Pasifika Film Fest is excited to invite filmmakers to submit short films for the Yumi Stap Wantaim Film Festival, screening in Goroka and Port Moresby this June!

With the theme “Shared Stories, Stronger Ties,” YSW celebrates the powerful role of storytelling in building cultural connections between Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Submit your new or existing films — drama, documentary, or historical — that are ready to screen and speak to the strength of our shared stories.

📅 Deadline: 31 May 2025
🙌 Presented in partnership with DFAT as part of PNG’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

PFF SUBMISSION T&C’s

Pasifika Film Fest programs film, video, digital & interactive media artworks works made by artists (directors, producers, screenwriters, designers) of Pacific heritage and of all levels of experience. In programming work for the Festival, PFF strives to represent a diversity of ideas, themes, and genres, in addition to a diversity of Pacific Islander languages, nations, and cultures.

PFF's priority is to present media artworks that reflect the artistic vision of a person of Pacific heritage, and provide a space for the artist to present their work to the public. Pasifika Film Fest only considers works that meet the following criteria:

For Film & Video Works:

The director, producer or screenwriter is of Pacific heritage;
If the director, producer or screenwriter is not of Pacific heritage, then joint creative positions (co-director, co-writer, co-producer) may also be considered with detailed submission requirements for creative role and decision-making involvement.

PREMIERE STATUS

A premiere status of any kind is not a requirement, but may be a consideration. Due to submission volumes and the limitation of screening slots, Programmers may choose to prioritise a work by a Pacific filmmaker that has not yet had the opportunity of a public presentation at another festival or via other media.

All films must be in English or have English subtitles. Pasifika Film Fest prefers films that have not been broadcast or made available for download in Australia, New Zealand or the USA.

HOW TO SUBMIT
Electronic submissions must be made through Pasifika Film Fest’s, FilmFreeway page.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Such a wonderful event especially for Pasifika peoples!

    November 2024
  • Thank you very much for everything

    December 2022
  • Great effort and international reach to island communities despite COVID lockdowns. Please do every year and even bigger next time!

    November 2021
  • Carmen Smith

    The Pasifika Film Fest 48 Hours of Film Challenge was a great experience for me. I was able to connect with fellow Pacific Islander filmmakers and create a film that we could identify with. The mentors were excellent and really gave my team and me useful advice and wisdom. I'll take the skills and connections I acquired on this challenge with me into future productions. Totally worth applying for!

    October 2018
  • John Antonelli

    This is a smaller festival that runs over a long weekend but also travels to other Australian cities after Sydney. The films focus on Australian Aboriginal and Pacific Islander cultures of the South Pacific. The films range from full length highly polished, well funded independent documentaries aimed at television distribution to short films that are strong student efforts or beautifully articulated personal statements that have an insider’s perspective. Even the 48 hour challenge films were very good. The setting, Casula Powerhouse Art Center is a beautiful venue that includes wonderful art galleries and an excellent artsy restaurant. It’s just outside Sydney but easily accessible on the city’s train system. The festival organizers and film curators are gracious hosts and skilled programmers. An opening night party featured local music and dance performance and native food samplings. There was solid community interaction in the post film discussion even though the attendance wasn’t as good as the event deserved. I highly recommend this festival for anyone interested in Australian Aboriginal and Pacific Islander cultures.

    September 2018