi, fantasy and cult

Genre film festivals in Australia listed here include Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival, Fantastic Film Festival Australia and festivals with underground or alternative programmes. Each event has its own interpretation of genre, so compare the programme focus rather than assuming every category suits your film. Check accepted formats, runtime limits and premiere or online release conditions before entering.

Submission calendar (11)

├─┤ 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: 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.
Over The FenceSubmissions: opens Nov 2026 (approx.); closes 20 Dec 2026. Open by Nov · Closes late Dec. Festival: 9 Apr 2027 – 11 Apr 2027.
FFFASubmissions: opens Sep 2026 (approx.); closes 31 Jan 2027. Opens late Sep · Closes late Jan. Festival: 23 Apr 2027 – 16 May 2027.
RevSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 28 Feb 2027. Opens late Aug · Closes late Feb. Festival: 7 Jul 2027 – 18 Jul 2027.
SFCSubmissions: opens Sep 2026 (approx.); closes 1 Jun 2027. Opens Sept · Closes early June. Festival: 13 Aug 2027 – 14 Aug 2027.
SUFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2027 (approx.); closes 15 Jul 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Feb · Closes mid-Jul. Festival: Sep 2027 (approx.).
Dark Nights Film FestSubmissions: opening TBC; closing TBC. Opening TBC · Closes 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.).
AFINSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 27 Jun 2027. Opens late Oct · Closes late Jun. Festival: 10 Oct 2027 – 23 Oct 2027.
SSFFFSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes 27 Aug 2027. Opens mid-Oct · Closes late Aug. Festival: 15 Oct 2027 – 17 Oct 2027.

11 festivals

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

  1. Short film

    Newcastle International Short Film Festival (NiSFF)

    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.

    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
    • Experimental & underground
    • Independent cinema
    • Regional filmmakers
    • Smartphone filmmaking

    Details for Newcastle International Short Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  2. Genre, identity & specialised

    Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF)

    Melbourne, VIC
    Next: 26 Nov 2026 (in 17 days)

    Entries open Dec

    Festival
    November
    Entries
    Opens Dec · Closes late Oct
    Fees
    ~$35–$55 AUD
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    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.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
    • Horror
    • Experimental & underground
    • Independent cinema

    Details for Melbourne Underground Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  3. Genre, identity & specialised

    Over The Fence Comedy Film Festival (Over The Fence)

    Fremantle, WA
    Next: 9 Apr 2027 (in 5 months)

    Open for entries · closes 20 Dec

    Festival
    April
    Entries
    Open by Nov · Closes late Dec
    Fees
    Shorts under 15m $28–$45 AUD · Shorts 16–40m $35–$52 AUD
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    Grassroots comedy short film festival from Fremantle that launches each year and then tours venues around Australia. Comedy and dark comedy shorts up to 40 minutes.

    • Shorts
    • Animation
    • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Over The Fence Comedy Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  4. Genre, identity & specialised

    Fantastic Film Festival Australia (FFFA)

    Melbourne, VIC & Sydney, NSW · Lido Cinemas & Ritz Cinemas
    Next: 23 Apr 2027 (in 5 months)

    Open for entries · closes 31 Jan 2027

    Festival
    April / May
    Entries
    Opens late Sep · Closes late Jan
    Fees
    $30–$60 AUD depending on tier and category
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    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.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Animation
    • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
    • Horror
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Fantastic Film Festival Australia Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  5. Major

    Revelation Perth International Film Festival (Rev)

    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.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • VR / XR
    • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
    • Experimental & underground
    • Independent cinema
    • Local / state-made
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Revelation Perth International Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  6. Genre, identity & specialised

    Space Faring Civilisation Film Festival (SFC)

    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.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
    • Science
    • Uplifting stories

    Details for Space Faring Civilisation Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  7. Genre, identity & specialised

    Sydney Underground Film Festival (SUFF)

    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.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
    • Experimental & underground
    • Independent cinema
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Sydney Underground Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  8. Genre, identity & specialised

    Dark Nights Film Fest

    Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW · The Reservoir Cinema
    Next: Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

    Submission dates TBC

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

    Horror and dark-genre short films, webisodes, narrative music videos and unproduced screenplays. Film submissions must be under 30 minutes, retain NSW premiere status and meet public-availability restrictions. The festival reserves most short-film slots for its open call.

    • Shorts
    • Animation
    • Series & web series
    • Music videos
    • Screenplays
    • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
    • Horror
    • Independent cinema

    Details for Dark Nights Film Fest Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  9. Genre, identity & specialised

    Monster Fest

    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.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Animation
    • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
    • Horror
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Monster Fest Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  10. Genre, identity & specialised

    AFIN International Film Festival (AFIN)

    Brisbane, QLD · SunPAC & Dendy Cinemas Portside
    Next: 10 Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

    Open for entries · closes 27 Jun 2027

    Festival
    October
    Entries
    Opens late Oct · Closes late Jun
    Fees
    Shorts $26–$44 AUD · Features $33–$50 AUD (free for First Nations)
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    Brisbane-based international festival celebrating independent cinema across features, shorts, documentaries, animations, series, and screenplays. Features 22 award categories with crystal trophies and memberships, plus free entry for Australian First Nations filmmakers. No strict premiere required, though premieres are prioritised.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Series & web series
    • Screenplays
    • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
    • Horror
    • Independent cinema
    • First Nations

    Details for AFIN International Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  11. Genre, identity & specialised

    Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival (SSFFF)

    Sydney, NSW · Event Cinemas George St
    Next: 15 Oct 2027 (in 11 months)

    Open for entries · closes 27 Aug 2027

    Festival
    October
    Entries
    Opens mid-Oct · Closes late Aug
    Fees
    Shorts $20–$40 AUD · Features $40–$65 AUD
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    Australia's premier dedicated science-fiction, fantasy, and speculative cinema festival. Showcases local and international speculative features, shorts, animations, and student works.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Animation
    • Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, cult)
    • Independent cinema
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)