Queer film festivals in Australia listed here include Mardi Gras Film Festival, Melbourne Queer Film Festival and Geelong Pride Film Festival, alongside broader events with an LGBTQIA+ focus. Compare the programme and category criteria before entering. Check whether eligibility concerns the film’s themes, its creative team or both, and confirm premiere rules and any conditions attached to fee waivers.
Submission calendar (7)
├─┤ 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
MQFFSubmissions: opens May 2026 (approx.); closes 3 Aug 2026 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens May · Closes early Aug. Festival: Nov 2026 (approx.).
MGFFSubmissions: opens Sep 2026 (approx.); closes 8 Dec 2026. Opens mid-Sep · Closes early Dec. Festival: 18 Feb 2027 – 4 Mar 2027.
PQFFSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 18 Dec 2026. Opens Aug · Closes Dec. Festival: 3 Mar 2027 – 10 Mar 2027.
GPFFSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 29 Jan 2027. Opens Aug · Closes late Jan. Festival: 15 Apr 2027 – 18 Apr 2027.
QSFFSubmissions: opening TBC; closing TBC. Next submission window TBC. Festival: Aug 2027 – Sep 2027 (approx.).
SLSFFSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 31 May 2027. Opens Aug · Closes late May. Festival: 6 Aug 2027 – 7 Aug 2027.
UDFFSubmissions: opens Mar 2027 (approx.); closes Jun 2027 (approx.). Opens Mar · Closes June. Festival: Sep 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.
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.
Sydney, NSW · Event Cinemas George St & Dendy Newtown Next: 18 Feb 2027 (in 3 months)
Closing soon · entries close 8 Dec
Festival
February / March
Entries
Opens mid-Sep · Closes early Dec
Fees
Shorts $30–$40 AUD · Features $50–$60 AUD
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Organised by Queer Screen, MGFF is one of the world's largest LGBTQIA+ film festivals. Home of the 'My Queer Career' Australian short film competition with over $16,000 AUD in prizes and no Sydney premiere requirement.
West Perth, WA · The Backlot Studios Next: 3 Mar 2027 (in 4 months)
Open for entries · closes 18 Dec
Festival
3–10 Mar 2027
Entries
Opens Aug · Closes Dec
Fees
$5 early/regular · $10 late; currency unconfirmed
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Features, shorts and documentaries with significant LGBTQIA+ content. The festival presents audience and jury awards; DCP delivery is preferred but other formats can be considered.
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.
Sydney, NSW · Event Cinemas George Street Next: Aug 2027 (in 9 months)
Submission dates TBC
Festival
Aug / Sept
Entries
Next submission window TBC
Fees
Next fee schedule not confirmed
Submit via
FilmFreeway
LGBTQIA+ features and shorts with significant queer characters or themes. Includes an emerging narrative feature competition for first or second features. Australian shorts are encouraged to consider the organiser's separate Mardi Gras festival for My Queer Career eligibility.
Brisbane, QLD · PIP Theatre Next: 6 Aug 2027 (in 9 months)
Open for entries · closes 31 May 2027
Festival
August
Entries
Opens Aug · Closes late May
Fees
~$10–$30 AUD
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Independent short film festival held at PIP Theatre in Milton, Brisbane, dedicated to unique, heartfelt short films up to 20 minutes. Accepts drama, comedy, horror, queer, animation, student, music video, and documentary works. No premiere requirements.
Kingston, Logan, QLD · Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct Next: Sep 2027 (in 10 months)
Entries open Mar 2027
Festival
September
Entries
Opens Mar · Closes June
Fees
Early entry $7.50 student / $12.50 general · Later rates unconfirmed
Submit via
FilmFreeway
Independent short-film festival in Logan, welcoming diverse filmmakers including First Nations and LGBTQIA+ creators. Australian-made films compete; international shorts may enter an out-of-competition category using a requested waiver. Selected films require hardcoded English subtitles.
