Melbourne Documentary Film Festival

The 10th edition of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival was truly unforgettable. Late-night rooftop parties, surprise screenings, exclusive premieres, and insider panels electrified the city, creating once-in-a-decade moments that were hard to put into words. It was historic.

Celebrating a decade of documentary storytelling, the festival presented a retrospective of over 200 documentaries alongside a dazzling program of innovative and ambitious special events. Hundreds and hundreds of filmmakers and thousands of attendees came together across 11 vibrant venues—including the iconic Cinema Nova, IMAX, and Federation Square—and with the support of five local film collectives, Melbourne itself became a stage for a sweeping, city-wide tribute to the art of documentary.

This milestone year featured more Australian documentaries and films than any festival ever, cementing MDFF as not only Melbourne’s premiere documentary-only festival but also the largest of its kind in Australia, the Southern Hemisphere, and the Asia-Pacific. Meticulously curated, safe, virtually flawlessly executed, and brimming with vision, the 10th edition closed the festival’s first challenging decade in triumph and success—while opening the door to an even more exciting new chapter. MDFF: Documentaries Reimagined.

The stories behind the documentary you made often find you, rather than the other way around. They linger, quietly insistent, until you commit to bringing them to life on screen. As a documentary filmmaker, your role isn’t just to tell the story—it’s to honour the lives, moments, and truths that have chosen you, shaping the documentary as much as it shapes you

The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival (MDFF) is looking for a Melbourne-based or Melbourne-made feature documentary to either open or close our historic 11th edition. You can submit via FilmFreeway or email us at info@mdff.org.au.

The festival has become a cultural phenomenon in Melbourne, with sold-out sessions and encores, ranking as one of Australia’s top film festivals. We aim to promote diverse, independent, and creative filmmakers, supporting global and local talent. MDFF has helped filmmakers reach major platforms.

MDFF is known for its commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and safety. We’ve had no reported COVID cases at our events for the last five years and have worked to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

This year, we're excited to host encores for popular short documentaries and have seen great success. We've also become the FilmFreeway Top 100 Melbourne Film Festival and are ranked in the top global documentary festivals. We are especially proud to have had 7 documentaries eligible for the 2024 Oscars and 3 in 2025.

MDFF showcases documentaries that promote critical and independent thinking, debate, and diverse perspectives, with a focus on issues like human rights, equality, social issues, and freedom of speech. We have supported various causes, including BLM, Indigenous communities, and environmental organizations.

MDFF is an indie festival that helps filmmakers make their mark, offering opportunities for premieres, screenings, and networking with industry professionals. The festival takes place at Cinema Nova, one of Australia’s largest independent cinemas, and offers a fun, community-driven atmosphere.

We’re looking for local and international feature documentaries, short films, VR projects, video essays, and web series to compete in our Australian Documentary Awards. Submit your documentary to be part of this prestigious event and help us celebrate the best of the documentary genre.