Have your project featured at the center of cinematic business in Australia, FOX Studios. The festival will be running for one week, celebrating the best of local and international talent - with the eye on taking the filmmakers showcased to the next level in their careers. Sydney Lift-Off Film Festival is an international showcase of truly independent cinema. Features, shorts, animations, and scripts from all over the world – no screening restrictions on premiere or screening/online status.

The Australian market has a strong hunger for local and international indie content which is why buyers and press will be invited to see experience your project first hand, in the best possible setting - it is Sydney Lift-Off’s mission to deliver you to the Australian film marketplace!

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FREE SUBMISSIONS TO ALL LIFT-OFF FILM FESTIVALS WITH NETWORK MEMBERSHIP

Lift-Off Global Network invites you to join our Network Members' platform which will provide you with the resources you need to launch your filmmaking career.

Intermediate Membership is an annual subscription of $89, which entitles you to:

- Fee waivers to all Lift-Off Showcases (worth $300)
- Free tickets to Lift-Off Film Festivals and the Lift-Off Season Awards
- Career guidance from the Lift-Off co-founders
- The chance to apply for representation at international film markets including Cannes, EFM, and AFM

Our Professional Membership is an annual subscription of $189, everything Intermediate Membership offers you:

- Fee waivers across our entire festival network (worth $700)
- Access to an international film jobs database
- Access to scripts from our Network
- Upload your own scripts
- Access to a detailed 5-week production accelerator course

For more information please head to our website: https://liftoff.network/membership/

Awards & Prizes

Our prizes and awards stretch from the submission level, all the way through to the Lift-Off Season Awards at the end of each year. We offer as much as possible to all who submit, our officially selected filmmakers, our nominees, and winners.

At the submission level.

Value for your submission fee. Exclusive content emailed to every submitter up-to 24hrs from the time of submission.

High scoring films. If your film scores high but isn't included in our final programme you will be invited to our Lift-Off Online Film Festival initiative, an online competitions which run parallel with the respective live city screenings - where the top two winners get official selections at either of the next two Lift-Off cities.

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The Lift-Off Season Awards

To celebrate and look back on the Lift-Off Season, Lift-Off host a prestigious awards ceremony called the Lift-Off Season Awards. The black tie event sees filmmakers, press, and industry professionals gather at the world-famous Lift-Off Season Awards for a night of awards, music, and networking.

Visit https://liftoff.network/season-awards/ to find out more.

Nominees are chosen after each Lift-Off Film Festival.
The categories:

Best Feature Live Action Narrative
Best Feature Documentary
Best Short Live Action Narrative
Best Short Documentary
Best Director
Best Acting Ensemble
Best Music Video
Best Animation
Best Art Direction
Best Cinematography
Best Post Production
Best Screenplay
Best Actor
Best First-Time Film

We can’t wait to see which films get nominated this year!

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Script Selections

The top 5 Screenplays will be showcased across the Community platform, featured in the Lift-Off newsletter which is sent to our 35,000 filmmakers, and shared across social media.

Screenwriters will be invited to include their work in our online Community portal. The portal is a curated database of quality scripts that are looking for production.

Lift-Off Community directors and producers are actively looking for projects to develop. They can use the portal to find their next potential projects, and contact the writers directly to discuss the optioning of scripts, development and rights.
All entries should be completed scripts, short or feature length, and you should be actively looking for collaboration or development.

Rules & Terms

We accept all films and scripts in any length or genre.
Digital online submission screeners only.
Feedback is sent shortly after the commencement of the festival.

Proudly, we have no other restrictions for your work. This includes your works premier status, it's age and/or whether your work has been made available online.
6 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Carmel JOYCE

    The Sydney Lift-Off Film Festival was fantastic!

    February 2020
    Helpful
  • Marc Chicaud

    Just very nice and usefull !! ;)

    December 2019
    Helpful
  • Matias Bolla

    A great festival, with an amazing selection of quality short films from around the world. I was honoured to be able to screen my film in my home town of Sydney at Fox Studios. The opportunity for a Q&A after the session proved to be incredibly helpful for networking after the event as well. I would definitely recommend submitting to this festival especially because of the support they give you with the promotion of your film.

    December 2019
    Helpful
  • Alainna MacPherson

    Great communication. I wish I could have gone to Sydney to experience first hand, maybe next year?! Thank you for the Top 5 script award!

    December 2019
    Helpful
  • Luke & Brando

    Great festival. The quality of films was impressive and consistently so. We were honoured to play alongside such amazing films. Very supportive of the filmmakers and helping promote us.

    December 2017
    Helpful