Festivals
Festivals Open
Antenna Documentary Festival 2013
Antenna Festival is now accepting submissions for the 2013 festival, which will take place for the third year in Sydney, October 2013. Antenna invites features, medium and short films from established and debut filmmakers. Antenna 2013 will 
feature over 30 feature documentaries, three film competitions with cash prizes, DocTalk sessions and international guests.
For more information click here
Deadline: June 1st, 2013
Show Me Shorts
Entries for the eighth annual Show Me Shorts Film Festival are now open! We are looking for short films from New Zealand and all around the world. From the hundreds of entries we receive each year, we'll be selecting the 40 best shorts to compete for nine different award categories, and a total prize pool valued at well over $20,000. Submitted films must be between two and 20 minutes long, and made within the last two years.
Deadline: June 28, 2013
Festivals Closed
Over The Fence Comedy Festival
We seeks comedy films!
Our definition is 'a film that is driven by, or, ultimately concludes with an excellent sense of humour!'
They can be short films, short series, long form shorts and features.
Click here for more information
Deadline: 13 May 2013
Sydney Film Festival – Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films
Submissions for the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films close on Wednesday 27th February. Shortlisted films will be screened during the Sydney Film Festival and winners receive a cash prize, with Live Action and Yoram Gross Animation Award winners being eligible for Academy Awards consideration. Past Award winners include Kriv Stenders (Red Dog), Jane Campion (The Piano), Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games) and Warwick Thornton (Samson & Delilah). To view full rules and regulations, visit: http://sff.org.au/public/faq/rules-regulations/.
Closed: Feb 27, 2013
West End Film Festival 2013
The 4th annual West End Film Festival (WEFF) is calling for entries for the 2013 program. WEFF is a national short-film competition that takes place in Brisbane’s creative hub, West End.
Australian filmmakers are encouraged to enter works from all genres including drama, documentary, animation and music clips. The festival welcomes first-time and established filmmakers, as well as creative producers to enter their unique works.
The West End Film Festival 2013 award categories include; best film judged by Industry, Community favourite, Best Animation and the Indigenous Film Craft Award.
Successful entries will be showcased in the 2013 program, a night that attracts over 600 guests. Cash prizes are awarded to the winners of each category, with additional prizes for stand-out productions.
For details on how to enter, visit www.westendfilmfestival.com.au.
Entries closed 1 December 2012
2013 Short Film Festival
Shorts Film Festival offers independent Australian filmmakers the chance to compete for one of the best prize pools for short films in Australia, including the Gold Shorts first prize of a trip to a prestigious international film festival such as Cannes or Sundance, and the Black Shorts award (to the value of $10000) for the Best Indigenous Short Film.
Shorts recognises and rewards emerging filmmakers and cinematic storytellers with cash prizes, significant accreditation and valuable industry and career development opportunities. Successful festival entrants also have the opportunity for international exposure if their film is selected to be included in a showcase to be screened at the prestigious Rushes Soho Film Festival in the UK.
Films are judged on their ability to communicate a story, so entries are welcomed from any genre. The full Terms and Conditions of entry can be found on the festival website: shortsfilmfestival.com
Early Bird entries for the 2013 festival (with discounted entry fees) are now open and are strongly encouraged.
Entries closed 4 January 2013.
F4 - 2013 First Factual Films Festival
F4 Award for Outstanding Documentary Talent
This is an outstanding development opportunity for emerging filmmakers, with finalists participating in a mentoring program held during the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC).
Last year's winner Paul Gallasch says, "It was an extremely valuable experience for me... being in the presence of such prolific professionals was both a grounding and inspiring experience." Paul has since won the FOXTEL Australian Documentary Prize at the Sydney Film Festival.
A panel of high profile international documentary professionals will judge the films, and present the F4 Award for Outstanding New Documentary Talent to one exceptional filmmaker.
The selected films will also be screened to the public during the Adelaide Festival.
For more information, click here.
Deadline: 1st November 2012
MyState Student Film Festival
The MyState Student Film Festival is Tasmania’s biggest film festival, and you can be a part of it. Entries have a shot at our prestigious awards, including the Technical Achievement Award sponsored by Wide Angle Tasmania, with a prize pool worth over $10,000! This years theme is Box.
Deadline: 2 November 2012
Dungog Film Festival
The Dungog Film Festival is something wholly unique to this country - a festival that celebrates Australian films exclusively in a non-competitive environment. The principle objective of the festival is to increase the appreciation of Australian screen culture and heritage. DFF showcases new Australian screen content, honours lead
ing Australian filmmakers, and creates a context for contemporary Australian works by getting the classics out of the vaults and back into the cinemas. By hosting the world's biggest celebration of Australian films, Dungog has become a key event on the screen industry’s calendar and a must for lovers of Australian screen culture.
Deadline: Closed for 2012
My Queer Career
Calling all AUSTRALIAN FILMMAKERS who are queer or have made a queer film. The 2012 My Queer Career competition is seeking entries. My Queer Career is one of the world's most prestigious awards for queer short filmmakers and is only open to locally produced work. The major prize includes $3,000 cash and automatic inclusion in the international queer shorts competition, the IRIS PRIZE. Other prizes include in-kind production facilities and support to the value of $15,000.
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Heart of Gold
Over 4 days in Autumn, the Heart of Gold International Film Festival combines the genuine warmth and hospitality of a country town with Local and International films that are entertaining, thought-provoking and express a positive view of the world and humanity.
Entering its sixth year in 2012, Heart of Gold is gaining the recognition and size to establish itself among the best competitive short film festivals in Australia.
Deadline: Closed
Movie Extra Tropfest
Move Extra Tropfest is the world’s largest short film festival and is in full preparation mode for our 20th anniversary festival! We once again ask filmmakers of all backgrounds and levels of experience to get out there and start making short films for the festival. Films can be about anything but must include the annual Tropfest Signature Item (TSI), which for 2012 is ‘LIGHT BULB’.
Deadline: Closed for 2012
The Australian Film Festival
The Australian Film Festival screens films where the major creative talent is Australian, and is open to any medium, from feature and short film, to online content, television and whatever can be classified as ‘film’. Screening 7 - 17 March, 2012
Deadline: Closed for 2012
St. Kilda Film Festival
Embarking on its 29th year the St Kilda Film Festival, proudly presented and produced by the City of Port Phillip, screens the Top 100 short film entries received in competition alongside the ever popular SoundKILDA Australian music videos music video competition.
Deadline: Closed
Melbourne International Film Festival
The Melbourne International Film Festival established in 1952 (60th – 2011) is the most significant screen event in Australia. MIFF takes place in the heart of the city and presents an acclaimed screening program alongside contextualised, industry and celebratory events. MIFF showcases both the best in current cinema from around the world as well as retrospectives, tributes, and 'talking pictures' programs. Since its inception MIFF has been committed to local film and screens an Australian survey as well as hosting celebratory world premieres for of Australian films.
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Under the Radar Film Competition
The City of Port Philip Youth Services will be hosting a under 21's open entry category in this year's St Kilda Film Festival.
Over the past few years it has been noted that there is a growing number of young film makers producing shorts. Although, the St Kilda Film Festival is an open entry competition it is often difficult for young people to compete against more experienced film makers of an older age. This category will be solely dedicated to the work that is being produced by young filmmakers in Australia; films that have been produced outside Australia will not be included.
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Revelation Perth International Film Festival
Each year Rev receives around 500 short, feature, animated, experimental and documentary films from around the globe through our call for entries. It's an enormously satisfying experience for our selection panels and we all look forward to feeling the pulse of the international independent film community through the great diversity of work we receive. For more info
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Antenna
Antenna is Australia's international documentary film festival. The annual festival will take place for the second time in Sydney at the beginning of October 2012. The successful first edition of the Antenna Festival, featured over 28 feature documentaries, film competitions with three prizes totalling $10,000, special events and international guests.
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Lucky Film Festival
Entries are now open for the 2nd annual Lucky Film Festival, the luckiest film festival on the planet. Open to all Short Films, Documentaries, Animations and Music Videos 10 minutes and under. Follow this link for more information. Lucky Film Festival.
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Newtown Flicks 2012
In October 2012 Newtown Flicks will hold its sixth annual Short Film Festival. The Festival attracts entries from all over Australia. There are generous cash and equipment prizes. Full information including the entry form is available at www.newtownflicks.com.au
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Atom Awards 2012
Since 1982 the ATOM Awards have been showcasing the best of Australian and New Zealand screen content.
We are calling upon students, production companies, independent filmmakers, animators and game developers to submit their entries now for the 2012 ATOM Awards. Be part of the story!
The ATOM Awards recognise excellence in over thirty categories of film, television, animation and new media. These Awards promote and celebrate the dynamic relationship between screen industries and the education sector.
For further information click here.
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Brisbane International Film Festival
The Brisbane International Film Festival provides a focus for film culture in Queensland by showcasing the best and most interesting cinema from around the world. Each year BIFF draws film enthusiasts to view an entertaining mix of local and international films, retrospectives and colourful events that embrace the vibrant art of filmmaking.
Since the first festival in 1992, BIFF has become a well-renowned Australian festival where more than 375,000 film-goers have immersed themselves in the BIFF experience.
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Rottofest
Rottofest, Western Australia’s only ‘overseas’ festival that you don’t need a passport for, is accepting comedy short film and sketch entries from across Australia for this year’s Festival to be held on Rottnest Island from Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 September 2012.
The fourth annual Rottofest will be a weekend of film, comedy and music, which celebrates the finest comedy filmmakers and stand-up comedians from across the country, judged by a panel of leading industry experts.
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Cockatoo Island Film Festival
This October the world will witness the birth of Australia’s most vibrant and dynamic film festival, floating in the center of spectacular Sydney Harbour on Cockatoo Island, managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. Featuring the largest international competitive film program in Australia, Cockatoo Island Film Festival, 24th – 28th Oct, will be the place to showcase your films with the Australian and International screen industry, along with an estimated 45,000 festival-goers who will attend.
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Hollywood HotShots Short Film Competition
Jameson Irish Whiskey is proud to present Hollywood Hot Shots – a short film competition in conjunction with the 2012 Australian Liquor Industry Awards (ALIA).
The Australian Liquor Industry Awards (ALIA), hosted by Australian Hotelier, National Liquor News, bars&clubs and TheShout, are the leading awards for the liquor industry in Australia. 2012 marks the 19th year of ALIA, with this year’s awards ceremony being held on 17th October, at Luna Park, Sydney. Over 45 awards will be handed out within a range of categories, from people to products, venues, to liquor stores and the coveted award of ‘Supplier of the Year’.
How to enter...
1. Create a 60-second video of your favourite Hollywood movie scene or scenes
2. Supply the video on DVD/USB. Mail: PO Box 55, Glebe NSW 2037, or in person to ALIA HQ: 41 Bridge Road, Glebe
Prizes
First Prize: $5,000 cash courtesy of Jameson Irish Whiskey
Second Prize: A Panasonic HC-700 camcorder (valued at $799)
For more information, contact James Wells on (02) 8586 6101
For full terms & conditions please visit www.liquorawards.com.au/competition/
Deadline: Closed for 2012
The Sandfly Film Festival
The Sandfly Film Festival is now open for entries for its 3rd year to be screened in November 2012.
The Sandfly Film Festival showcases and promotes Australian and international short films and music videos. From award winning works to cutting-edge new comers, from tear-jerkers to rip-snorters, thrillers, classics and indies, Sandfly presents films with bite!
For more info see www.sandflyfilmfestival.com
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Flickerfest 2013 –22nd International Short Film Festival
Celebrating its 22nd year, Flickerfest, Australia’s only Academy® Award accredited and BAFTA recognised Short Film festival, and its largest short film competition, is accepting entries from Australia and around the world, for our 2013 Festival. Flickerfest will screen for 10 days under the summer stars at Bondi Beach in January 2013 with selected highlights heading off after the festival around Australia on a 40 venue national tour. Flickerfest remains a platform for celebrating the most entertaining and innovative short film making from around the world, judged by a panel of leading industry experts.
Call for Entries online at http://www.flickerfest.com.au
Deadline: Closed for 2012
Aurora Short Film Festival
The Aurora Short Film Festival is open for entries! Anything under 10 minutes is what they're looking for. Drama, documentary, music videos, animation... anything!
If you're after a cash prize, industry recognition, or you're just in it for the love of the craft, then get your creative cap on and enter.
Deadline: Closed for 2012