The Melbourne Independent Film Festival connects global filmmakers with audiences in a diverse, culturally vibrant community by presenting films in its virtual competition and promoting the winners and honorable mentions of each edition in Australia and abroad.

The committee seeks films that engage, entertain, experiment and educate through the power of visual storytelling. Independent film projects of all genres from international talents go through our programming team and the official selections compete in various sections of the competition.

As an emerging international festival, the Melbourne Independent Film Festival aims to be one of the leading film festivals for international film-makers, screenwriters and talents who are dedicated to the cinematic language. It is a unique and innovative online platform for new talent and a celebration of cinematic creativity and innovation.

Awards & Prizes

Categories

Short Fiction
Short Animation
Short Documentary
Best Feature Film
Best Student Film
Best Director
Best Woman Filmmaker
Best Man Filmmaker
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Cinematography
Best Original Screenplay
Best Film Editing
Best Sound
Music Score
Best Film on Women’s issue
Best Virtual Reality / 360º Film
Best Trailer / Teaser

Rules & Terms

Regulations:

Short film entries must be under 40 minutes in length. Running time is calculated by timing the head frame to the last frame on the end credits.

The appropriate entry fee must accompany each entry. This nonrefundable fee covers screening and handling costs and will not be returned.

The film or video must have been completed after January 1, 2020.

Films or videos using uncredited, non-licensed, copyrighted musical or literary properties without legal permission and appropriate attribution credits are not eligible.

The competition is open to professional and nonprofessional filmmakers.

This is an online film Festival, and there will be no physical screening

Entries must be submitted in the completed form in which they will be judged.

The festival reserves the right to change the date of the event without having the approval of the submitters

The decisions of the Jury are final. The Jury reserves the right not to select a winner in any given category. The Jury reserves the right to change a category to the benefit of the film.
77 Reviews
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  • Mark Keil

    Aloha! Wow, so honored & happy that my biopic screenplay ‘Suicide Brunette’ did so well @ this Australian festival. It’s about the life of Australian mega star Michael Hutchence of the band INXS, before his untimely death. This is huge for the chances of my script getting picked up & hopefully made in the coming months. A huge mahalo!

    April 2026
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  • Sandra Reed

    Great exposure, feedback and response!👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

    April 2026
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  • Lynwood Shiva Sawyer

    G'day, Melbourne Independent Film Festival,
    The Country Gentlewoman is our debut effort and such an unconventional mashup, we weren't sure how audiences would receive it.
    Naturally, we are over the moon that the film resonated with your judges. It is huge encouragement for us to proceed to our next project.
    Thanking you muchly and wishing you much success with this contest and all future contests.
    Hope, Ellie & Lauren
    Film Department
    University of of Winchester
    Hampshire, UK

    April 2026
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  • Pepi ROMAGNOLI

    Many thanks to the Melbourne Indpendent Film Festival for awarding "The blue above and the gold within"

    April 2026
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  • Sydney Rincón

    On behalf of the cast and crew of Sensus Mori (2025), we thank the Melbourne Independent Film Festival for the opportunity to showcase our film to bright new audiences and share our story in new collaborative spaces. We are honored to have received the award for Best Student Film and look forward to future events.

    December 2025
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