FLiCKERFEST 2026 Official entries for all competitions are Now Closed.
Entries will open in June 2026 for our 2027 festival, follow us on socials for latest info.
Celebrating its 35th year in 2026, Flickerfest has grown to become Australia's leading competitive International Short Film Festival celebrating masterful, creative and impactful storytelling and the most original voices from filmmakers across the globe. Flickerfest will screen in January 2026 under the stars over 10 days in the peak of the Australian summer at the iconic Bondi Beach with select highlights of the festival touring to around 45 venues Australia wide.
Flickerfest is an Academy Award® Qualifying and BAFTA Qualifying festival. Since 2003 Flickerfest has been a recognised festival by the Academy® of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. With four awards qualifying for consideration across our International, Australian and Documentary Competition categories.
For 3 and a half decades Flickerfest has welcomed filmmakers from at home and around the world to celebrate their films on the big screen with our passionate and loyal audiences. Our popular screenings, gala festival events and filmmaker workshops connect filmmakers with the wider industry and each other, creating an immersive and welcoming festival experience.
Join us on the red carpet at Bondi Beach this January as Flickerfest brings 35 years of the most engaging, bold and entertaining short films to our film loving audiences and celebrates our most talented filmmakers from at home and across the world.
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
• Flickerfest Award for Best Short Film (Academy Award® Qualifying)
• Flickerfest Special Jury Award
• Yoram Gross Award for Best Short Animation (Academy Award® Qualifying)
• EU In Award for Best EU Short Film
• Azure Productions Award for Best Rainbow LGBTQi Short Film *both international and Australian films in competition are considered for this award.
DOCUMENTARY AWARD
• Flickerfest Award for Best Short Documentary (Academy Award® Qualifying)
*both Australian & International short documentaries are eligible for this competition.
AUSTRALIAN AWARDS
• Panasonic Lumix Award for Best Australian Short Film (Academy Award® Qualifying)
• Spectrum Films Award for Best Direction in an Australian Short Film
• AFTRS Award for Best Screenplay in an Australian Short Film
• Yoram Gross Award for Best Australian Short Animation
• John Barry Award for Best Cinematography in an Australian Short Film
• Avid Award for Best Editing in an Australian Short Film
• Avid Award for Best Original Music in an Australian Short Film
• Rebel8 Award for Outstanding Emerging Female Director
• Specsavers Award for Best Australian Comedy Short Film
FLiCKERUP AWARDS
• Flickerfest Award for Best Australian Youth Short Film
• Yoram Gross Award for Best Australian Youth Short Animation
• Avid Award for Best Editing in an Australian Youth Short Film
Plus many other cash and industry prizes.
The above industry and cash prizes will be awarded to approx $30,000 AUD in value.
SPECSAVERS TVC COMPETITION
• Entry for Australian residents only.
• Win up to $70k of a $150k prize pool and screen at Flickerfest 2026.
• The film needs to be written, filmed and produced by you & your team.
• Submit your own 30 second Should’ve TVC that delivers an entertaining, light-hearted sight gag with “Should’ve gone to Specsavers” as the punchline and become part of the brand’s legacy.
*Entrants need to include: a completed 30 second 'Should've gone to Specsavers' TVC with a supplied branded end frame, see all details here: flickerfest.com.au/specsavers-TVC-comp-2026
