SCINEMA is the largest science film festival in the southern hemisphere. Now in its 26th year, we are passionate about showcasing the best in science cinema from around the world.

If you have produced a film, television series, documentary, short, vertical, educational video or animation that has a science theme, then we would love to hear from you. By science, we include: technology, engineering, mathematics, health and medicine, social and natural sciences and the nexus between the arts and technology.

All shortlisted films will be available online for people to watch at home, in schools, libraries and community centres. Viewing the festival is free to all as we want to engage people with science. Registration is required to watch films to support filmmakers who have distribution deals. SCINEMA 2025 attracted an audience of more than 25,000 in Australia and beyond.

This year we have introduced an 'Experimental' category, looking for filmmakers and animators working outside traditional narrative storytelling forms. And we welcome some new friends to our organising committee in California and look forward to adding some US screenings to our 2026 program.

SCINEMA is a celebration of the power of the moving image to tell stories about the world, how it works, and our place in it. Whether it’s the long slog and occasional thrill of discovery, the awesome scale of our universe, the beauty of nature, environmental challenges that we face on our planet, or how technology will shape our future, there are hundreds of science stories we want to see on screen.

SCINEMA, established in 2000, attracts entries from across the world, including some of the world’s most respected science factual programs, producers and directors.

Awards & Prizes

The award categories for 2026 are:
- Best Film long form (over 45 minutes, narrative or documentary)
- Best Film short form (under 45 minutes, narrative or documentary)
- Best Television Series (horizontal format - judged from a sample episode)
- Best Vertical Video (Mobile shot and produced, under 3 minutes)
- Best Animation (any length or format)
- Best Experimental Film (any length, any format)
- Best Student Film International
(Further categories for Australian schools student film competition will be announced in early 2026)
We welcome entries on any science topic for the awards; from oceans to black holes, and trees to robotics. This year we are also encouraging films that explore the 2025 (Australian) National Science Week theme 'Seeds of Science: Nurturing Knowledge for All'.
The prize in each category is a unique SCINEMA trophy made by the Tasmanian Kaleidoscope Company. No cash prizes issued.

Rules & Terms

SCINEMA International Science Film Festival
2026 Terms and Conditions of Entry

SCINEMA International Science Film Festival (the Festival) is a project of The Brilliant and STEM Matters, Serious Monkey (Damian Harris) and Cris Kennedy.

Films accepted into the Festival MAY be included in:
a) the SCINEMA Community Screening Program, bookable (for free) by any school or community or cultural organisation through the National Science Week website. Community Screening playlists are password protected and only issued to those that register, and the license period for these screenings runs across July 2026 to March 2027; and b) screened through The Brilliant and SCINEMA websites, YouTube and TikTok accounts in consultation with the filmmaker, in a non-exclusive VOD license.

Entry Instructions
1. Entries will be accepted through FilmFreeway.
2. Entries must not exceed 140 mins in length
3. All media must be clearly marked with the title of the entry, the entrant’s name, contact email, phone and address. It is the responsibility of the entrant to update any changes of address or contact details post submission.
4. All films with dialogue must be in English or English narrated or subtitled.
5. All entries must have been produced after 1 March 2025.
6. All entries must be fully completed works - do not submit works in progress.
7. Confirmation of receipt of entry will be emailed.
8. SCINEMA accepts no responsibility for entries lost, delayed or not received for any reason.
9. SCINEMA may charge a small administrative fee in some high-volume categories to assist in employing staff to process entries.

Judging & Selection
1. A film review panel will be selected by SCINEMA, and this panel shall decide which entries make it to the final judging round and select award winners.
2. A selection of films reaching the final judging round will screen as part of the 2026 Festival.
3. All films accepted into the SCINEMA festival MAY be curated into a community film program or available to screen online under the SCINEMA banner, from July 2026 to March 2027. SCINEMA or participating venues may not charge admissions fees for screenings of this program.
4. By submitting your film for the Festival you are agreeing it can be screened at all of the above.
5. If selected, entrants agree and understand, that their film shall screen in either or both, our live festival event and/or our online festival event that utilizes VOD.
6. The jury’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
7. Only one prize will be produced per category - if a winning production(s) is a group entry, the group will have to split or share their prize. The prize is a single trophy and does not have a cash value.

Copyright & Permissions
1. Copyright resides entirely with the artist(s). By submitting your entry to the Festival you confirm that have obtained all releases necessary for the public exhibition of your work including internet.
2. In the case of student works, you must ensure you have obtained permission from students and/or their parents to use their image in your films. By submitting your entry to the Festival you confirm you have received all required permissions.
3. SCINEMA will not be held responsible for any breach of copyright or permissions arising from any entries submitted.

Promotional Use
Entrants shall allow clips or images from their works, to be reproduced by radio, newspaper, television and the Internet for promotional purposes only. Please provide a 300dpi image for this purpose. Ideally all entrants shall supply a short trailer for their film that can be used.

Withdrawal from Festival
Entrants wishing to withdraw from SCINEMA must inform the festival in writing by 2 August 2026 by contacting the SCINEMA team on scinemafilmfest @ gmail.com

Entry Statement
By submitting an entry in the Festival, you declare your understanding, compliance and acceptance of all terms included in this application.

Copyright release
I grant permission for the film entered to be included in the SCINEMA program. If my film is accepted, and I understand it may be shown at community screenings if selected by the Jury, and then made available online via the SCINEMA website (from July 2026 to March 2027 only). Community screening playlists are password protected and only issued to registered venues.

Declaration
I declare that :
• I have the authority to convey that all copyright and permissions necessary are secured.
• the exhibition of this work will not violate or infringe upon the rights of any person, firm or corporation.
• I have read and agree to the TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY, and give permission for SCINEMA to transfer sections from the above titled production for use as required in relation to the Festival for screening and promotional purposes.
• the entry is an original production completed after 1 March 2025.
*If you are under the age of 18, please have an authorised adult complete and submit this form on your behalf.

17 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Steven Swancoat

    I highly recommend the Raw Science Film Festival for science focused films and documentaries. Keri and her team delivered a fantastic, niche festival filled with fascinating people, scientists and storytellers. Communication was excellent throughout, and it’s clear Keri pours her heart into bringing this unique festival to the forefront of cinema. It was an honor to be a part of and I believe Raw Science will continue to flourish in the future.

    November 2025
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  • Diogo Diniz Garcia Gomes

    Muito feliz em participar! É gratificante.

    September 2025
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  • Vittorio Caratozzolo

    Thanks a lot for your consideration! It would probably have been nicer to attend in person, but that's not always possible. Hopely... next year!

    September 2025
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  • Sylwia Zolkiewska

    SCINEMA’s approach to programming is truly unique — blending scientific themes with artistic freedom. It was a pleasure to discover the other films in the lineup. I’m proud that my experimental short Transcience 2.0 made it to the finals and was in such great company. I really appreciated the festival’s openness to abstract and conceptual forms of filmmaking.

    August 2025
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  • Dan Kelin

    I value having been a part of this festival. I appreciate the ease of participating, the thorough communication, the easy access to the online content and being shown alongside many wonderful films. A wonderful, kind-of low key but high quality experience.

    September 2023
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