Queer Screen is Australia's premier LGBTQIA+ film organisation founded in 1993, with the main aim of reclaiming Sydney’s LGBTIQ+ film festival as owned and operated by the community. Highly regarded by filmmakers all over the world, Queer Screen is one of the most important platform for promoting LGBTIQ+ titles in this territory.

Originally launched as QueerDoc in 2000, the festival evolved into Queer Screen Film Fest in 2013. Now entering its 12th edition, the 2025 Queer Screen Film Fest will take place from 27–31 August at Event Cinemas George Street in Sydney.

In addition to film screenings, the festival will feature industry-focused events and panels as part of Queer Screen's commitment to supporting emerging filmmakers, as well as community-building social gatherings.

Festival Program Categories:
• Emerging Narrative Feature Film Competition
• Mixed Shorts Package
• Special Presentation
• Opening & Closing Night Screening

Our Vision:
A celebration of the diversity of sexualities and gender identities through queer storytelling on screen, by inclusive and respectful communities full of creativity, inspiration and pride.

Our Mission:
To transform and engage individuals and communities through queer storytelling on screen.

About Queer Screen:
Queer Screen has grown considerably since 1993, now playing host to two annual film festivals: Queer Screen's Mardi Gras Film Festival (in February) and Queer Screen Film Fest (in August). It also offers a number of industry initiatives, including Australian short film competition My Queer Career (est. 1993), Queer Screen's Completion Fund (awarding over $162,000 AUD in funding to Australian filmmakers since 2016) and the short film pitching competition Pitch Off (awarding $60,000 AUD in funding since 2018).

Unlike in previous years where submissions were opened for both festivals simultaneously, we are currently only accepting narrative feature submissions for Queer Screen Film Fest (27-31 August, 2025). Submissions for Queer Screen's Mardi Gras Film Festival (February, 2026) will open in July, 2025 – which will include narrative and documentary features, and short films. Australian short films are only considered for Mardi Gras Film Festival, as they are automatically under consideration for our Australian short film competition, My Queer Career – entrants are not required to maintain a Sydney Premiere.

To be notified when submissions for Mardi Gras Film Festival open, you can join our filmmaker mailing list: https://queerscreen.org.au/filmmakers/join-the-filmmakers-list/

Awards & Prizes

• Emerging Narrative Feature Film Competition – Prize: AUD $2,500
• Audience Award for Best Feature Film
• Audience Award for Best Short Film

Rules & Terms

Conditions of Entry
1. All films submitted must centre on or be of significant interest to the LGBTIQ+ community.
2. Industrial, promotional, instructional films, or feature-length films (60+ minutes) that are already available online for free are not eligible.
3. Queer Screen does not provide individual feedback or reasons for films not selected.
4. Resubmissions are not permitted unless specifically requested by Queer Screen.
5. Queer Screen, its officers, agents, and employees accept no responsibility for any infringement of copyright, performers’ rights, defamation, illegal or obscene content, or any other legal issues arising from submitted films.
6. All non-English language films must include English subtitles for exhibition.
7. Submission of a film implies full acceptance of these terms and conditions.

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Selected Films Must Provide
• Official poster and 3–5 high-resolution film stills (300 dpi)
• Film trailer (with and without English subtitles)
• Feature films must provide a DCP either via physical hard drive or downloadable link

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Delivery of Selected Films
• Detailed DCP shipment instructions will be provided upon film acceptance.

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