The Random Directions Film Festival is a non-competitive film festival proudly supporting and showcasing filmmakers who don’t fit the mainstream mold - the underdogs, the first-timers, and the bold, low-budget creators with unique and quirky visions.

Our Film Festival is now in it's 8th year of celebrating locally made movies created in the Upper South Island NZ and is open to all short films made by filmmakers from Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough, and Kaikoura, with a particular focus on those that break the mold and offer unusual stories with creative twists that you just won't find in mainstream cinema.

The Random Directions Film Festival is held annually with the 2026 Festivals scheduled for August 29th at EVENT CINEMAS, MARLBOROUGH and September 12th at STATE CINEMAS, NELSON.

Join us as we celebrate and showcase the quirky, the unconventional, and those that just think differently!

Rules & Terms

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

The Random Directions Film Festival is open to NEW ZEALAND films and filmmakers only.

We accept films made in and by filmmakers from The Upper South Island, NZ - this includes Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough, and Kaikoura.

Films must be submitted through FilmFreeway or via email by using a WeTranfer link.

DUE DATE | Films must be completed and submitted by midnight (11.59pm) on July 1st. Late submissions will not be accepted.

ENTRY FEES | There are no submission fees to enter your film in the Random Directions Film Festival.

RUN TIME | Films should aim for a runtime of approximately 5 to 7 minutes, though there is no strict duration requirement.

FORMAT | Please export your completed film in 1080p or higher MP4 format. While your films will be converted to DCP for screenings, they must be submitted in MP4 format for rating purposes.

If your film includes subtitles or text, please ensure they are not positioned at the very bottom of the screen, as they may be cropped during export.

For further information on this, or for any other questions, please email randomdirectionsnz@gmail.com.

RATING| Films must have a maximum rating of M. Once the submission deadline has passed, all films will be sent to the Film and Video Labelling Body (FVLB) for official classification. If your film is rejected by the FVLB, it indicates that the rating exceeds M, and it will not be eligible for screening at the festival. In the unlikely event of this occurring, we will reach out to you directly.

SELECTION | Upon acceptance, your film will receive an official rating from the FVLB (which we will arrange), and you will be sent a Random Directions Film Festival Laurel along with your acceptance letter.

OTHER INFO:

1. Films submitted must not have been publicly screened online and must be the final, completed version. Once the deadline passes, no re-edits will be allowed unless we contact you directly for a specific reason.

2. Random Directions Challenge films must adhere to the guidelines provided via email following the annual draw night.

3. By submitting your film, you agree to allow us to use excerpts from your film (including trailers, teasers, posters, and stills) for promotional purposes.

4. We do not hold awards, as they can create competition in a small, local setting, potentially leading to conflicts. The Random Directions Film Festival is a pressure-free, non-competitive celebration of all films and filmmakers from the Marlborough and Tasman regions, emphasizing community and collaborations

For further questions please contact us at randomdirectionsnz@gmail.com