The inaugural Bauhaus Bendigo Short Film Festival invites filmmakers to explore the enduring influence of the world’s most iconic design school. This event is a highlight of the 'Bringing the Bauhaus to Bendigo' festival—a community celebration featuring a design symposium, digital installations, and workshops.

The festival is anchored by a symposium for creatives and academics, with keynote addresses by renowned experts Professor Andrew McNamara and Dr. Ann Stephen of the Bauhaus Australia research group.

The Vision:
We are seeking works that engage with the Bauhaus legacy—whether through strict geometric abstraction, explorations of "form follows function," or contemporary interpretations of the school’s avant-garde philosophy. We welcome bite-sized avant-garde manifestos to deep-dive narrative and documentary studies. We welcome homages to the imagery, theories, and revolutionary spirit that originated from the school between 1919 and 1933.

The Venue:
Selected films will be projected onto the Hargreaves Mall Civic Screen from November 12–15, 2026. This large-scale outdoor activation transforms the heart of Bendigo into a public gallery of moving image and light, bringing avant-garde cinema directly into the streetscape.

The Location:
Bendigo is a vibrant UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in Victoria, Australia. A regional hub for cultural innovation, it is a place where rich gold-rush heritage meets a sophisticated contemporary arts scene. By screening here, your work becomes part of a tradition of international exhibitions and academic discourse held within one of Australia’s most beautiful historic cities.

Awards & Prizes

Recognition at the Bauhaus Bendigo Short Film Festival is centered on artistic merit and professional validation within the creative and academic community. Official honors are presented across three core categories: The Gropius Gallery for outstanding short-short films, The Mies Masterclass for premier narrative or documentary shorts, and The Meyer Medal—the prestigious "Bendigo Gold" award honoring excellence from creators within the City of Greater Bendigo and regional Victoria.

Winners receive Official Festival Laurels, providing an endorsement of their work from judges. This written recognition is specifically designed to bolster future grant applications and professional portfolios.

Most significantly, award-winning films are formally highlighted during the festival’s keynote symposium, offering visibility to guest academics, design professionals, and international keynote speakers. All selected filmmakers receive a digital laureate pack and a formal invitation to participate in a public Q&A session at the Hargreaves Mall Civic Screen, providing a platform to discuss their creative process with the local community and visiting industry leaders.

Rules & Terms

NOTE: Use code BBSFFFREE for a 100% waiver on FilmFreeway for submissions by midnight AEST 19 April 2026.

1. Global Eligibility: Submissions are open to filmmakers worldwide across three distinct categories: The Gropius Gallery (Short Short: under 5 minutes), The Mies Masterclass (Short: under 20 minutes), and The Local Lens (City of Greater Bendigo residents).

2. Submission Deadline: All entries must be submitted no later than October 14, 2026. Submissions must be in English or include English subtitles. Open captions are encouraged for public accessibility.

3. Screening License: By submitting, filmmakers grant the festival a non-exclusive license to screen the work publicly on the Hargreaves Mall Civic Screen for the duration of the event (November 12–15, 2026).

4. Selection and Nominations: The festival distinguishes between "Nominated" films and the "Official Selection." While all Nominated films are eligible for awards and laurels, only the Official Selection will be showcased during the public screenings.

5. Content Standards: As this is an outdoor civic screening in a public thoroughfare, all content must be suitable for a general audience (equivalent to a G or PG rating). The festival reserves the right to disqualify any content deemed inappropriate for public viewing.

6. Rights and Clearances: Participants must own or have secured all necessary rights and permissions for music, images, and any other intellectual property contained within the film. Any technical issues with file playback are the responsibility of the filmmaker.

7. Local Lens Requirements: To be eligible for the "Bendigo Gold" (The Meyer Medal) category, entrants must provide proof of residency within the City of Greater Bendigo region or list a local residential address on their FilmFreeway profile.

8. Promotion and Media: The festival retains the right to use film clips and provided press kit materials for promotional purposes on social media and official digital platforms.

9. Final Authority: All selection and award decisions are final and remain at the sole discretion of the festival curation team. No refunds will be provided for disqualified or unselected entries.

10. Reservation of Rights: The festival reserves the right to update or modify these rules and terms, including changes to dates and venues due to weather or technical circumstances, at any time without prior notice. By submitting, filmmakers agree to abide by the most current version of these terms.

11. Technical Specifications: Films must be submitted in a minimum resolution of 1080p. The preferred aspect ratio is 16:9 (Widescreen). Participants must own or have secured all necessary rights and permissions for music, images, and any other intellectual property contained within the film. Any technical issues with file playback resulting from non-standard formats are the responsibility of the filmmaker.