The inaugural edition of the Black Snapper International Film Festival - the first major international student film festival held in Australia. In partnership with Macquarie University’s Creative Documentary Research Centre (CDRC).

Run by students for students, we aim to showcase, foster and celebrate the talents of young, emerging filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. From the empowering and challenging, to the funny and off-beat, we want to show the immense creativity of young storytellers locally, nationally and globally.

Launching on November 20th, and with events stretching over a fortnight of great screenings and events until our gala award ceremony on the 1st of December, this will be the largest international student film festival held anywhere in Australia. We offer student media-makers globally the opportunity to network with industry professionals in exclusive workshops, Q&A panels, and attend an award ceremony held in conjunction with the State Library of NSW.

Black Snapper International Film Festival acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Wallumattagal Clan of the Dharug Nation – whose cultures and customs have nurtured, and continue to nurture, the land since time immemorial. We pay our respects to the Elders, past and present.

Awards & Prizes

Jury Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Fiction (International Award): $2000 AUD
Jury Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Documentary (International): $2000 AUD

Jury Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Fiction (National Tertiary Award): $1000 AUD
Jury Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Documentary (National Tertiary Award): $1000 AUD

Jury Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Animation (Open)
$1000 AUD

Jury Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Fiction (National Secondary Award): $500 AUD
Jury Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Documentary (National Secondary Award): $500 AUD

Special Jury Prize for Contribution to Social &/or Environmental Awareness: $1000 AUD
Special Jury Award for Innovation/Experimentation: $1000 AUD
Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Sound (National Award): $1000 AUD

Audience Award for Best Screen Production: $1000 AUD

Rules & Terms

1. General Information
1.1 Submissions will remain open until 23:59 AEST on 30 September 2023. We reserve the right to close the submission platform at an earlier date. We recommend submitting your film as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
1.2 Upon submission, the filmmakers agree that their films can be included in promotional activity and publicity material shared by Black Snapper International Film Festival and its sponsors and partners.
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2. Eligibility
​2.1 All short films must have a total running time that is between 2 and 23 minutes.
2.2 All films must either be in English or subtitled in English.
2.3 All films must have completed production no earlier than January 2020.
2.4 We will accept no more than two submissions from each filmmaker above the line.
2.5 Films may only be submitted to Black Snapper once. We will not consider films that have been amended from previous submissions.
2.6 Entrants under 18 years of age must have their films either submitted by their school or with consent from a parent and/or guardian.
2.7 Films submitted must be student films.
2.8 Black Snapper defines 'student' as those who are in full or part-time education at any age or those who graduated no earlier than 2020. Proof of student enrolment in the form of a student ID will be required at the submissions stage.
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3. Submission Procedure
​3.1 Submissions must be made online via Black Snapper’s FilmFreeway page or PDF submission form with all the required information.
3.2 All entrants must specify the year in which their film was made.
3.3 Entrants must submit their film to the most appropriate genre category. Entrants must only select one genre.
3.4 If selected, entrants will be asked to provide a media package with film stills and production stills which may be used for festival marketing. The media package should also consist of: a film synopsis, cast and crew bios, headshot of the director, film poster, FAQs audiences might have, awards won (if applicable), reviews, and technical information.
3.5 If selected, entrants will be required to provide a high quality master file for screening. Our preferred format is ProRes 422 HQ. DCP will not be accepted.
3.6 We do not pay screening fees to filmmakers or distributors.
3.7 Entries which do not comply with the Black Snapper guidelines will be disqualified
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4. Final Selection
4.1 Upon submission, every film will be previewed by the Selection Committee for eligibility.
4.2 The Selection Committee may re-categorise the submitted film into a more suitable Genre category.
4.3 Films will be considered according to the following criteria: excellence in executing its creative function.
4.4.1 If your film is nominated for awards, a member of your team may be asked to attend the Awards Ceremony on 1st December 2023 either online or in-person.
4.4.2 We cannot guarantee that we can cover costs for travel and accommodation to enable nominees to attend in person.