The Heathcote Film Festival is a short film festival that has been running since 2010, showcasing both Australian and international short films in a program that is repeated over two consecutive evenings.

Filmmakers are invited to submit short films of less than 15 minutes in the following categories:
• Open
• Emerging Film Maker

This year, all films selected for viewing at the Festival will receive a cash prize of $AUD100, unless the film wins one of our other prizes (check the Awards and Prizes section for full details).

We encourage submissions across all genres, and all films are duly considered. Make us laugh, make us think deeply, give us hope, surprise us, shock us, tell us your stories about your world.

We are a not-for-profit Short Film Festival run by volunteers who have full support from our local community. Each year, we attract many visitors from our greater region, the nearby city of Melbourne and interstate. We receive sponsorship from the local community bank and a number of local wineries and small businesses as well as other sponsors/grants.

Our Festival aims to grow and proliferate film culture in our community and surrounding rural region. The festival was started by a small group of passionate people who have created a much-loved annual event.

We aim to celebrate film of all genres, encourage the discussion of film and film-making and to provide a forum for emerging film-makers. We want our Festival to satisfy the needs of film devotees as well as to introduce novices to as broad a range of film as possible in an environment rich with film knowledge and love of film. At our Festival we also endeavour to marry enjoyment of film with the enjoyment of wine and food from our region.

The festival is held in late August in Heathcote (Central Victoria) about a 90-minute drive north of Melbourne.

Submitted films must be no longer than 15 minutes and can be of any genre. Awards are presented at the main festival in August.

We are pleased to continue our emerging film-maker award this year, specifically for early-career film-makers who live in Australia.

Awards & Prizes

In 2026 we will award $AUD100 for every film selected for showing at the festival. This will not apply to films who win one or more of the following prizes:

Jury prize: $AUD1000
Emerging Film-maker prize: $AUD500
People's choice award: $AUD250 (two awards, one for each night of showing)

Laurels will be provided to all selected films.

Note that payment of prizes is subject to the Rules and Terms of the festival. Please take particular note of item 14.

Rules & Terms

1. All submissions to the festival must be made online through the FilmFreeway website and by the specified deadline. Late entries will not be accepted.

2. By submitting a film you agree to these terms and conditions.

3. Only the director or producer of a film may submit it to the festival. The person making the submission must have sole and exclusive rights, and absolute authority, and have clearances including but not limited to all creative, copyright, branding, design, legal, image and sound related aspects of the film, to submit the film to the Heathcote Film Festival.

4. The film submitted must not infringe any Australian copyright, defamation or vilification laws.

5. No part of the film is actionable for defamation, nor does it violate any right of privacy or publicity of any person, firm, or corporation.

6. Submitted films must be in English or have English subtitles.

7. The submitter assigns all rights for the festival to screen the film, and for excerpts of the film, to be used for promotional activities associated with the festival.

8. Films that are likely to be rated R 18+ or X 18+ will not be selected for this festival.

9. The Heathcote Film Festival reserves the right to assess all entries against the Australian Classification Board guidelines.

10. Entries will be selected and judged by the panel established by the Heathcote Film Festival. All decisions of this panel are final and cannot be appealed.

11. Entrants agree to indemnify the Heathcote Film Festival and hold it harmless from any damages, liabilities, losses, costs, expenses, obligations or claims arising out of a breach of their agreements, obligations, presentations and warranties under these rules. By submitting to the festival, you agree to waiver all legal action, including third party claim, against the festival, its organisers, venue, associates, stakeholders and affiliates.

12. Screening copies will be provided by the film-maker to the festival as 1920 x 1080 MP4 files in stereo or 5.1 sound formats with no watermarks.

13. Submitted films must be no longer than 15 minutes including credits.

14. Prize money transfer is subject to Australian money transfer regulations. We cannot transfer cash prizes to recipients in sanctioned countries. A list of sanctioned countries can be found at https://www.dfat.gov.au/international-relations/security/sanctions/sanctions-regimes-currently-implemented-under-australian-sanction-law. Film makers from sanctioned countries are still encouraged to submit but prizes are not guaranteed. All prize money, including selection prizes will be distributed in the weeks following the end of the festival. Our preferred method of international transfer is PayPal.

9 Reviews
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  • Melissa Mars

    I wish I could have attended the Heathcote Film Festival, my very first premiere in Australia, not only for The Sign but also as a filmmaker. It’s an honor to have been part of the selection. I received an update on the wonderful turnout and how well the festival went, and I feel both proud and grateful to have been included.

    September 2025
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  • Louis Dickins

    A wonderful film festival. Very professional, friendly atmosphere. Great communication and a thrill to screen our film to such a receptive audience. Highly recommend

    September 2025
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  • Melle Windig

    Thank you for hosting our short stop motion animation Cell Buddies at your festival. As a student from Europe I could not attend but on social media it looked like a lot of fun!

    September 2025
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  • Hugh Mitton

    The festival committee were wonderful to deal with. Honored to have my film screened and awarded here!!

    September 2025
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  • MMS Short Film Distribution Agency

    Small but very well managed festival!
    Good communication as well!
    Hopefully we can attend it in-person in the future!

    September 2024
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