The Birrarangga Film Festival (BFF) is Australia’s premier Indigenous-led film festival, established in 2019 to celebrate and elevate First Nations storytelling through cinema. BFF provides a dedicated platform for Indigenous filmmakers from Australia and across the globe, supporting both established and emerging artists through curated screenings, professional development, and cultural exchange.

Held biennially, BFF offers a dynamic program of film premieres, feature films, short films, documentaries, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), 360° immersive media, and masterclasses, complemented by off-year initiatives including regional tours and digital programming. BFF reflects the rich tapestry of Indigenous cultures from across Australia and the globe. These activities foster deeper engagement with communities, enhance year-round visibility for Indigenous cinema, and contribute to sector development.

BFF plays a vital role in Australia’s screen culture landscape by amplifying Indigenous voices, nurturing talent, and fostering collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Through its commitment to cultural integrity, innovation, and artistic excellence, BFF continues to shape the future of Indigenous cinema locally, nationally and internationally. With strong foundations, proven impact, and expanding audiences, BFF continues to advance Indigenous cinema, inspire new generations of filmmakers, and foster cultural dialogue on a global stage.

Rules & Terms

At Birrarangga Film Festival, we pride ourselves in sharing Indigenous media, from Indigenous creatives.

1. The Director of the Film, must be Indigenous.

2. The Writer or Producer, must be Indigenous or both.

3. Joint creative positions that are non-Indigenous (co-Director, co-Writer, co-Producer) may be considered by the Birrarangga Artistic Director with additional requirements clarifying the creative and decision-making processes.

4. There are no premiere status requirements to submit to Birrarangga.

5. Film & Video work permanently and/or publicly accessible for viewing via the Internet WITHOUT a password (e.g. YouTube, Vimeo) or via paid/pay-per-view S/VOD platforms (e.g. iTunes, Netflix) are eligible.

6. Film & Video works that have been released within the timeframe of our last festival will be prioritised within the selection process, but Film works made prior that have not screened at BFF may be considered by the BIRRARANGGA Artistic Director.

NOTES
Film & Video works created by Indigenous community collectives are eligible for submission but will require additional information to clarify the creative and decision-making processes. We will still require the names and Indigenous nations/tribes of each collective member.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
1. We accept submissions in all languages. However, the Festival presents to a primarily English-speaking audience. All language works with dialogue must have English closed or open captioning to be eligible.

2. Preview 'screeners' should ideally have no broadcaster promos or commercial prompts, if applicable to the work.

3. Each work must have its own Submission Form and preview screener. Compilations will not be accepted.

4. Passwords for the preview 'screener' must be valid until 20/01/2027

5. Submissions must be made online; physical submissions will not be accepted. If you have accessibility restrictions that make online submissions difficult or not possible, please contact us, and we will make the necessary accommodations.

6. Read the submission instructions carefully before submitting.

7. Please complete all mandatory sections. You will not be able to submit an incomplete Submission Form, and incomplete Submission Forms will not be processed.