Short film festivals in Australia listed here put the short form at the centre of their programme, including Flickerfest and St Kilda Film Festival. Compare specialist short film events with regional and youth competitions. Check the runtime limit including credits, completion rules and eligibility before entering. For a wider shortlist, the main index also lists festivals that accept shorts alongside other formats.
├─┤ 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.
| Festival | Dates by month |
|---|---|
| Made in the West Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Mar 2026 (approx.); closes 9 Oct 2026 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Mar · Closes early Oct. Festival: Nov 2026 (approx.). | |
| NiSFFSubmissions: opens Dec 2025 (approx.); closes 10 Nov 2026. Opens Dec · Closes early Nov. Festival: 20 Nov 2026 – 21 Nov 2026. | |
| Understory Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Jun 2026 (approx.); closes 12 Oct 2026. Opens June · Closes Oct. Festival: 21 Nov 2026 – 21 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. | |
| FLiCKERFESTSubmissions: opens Jun 2026 (approx.); closes 14 Oct 2026. Opens Jun · Closes mid-Oct. Festival: 22 Jan 2027 – 31 Jan 2027. | |
| FFFSubmissions: opens Jun 2026 (approx.); closes 1 Dec 2026. Opens Jun · Closes early Dec. Festival: 6 Feb 2027 – 6 Feb 2027. | |
| AIFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2026 (approx.); closes 18 Sep 2026 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Feb · Closes mid-Sep. Festival: 12 Feb 2027 – 13 Feb 2027. | |
| TropfestSubmissions: opens Dec 2026 (approx.); closes 5 Jan 2027. Opens Dec · Closes early Jan. Festival: 13 Feb 2027 – 13 Feb 2027. | |
| LCASubmissions: opens Feb 2027 (approx.); closes Mar 2027 (approx.). Opens Feb · Closes early Mar. Festival: Mar 2027 (approx.). | |
| Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Funny ShortsSubmissions: opens Nov 2026 (approx.); closes 5 Feb 2027. Opens Nov · Closes early Feb. Festival: Apr 2027 (approx.). | |
| MNFFSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 31 Mar 2027. Opens Aug · Closes Mar. Festival: 1 May 2027 – 2 May 2027. | |
| WEFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2027 (approx.); closes May 2027 (approx.). Opens Feb · Closes May. Festival: Jun 2027 (approx.). | |
| SKFFSubmissions: opens Sep 2026 (approx.); closes 15 Jan 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Sep · Closes mid-Jan. Festival: 3 Jun 2027 – 13 Jun 2027. | |
| SLSFFSubmissions: opens Aug 2026 (approx.); closes 31 May 2027. Opens Aug · Closes late May. Festival: 6 Aug 2027 – 7 Aug 2027. | |
| Heart of GoldSubmissions: opens Mar 2027 (approx.); closes 30 Jun 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Mar · Closes mid-year. Festival: Sep 2027 – Oct 2027 (approx.). | |
| RTBFFSubmissions: opens Mar 2027 (approx.); closes Jul 2027 (approx.). Opens Mar · Closes July. Festival: Sep 2027 – Oct 2027 (approx.). | |
| UDFFSubmissions: opens Mar 2027 (approx.); closes Jun 2027 (approx.). Opens Mar · Closes June. Festival: Sep 2027 (approx.). | |
| VSFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2027 (approx.); closes 7 May 2027. Opens Feb · Closes early May. Festival: 3 Sep 2027 – 5 Sep 2027. | |
| AIFFSubmissions: opens Jan 2027 (approx.); closes Jun 2027 (approx.). Opens Jan · Closes June. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.). | |
| CSFFSubmissions: opens Feb 2027 (approx.); closes 30 Jun 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Feb · Closes late Jun. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.). | |
| Fraser Shorts Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Oct 2026 (approx.); closes Sep 2027 (approx.). Opens Oct · Closes Sept. Festival: Oct 2027 (approx.). | |
| Port Shorts Film FestivalSubmissions: opens Apr 2027 (approx.); closes 1 Sep 2027 (typical; unconfirmed). Opens Apr · 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.
Sorted by next festival date · Narrow these down with more filters
Short film
Entries open Mar 2027
Western Sydney's flagship short film festival, screening finalists at Event Cinemas Liverpool. Films must be under 30 minutes and have cast, crew or locations from Western Sydney.
Details for Made in the West Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Closing soon · entries close 10 Nov
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.
Details for Newcastle International Short Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Jun 2027
Short films by North and Far North Queensland filmmakers, including residents from Townsville through Cape York, the Gulf and Torres Strait Islands. Accepts documentary, animation, drama, experimental work and music videos; Best Film and People's Choice each receive a $2,500 cash prize.
Details for Understory Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Aug 2027
Australian short film festival for filmmakers aged 15 and under. The 2026 signature item is MAP, and the Melbourne grand final is invitation only.
Details for Trop Jr Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Closing soon · entries close 4 Dec
Iconic outdoor short film festival on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, judged live by a panel of celebrity judges with up to $30K in cash and prizes.
Details for Peninsula Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Jun 2027
Australia's leading Academy Award® and BAFTA qualifying international short film festival, staged at Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach. Requires Australian premieres for competitive shorts up to 35 minutes.
Details for Flickerfest Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Closing soon · entries close 1 Dec
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.
Details for Fleurieu Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Feb 2027
Brisbane-based celebration of exceptional independent cinema from Queensland, Australia, and internationally. Features narrative shorts, documentaries, student films, and screenplays with no strict premiere restrictions.
Details for Australia Independent Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Dec
Short films including titles and credits, incorporating the 2027 signature item NECKLACE. Competition directors must be Australian citizens or permanent residents; international filmmakers may screen out of competition. World premiere required, with finalist exclusivity until 31 March 2027.
Details for Tropfest Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Feb 2027
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.
Details for Lights! Canberra! Action! Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Open for entries · closes 5 Feb 2027
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.
Details for Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Funny Shorts Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Open for entries · closes 31 Mar 2027
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.
Details for Melbourne Nocturnal Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Feb 2027
Australian short films across genres, including documentary and experimental work. Films must be strictly under 20 minutes and either South-East Queensland-made or Australian productions. Older films can screen, although award eligibility has a more recent completion requirement.
Details for West End Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Open for entries · closes 15 Jan 2027
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.
Details for St Kilda Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Open for entries · closes 31 May 2027
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.
Details for Sparrowland Short Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Mar 2027
Regional Queensland festival celebrating heartwarming, inspiring, and uplifting short films from Australia and worldwide. Features fiction, documentary, animation, and student works. Max 30 minutes.
Details for Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Mar 2027
Short films and documentaries filmed or animated in Western Australia. The longest category requires films under 13 minutes; some categories have shorter limits. Main category winners receive cash prizes.
Details for Rock The Boat Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Mar 2027
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.
Details for Underdog Film Fest Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Feb 2027
National short film festival premiering 2 to 5 minute Australian stories in Hobart before a nationwide tour. Competition films must incorporate the annual signature theme ('TURN' for 2027) and premiere at the festival. Free to enter across 18 & Under and 19 & Over categories.
Details for Very Short Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Jan 2027
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.
Details for Adelaide Independent Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Feb 2027
Long-running ACT short film festival screening national and international shorts up to 20 minutes across fiction, documentary, animation, music videos, and local categories.
Details for Canberra Short Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Open for entries · closes Sep 2027
Short films across fiction, documentary, animation, experimental, environmental, First Nations, music video and student categories. Screenings take place in Maryborough and Hervey Bay. Only films made in the Fraser Coast region qualify for the local category.
Details for Fraser Shorts Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
Short film
Entries open Apr 2027
Tropical outdoor short film festival in Far North Queensland and an official AACTA Awards qualifying event. Features Open, Local, Music Video, and Reel Futures youth categories under the palms at Rex Smeal Park.
Details for Port Shorts Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)
