"Focusonability” is a short film festival that focuses on achievements and abilities of people with disabilities, and appropriately reflects the contribution these individuals make to the world. Films need to be only 5 minutes in length and MUST showcase the achievement or ability of a person with disability. Once again we are reaching a total prize value will be in excess of $150,000.

Can you please head to our www.focusonability.com.au website, read over our terms and conditions. Then if your film is suitable please submit your film along with a signed entry form available via the entry button on our website.

Screenings will be featured all over the world and winners will be invited to attend our Red Carpet Event online, as well as have opportunities to have their films viewed and voted for online.

Despite encouragement to include people with a disability as regular members of society, participation rates remain stubbornly low. Under employment and unemployment create poverty that further alienates people with disabilities from full participation – The “Focusonability” program has made a significant contribution and also identified the need for further promotion.


Creates new and innovative ways to improve the diversity of the talent that shapes Film & TV content, and the types of stories that are therefor reflected on our screens as well as encourages employment opportunities within the entertainment industry.

Focus On Ability Short Film Festival is a non-for profit organisation. All entries are at no charge.

Awards & Prizes

AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL SECTION
Judges Choice - Official Selection Documentary
Winner - Toshiba Package worth $7,000

Judges Choice - Official Selection Short Film
Winner - $5,000 Cash Prize and also 10 x places in one term of TAFTA Teens Film & T.V. classes.

Most Online Votes
Winner - $3,000 Harvey Norman voucher

Diversity Pictures & AAFTA Online Mentorship Best Teen Actor in School Short Film
Winner - Empowering The Artist - Online Mentorship Program (2 Free Terms of online classes Thursday evenings & Saturdays)
- 4x 1hr Private Coaching Sessions with David Zimmerman at Meet The Biz
- 4x 1hr Create Your Own Content session with Ryde Entertainment
- 2 x 1hr hr career development session with director of Diversity Pictures and AAFTA Jessica Orcsik
- Online Meetings with US Judges
- Online Meetings with Gail Williamson at KMR Talent

Changing Minds Mental Health & Wellbeing Award (NZ Schools Only)
Winner -$2,000(NZD) Courtesy of Changing Minds
*Awarded to the 2020 NZ school entry that the team at Changing Minds feels best challenges conventional thinking around mental health

NOVA Employment School Choice Awards
5x Winner's - $1000 Cash
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AUSTRALIAN OPEN SECTION
Judges Choice - Official Selection Short Film
Winner - TBC (Minimum value of $5,000)

Judges Choice - Official Selection Documentary
Winner - $5,000 cash prize

Most Online Votes - (Short Film or Documentary)
Winner - $5000 cash prize courtesy of Club York

Diversity Pictures & AAFTA Online Mentorship Best Actor in Short Film
Winner- Empowering The Artist - Online Mentorship for creatives
- 4x 1hr Career development sessions with director of Diversity Pictures and AAFTA Jessica Orcsik
- 4 x 1hr Private Coaching Sessions with David Zimmerman at Meet The Biz
- One Year Masterclass Membership
- Online Meetings with US Judges Director Rod Hardy, Casting Director Rick Millikan, Director Ben Lewin & Producer Judi Levine
- Online Meetings with Gail Williamson at KMR Talent

Screen Producers Australia Award - (Short Film or Documentary)
Winner - Full Gold Pass (all sessions, social events, SPA Awards & Gala Party) for SCREEN FOREVER. With a complimentary membership included, the prize package is valued up to $5,000. You will have access to the pitching and meeting streams plus SPA is delighted to design an itinerary especially for the winner including all the cool, big name sessions but also recommending business development and education forums to really develop producing skills. SPA also will include winners in the training forum before the official opening so that you can get some skills on talking to the industry and some tips on pitching ideas!

NOVA EMPLOYMENT CHOICE AWARD - (Australian entries)
Winner - Brand New 2020 Kia Cerato courtesy of Noble Kia and Kia Australia
*The NOVA Employment team select their favourite entry in the 2020 festival that best suits the Focus on Ability theme. All Australian submissions are eligible.

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INTERNATIONAL SECTION
Judges Choice - Official Selection Short Film
Winner -$5,000 AUD

Judges Choice - Official Selection Documentary
Winner - $5,000 AUD

Most International Online Votes
Winner - $5,000 AUD
#Please note Prize pool subject to change following Covid-19 restrictions

Rules & Terms

Terms and Conditions

1. Entry in the 2020 Focus on Ability Short Film Festival (the Festival) run by NOVA Employment Ltd. (NOVA) is FREE.

2. Video entries (Films) are to be maximum 5.00 minute duration, excluding credits. Any Films longer than 5.00 minutes will not be considered. Captions are encouraged to assist hearing impaired audiences, but not compulsory.

3. NOVA reserves the right to exclude any entry they consider inappropriate. This may include any video that, in NOVA Employment Ltd's opinion, contains racist, sexist, violent, discriminatory material or is otherwise likely to offend community standards.

4. The entry form must be correctly completed, accompany your Films and be received/sent by closing date 31st July, 2020. (Films may be placed in the post on 31st July, 2020. They will be time stamped)

5. All films must have an ability/disability theme or have people with disability as the main actor/actresses in the entry.

6. Each entrant is responsible for their own transit insurance, postage and production costs*. *Please do not post USBs in regular envelopes as they are at risk of being ripped during the mailing process.

7. Confirmation of receipt of entry will be sent via email within a week of receipt.

8. Films meeting the entry requirements will be uploaded to NOVA's website and identified as entrants to the 2020 Focus on Ability short film festival

9. Online voting dates will run for 1 week. International Voting August 18-24, School Voting September 1 - 7, Australian Open Voting September 15-21.

10. Entries to be submitted on USB. It is preferable that they be submitted in high resolution, ideally an MP4. NOVA will still accept files not in this format. We will also accept electronic submissions under 500mb. Please email your submission along with the completed entry form and additional material to ryan@focusonability.com. We recommend using www.wetransfer.com

11. It is the responsibility of the entrants to inform NOVA of any changes to contact details. Please include a valid email address as most correspondence is via email. Please do not use school email addresses.

12. Entries will become the property of NOVA Employment Ltd

13. All entrants retain copyright to their films and can submit their films into other festivals.

14. The entrants grant NOVA a non-exclusive, non-transferable, world-wide, royalty free licence for 10 years commencing from the date of announcement of the winners, to use, publish and communicate their Films including online and as part of NOVA's training resources for the sole purpose of promoting the Competition and/or NOVA and its programs, including NOVA's advocacy for people with disability (Permitted Purpose). Any use beyond the Permitted Purpose requires the prior written consent of the winner

15. NOVA will attribute all Films wherever it uses the Films, in the following format:
Name of Film:
Year of Production:
Name of Entrant:

16. Entrants are solely responsible for ensuring that all necessary copyright and other relevant rights and authorisations for their Films have been obtained prior to submitting their entry. NOVA takes no responsibility for any failure by an Entrant to obtain the necessary authorisations.

17. A Film must not have been submitted to this festival in previous years.

18. NOVA's decision as to the winners in each category, runners-up in each category and other prize winners is final and conclusive and no correspondence regarding this will be entered into following the competition.