LANTERN & LIGHT INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL
“Giving a voice to our children for their future”

The LLICFF is a major international festival centrally focused on essential short films made by young people between the age groups of 6 - 12, 12 -18, and 18 - 25. But as well, it includes The GOLDEN FLAME AWARD for professional filmmakers working with young people.

GRAND PRIX AWARD - As a unique film festival, it has quickly gained a reputation for its distinction in concentrating on films made by young people. So if you are 25 and under and you have made a short film get it in to us now. As well as the Grand Prix Award we have Best Animation, Best Performer, Best Documentary, Best New Wave and others. And unlike so many festivals, you do not have to pay per category, the one entry fee covers it all.

GOLDEN FLAME AWARD - An exciting and timely new category with the inaugural new award: LLICFF GOLDEN FLAME AWARD. This category is our only category for professional filmmakers, but only if you are a filmmaker working with young people helping them make films, and you are helping to give young people a voice that is inspirational and inclusive? The motto of the LLICFF is GIVING VOICE TO OUR CHILDREN FOR THEIR FUTURE, so if you are a filmmaker working in the industry with young people we want to hear from you. Gain recognition of your work - submit a short film to be eligible for the Golden Flame Award.

The next official festival will be in September 2024 when three days of International and Australian short films will be selected and screened, with prestigious awards given to the best film in various categories.

The LLICFF hosts stories from children in all cultures and from varying ways of life. This intercultural adventure encourages empathy and understanding, and we believe nothing does that better than the moving image, and in particular - films made through the eyes of the children themselves. LLICFF gives young filmmakers the opportunity to see their film projected onto the big screen. Get submitted for awards and be seen by professionals in the film industry. How exciting is that!

The festival also has a special regional focus with schools and individual young students encouraged to participate, a great opportunity for our own budding Yarra Ranges filmmakers.

We can’t wait for the 2024 Lantern & Light International Children’s Film Festival.

LANTERN & LIGHT OPEN AWARDS:

LANTERN & LIGHT GRAND PRIX AWARD BEST SHORT FILM - $500 plus crystal trophy award. For films made by young people ages 6 - 18 only.

GOLDEN FLAME AWARD for professional filmmaker/s working with young people - Golden Flame Crystal Trophy.

STUDENT JURY AWARD BEST SHORT FILM -
For films made by young people ages 6 - 18 only.

JOBY AWARD BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM -
For films made by young people ages 6 - 18 only.

RAPA LANTERN & LIGHT BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD
For acting by young people ages 6 - 18 only.

RAPA LANTERN & LIGHT BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD
For acting by young people ages 18 - 25 only.

SPECIAL LIGHT AWARD "NO BULLIES HERE" theme -
For films made by young people ages 6 - 18 only.

BABA DESI AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATION -
For films made by young people ages 6 - 18 only.

AGES 7-12
LANTERN & LIGHT AWARD FOR BEST NEW WAVE

AGES 12 - 18
LANTERN & LIGHT AWARD FOR BEST NEW WAVE

AGES 18 - 25
LANTERN & LIGHT AWARD FOR BEST NEW WAVE

LLICFF : giving a voice to our children for their future.

Terms & Conditions

1. We accept submissions of short films only, made by young people aged 6 - 18. The maximum length is 15 minutes for all categories.

2. Submissions by filmmakers older than 18 will be considered for the GOLDEN FLAME AWARD if the main focus of the film has been to support young people making films that are inspirational and inclusive? If you have a question regarding this category please contact programming@llicff.org.au

3. Entries close at Midnight (Australian Eastern Daylight time) on 28th August 2022

4. Fees are set according to an estimate of the festival breaking even. This is a Not For Profit festival. Fee waivers are available on application: send an email to programming@llicff.org.au
explaining the reason you cannot afford the fee. You will need to provide your country of production and residence. Entry fees are not refunded if the film is not selected or is ineligible to screen at the festival.

5. The Deadline for submissions is 30th May 2021

6. LLICFF is held in the beautiful Yarra Ranges, Melbourne, Australia.

7. Submission material must be available for the entire submission period. LLICFF cannot reconsider any updates or edits to a film that has already been submitted.

8. The maximum length for submissions is 15 minutes including titles and credits.

9. Films may be submitted in any language, however, films not in English must contain English subtitles. LLICFF encourages international participation and we want to hear from you.

10. You can submit more than one film. We want to see your work, and welcome as many submissions as you’d like to send us. If you are a school planning on submitting several student films, please contact us for information on a discounted submission fee. programming@llicff.org.au

11. COPYRIGHT CLEARANCES: You MUST own all the copyrights and have written permissions when necessary to use all underlying works in your film, including music, performances and script. Young people check with your parents and teachers about this need.

11. The majority of the film must have been made by young people aged between ages 6 and 18. (Other than for the Golden Flame Award see #2) You can include adults as performers in your film, but the scripting, direction and crewing of your film must have been done mostly by young people. However, we do recognise that adult filmmaking mentors and school teachers are often on board to help you.

LLICFF recognises that help is often needed by young people learning to be filmmakers. We want you to give it a go, so yes ask for help from an adult when you need it. We are professional filmmakers, we can tell when a film has been made by a professional filmmaker! and so we are more interested in the story you have to tell, than whether it’s technically great.

12. Any submission material received such as a DVD or BLURAY screener will not be returned. We strongly advise using the FilmFreeway upload platform. If a DCP is available please inform our programmers.

13. Short films screened at other festivals are still eligible for submission.

14. Non-eligible: films that have been broadcast on the internet or available for download in any capacity are not eligible for submission. However, films available online via secure password-protected sites are eligible.

15. LLICFF is not able to respond to every filmmaker regarding the status of their film. Notifications will be sent in early June.

16. LLICFF selection decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. We do not provide critical analysis or feedback.

17. If after submitting to LLICFF your film becomes ineligible ( broadcast on television, available online etc), it will be automatically removed from consideration and submission fees will not be refunded.

18. LLICFF reserve the right to refuse to screen any submission deemed by the Festival to be age inappropriate.

19. Participants are urged to make available all requested publicity materials for promotion. All contact persons of selected films will receive a request for catalogue materials upon confirming participation in the festival.

20. After official selection of a film, the Festival is qualified to use excerpts from the film, with a maximum of 3 minutes, nationally and internationally for promotional purpose. In the event that excerpts are not available, the Festival is qualified to copy, under its strict supervision, one or more excerpts from the film for promotional use.

21. All officially selected films and the award-winning films will be required to give LLICFF screening rights on all platforms including but not exclusive to Cinema screens, digital broadcast platforms, LLICFF website program listings and jury preview platforms. Award-winning films will be available for viewing on the LLICFF website for twelve months following the festival awards ceremony. This is a non-exclusive right.

22. By submitting a film to LLICFF you agree to the Terms & Conditions.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ani Bell

    What a wonderful way to help encourage youth voices through Film, Animation and Writing. Thank you so much for awarding my entry with an Honorable Mention.

    September 2023
  • It was amazing. I'm very happy and proud that "Adult" won Grand Prix of this great festival! Thank you for your support of Ukraine!

    September 2023
  • Its seems a cute festival, made by cinema lovers. Congrats!

    September 2023
  • Absolutely wonderful Film Festival. So proud to have my film 'Frame Avenue' screened there! Extremely well designed programs and fosters a warm community environment while at the same time branching out to films across the globe. Cinema was also packed!

    September 2023
  • Rebecca Hosking

    Fantastic event with unparalleled support and passion by the organisers who live the truth of the purpose of their festival.

    March 2023