The inaugural Bondi Film Festival is a brand new International Short Film Competition open to all entrants, from a 97 year old chicken farmer in Dubbo, New South Wales to a 7 year old girl in Kabul, Afghanistan. Stories are how we learn, how we think and how we pass on the knowledge we have gathered to others. Stories have been shared around campfires since the dawn of human civilisation. A spark born inside a human heart can start a fire around the Globe. We want to be a part of that process.

Awards & Prizes

Our festival aims to promote and celebrate excellence in the cinematic art. The entries will be judged by a panel of internationally acclaimed industry professionals. The top two winning entries will receive cash prizes of $AU1000 and $AU500 respectively.

The Final Selection of 17 films will be shown on The Paradiso Screen at La Piadina Restaurant in Bondi and online on our YouTube channel on 9 October 2026.

AWARDS

Grand Prize $AU1000
Palm Door $AU500
Selectors Prize
Special Mention
Most Amusing
Most Moving
Best Cinematography
Best Art Direction
Best Soundtrack
Best Direction
Best Actor
Best Choreography/Dance
Best Writing
Best Animal
Best Editing
Best Costumes
Best Visual Effects

Rules & Terms

1. All films submitted must be in horizontal format and no longer than 7 minutes including credits. No exceptions.
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2. Submissions are FREE. Limit of one submission per filmmaker only. No exceptions.
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3. Festival is open to international cinema. Dialogues that are not in English must be subtitled in English.
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4. The Entrant/s submitting the film must hold all legal rights for the submission and copyright clearance, including clearance of generative AI if used in the making of the film. Also, the film must have necessary clearances for public exhibition, including musical score.
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5. The festival has no festival premiere eligibility requirements. Shorts that have screened at other festivals and internet video platforms are eligible.
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6. We may promote clips from your film on social media, based on the press kits you provide us with.
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7. Final selections will be screened on the Bondi Film Festival YouTube channel, therefore the entries must comply with YouTube Community Guidelines, prohibiting content that includes graphic violence, X-rated acts, hate speech, harassment, harmful/dangerous acts, and spam.
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8. All decisions regarding award winners are considered final and incontestable.