Film Festivals AU

Short film festivals in NSW

Short film festivals in NSW listed here include Flickerfest, Tropfest, Made in the West Film Festival and Newcastle International Short Film Festival. This statewide list covers Sydney and regional entries, rather than Sydney alone. Compare the short-film competitions, then check local production connections, any required theme, runtime and premiere rules before preparing an entry through the official submission link.

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
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.
FLiCKERFESTSubmissions: opens Jun 2026 (approx.); closes 14 Oct 2026. Opens Jun · Closes mid-Oct. Festival: 22 Jan 2027 – 31 Jan 2027.
TropfestSubmissions: opens Dec 2026 (approx.); closes 5 Jan 2027. Opens Dec · Closes early Jan. Festival: 13 Feb 2027 – 13 Feb 2027.

4 festivals

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

  1. Short film

    Made in the West Film Festival

    Liverpool, NSW · Event Cinemas Liverpool
    This month

    Entries open Mar 2027

    Festival
    November
    Entries
    Opens Mar · Closes early Oct
    Fees
    $35–$50 AUD (early bird to late round)
    Submit via
    Direct portal (festival website)

    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.

    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Series & web series
    • Music videos
    • Regional filmmakers
    • Local / state-made
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Made in the West Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  2. 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)

  3. Short film

    Flickerfest (FLiCKERFEST)

    Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW · Bondi Pavilion
    Next: 22 Jan 2027 (in 2 months)

    Entries open Jun 2027

    Festival
    January
    Entries
    Opens Jun · Closes mid-Oct
    Fees
    ~$17–$60 AUD (Specsavers TVC ad competition free)
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    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.

    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Independent cinema
    • Youth & students
    • Academy Award® qualifying
    • BAFTA qualifying
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Flickerfest Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  4. Short film

    Tropfest

    Sydney, NSW · The Domain
    Next: 13 Feb 2027 (in 3 months)

    Entries open Dec

    Festival
    13 Feb 2027
    Entries
    Opens Dec · Closes early Jan
    Fees
    $65 early bird · $95 standard; currency unconfirmed
    Submit via
    Direct portal (festival website)

    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.

    • Shorts
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Tropfest Submit (external site) Website (external site)