Film Festivals AU

Women’s film festivals in Australia

Women’s film festivals in Australia listed here include Melbourne Women in Film Festival, Sydney Women’s International Film Festival and Australian Women’s Film Festival. Eligibility differs across them, including which creative roles must be held by eligible filmmakers and whether story or protagonist criteria apply. Check each category’s rules, including its approach to gender-diverse applicants, before preparing an entry.

Submission calendar (3)

├─┤ Submissions ▬ Festival ┄ Approximate / recurring dates │ Today: 2026-11-09
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Submission windows and festival dates for the current filters
FestivalDates by month
MWFFSubmissions: opens May 2026 (approx.); closes 2 Oct 2026. Opens May · Closes early Oct. Festival: 18 Mar 2027 – 21 Mar 2027.
SWIFFSubmissions: opens Jan 2026 (approx.); closes 30 Nov 2026. Opens Jan · Closes Nov. Festival: 11 Apr 2027 – 17 Apr 2027.
AWFFSubmissions: opening TBC; closing TBC. Opening TBC · Closes July. Festival: Sep 2027 (approx.).

3 festivals

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  1. Genre, identity & specialised

    Melbourne Women in Film Festival (MWFF)

    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.

    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Series & web series
    • Music videos
    • Independent cinema
    • Women & gender-diverse
    • Cash prizes

    Details for Melbourne Women in Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  2. Genre, identity & specialised

    Sydney Women’s International Film Festival (SWIFF)

    Sydney, NSW · Palace Cinemas Moore Park
    Next: 11 Apr 2027 (in 5 months)

    Closing soon · entries close 30 Nov

    Festival
    11–17 Apr 2027
    Entries
    Opens Jan · Closes Nov
    Fees
    Shorts/music videos $37–$105 · Features $100–$200 · Other categories vary; currency unconfirmed
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    Features, shorts, documentaries, animation, music videos, web series and screenplays supporting women and non-binary filmmakers. Film entries require both an eligible key creative and protagonist. NSW cinematic release and online availability restrictions apply, with exceptions for web series and music videos.

    • Features
    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Series & web series
    • Music videos
    • Screenplays
    • Women & gender-diverse
    • Smartphone filmmaking

    Details for Sydney Women’s International Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)

  3. Genre, identity & specialised

    Australian Women’s Film Festival (AWFF)

    Sydney, NSW · Event Cinemas George Street
    Next: Sep 2027 (in 10 months)

    Submission dates TBC

    Festival
    September
    Entries
    Opening TBC · Closes July
    Fees
    $36–$45 USD · Previous-cycle rates
    Submit via
    FilmFreeway

    Short films with at least three female key creatives. Fiction must pass the Bechdel Test, with discretion for documentaries and other forms that cannot technically meet it. Films must not have been broadcast on Australian television or widely distributed online before the festival.

    • Shorts
    • Documentaries
    • Animation
    • Women & gender-diverse

    Details for Australian Women’s Film Festival Submit (external site) Website (external site)