SCINEMA is the largest science film festival in the southern hemisphere. We are passionate about showcasing the best in science cinema from around the world.

If you have produced a film, television series, documentary, short, 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.

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 2023 attracted an audience of more than 50,000 in Australia and beyond.

This year we have introduced a Vertical Video award in the open and junior categories. We hope this new category will bring science to a wider audience and inspire a new generation of filmmakers.

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.

There are awards for
- Best Film (minimum 5 minutes, horizontal format)
- Best short Film (maximum 30 minutes, horizontal format)
- Best Vertical Video (Mobile shot and produced, under 3 minutes)
- Best Animation (any length or format)
- Scinema Junior Best Film (under 18, horizontal format)
- Scinema Junior Best Vertical Video (under 18)

We welcome entries on an science topic for the awards; from oceans to black holes, and trees to robotics. This year we are also encouraging films about species survival, space and Australian mammals.

SCINEMA International Science Film Festival

2024 Terms and Conditions of Entry

SCINEMA International Science Film Festival (the Festival) is a project of The Royal Institution of Australia.
All films accepted into the Festival will be included in the SCINEMA Community Screening Program available online through the SCINEMA VOD platform. Community Screening playlists are password protected and only issued to those that register.
Following the festival program all films have the option to be included on the SCINEMA website for a license period of 12 months for a non-exclusive free VOD license.

Entry Instructions
1. Entries will be accepted through FilmFreeway.
2. Entries must not exceed 90 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 September 2022.
6. All entries must be fully completed works - do not submit works in progress.
7. Confirmation of receipt of entry will be emailed.
8. The Royal Institution of Australia accepts no responsibility for entries lost, delayed or not received for any reason.

Judging & Selection
1. A film review panel will be selected by The Royal Institution of Australia, 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 2023 Festival.
3. All films accepted into the SCINEMA festival will be curated into a community film program to screen by free VOD under the SCINEMA banner in August 2024.
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.

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. The Royal Institution of Australia 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 June 2024 by contacting the SCINEMA team on scinema@riaus.org.au

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, I will nominate how my film may be screened from the following 2 options:
1. Have your film shown at the screenings if selected by the Jury, and then made available online for both community screening playlists and general public viewing via SCINEMA website for license period of 12 months for a non-exclusive free VOD license.
2. Have your film shown at the screenings if selected by the Jury, and then made available online for COMMUNITY SCREENINGS (from Aug 1st 2024 - 31st Aug 2024 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 The Royal Institution of Australia 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 September 2022.
*If you are under the age of 18, please have an authorised adult complete and submit this form on your behalf.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • 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
  • Brendan Guerin

    Very happy with my first experience of SCINEMA where our eco web series LOVING GRASSLANDS screened in full in online program. A great opp to view other eco / enviro / science grounded docs from filmmakers around the world.

    September 2023
  • A wonderful festival, with a rich, interesting and eclectic programme. Very good communication from the festival team. My film Mamody, le dernier creuseur de baobabs was lucky to take part in the twentieth edition of the SCINEMA - Science Film Festival and was honored with the Indigenous/First Nations Award . A great festival with a very positive dynamic.

    September 2023
  • Joel Penner

    We were so happy to have our film Wrought in the 2023 Scinema festival! Correspondance with them was great and it was so nice to see their review of the film.

    September 2023
  • Very nice festival! I am so happy to be now with my thrid short movie in Austrailia and this last time will be the world premiere, wunderful. Thx so much

    June 2023