DATES CONFIRMED FOR THE 2025 SYDNEY SEASON OF AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST SCI-FI/FANTASY FILM EVENT.

The 2025 Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival will run October 3-5 at EVENT Cinemas George Street in the heart of the Harbour City's revitalised entertainment district.

"Submissions for the 2025 season to date suggest it is going to be another record-breaking year for us, ensuring a program that continues to position the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival as the premiere speculative storytelling event in Australia," said festival director Simon Foster.

Films selected for the Sydney program will be eligible for all relevant 2025 awards categories.

STAY INFORMED BY FOLLOWING THE FESTIVAL SOCIALS:
Website: https://www.sydneysciencefictionfilmfestival.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SydneyScienceFictionFilmFestival/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@sydscififest
X: https://twitter.com/SydSciFiFest
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8CjNbBJl6ymUJC-dsZBl4A
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydscififest/

The Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival patron and the organisation's Board Members will preside over the following award categories:

THE RON COBB BEST FEATURE FILM: The feature (over 40 mins) that best exemplifies the vision, values and ambitions of the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival. Named in honour of the late Ron Cobb, an adopted son of Sydney and iconic conceptual artist on such films as Dark Star, Alien, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Conan the Barbarian and The Abyss.

THE ADAM LEE MEMORIAL AWARD: Awarded to a figure in the science fiction/fantasy community who has exhibited a dedication to their life’s work and served the genre and its fanbase with the enthusiasm and passion. Adam Lee was a Melbourne film archivist and genre fan who passed away in July 2021.

BEST LIVE SHORT FILM (INTERNATIONAL) and BEST LIVE SHORT FILM (AUSTRALIA)

BEST ACTOR (Feature Film) and BEST ACTOR (Short Film)

BEST ACTRESS (Feature Film) and BEST ACTRESS (Short Film)

BEST DIRECTOR (Feature Film) and BEST DIRECTOR (Short Film)

BEST ANIMATION SHORT

BEST STUDENT SHORT

BEST UNPRODUCED FEATURE FILM SCREENPLAY

BEST UNPRODUCED SHORT FILM SCREENPLAY

BEST TV/WEB SERIES or EPISODE

ION-SciFi AUDIENCE AWARD: The most popular feature film as voted upon by Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival audiences via the ION Sci-Fi Partnership Page (https://endeavour.tv/blogs/ion-sci-fi/ions-best-of-festival-2618)

Terms and Conditions:

1. All filmmakers/applicants or entity submitting a film to the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival (hereafter known as “SSFFF”), accept and agree to comply with the following Terms and Conditions. The person submitting a film to SSFFF is hereafter known as ‘You’ or ‘Your’.

2. We welcome films from any country in the world. If the film is in any other language other than English, the submission requires embedded English subtitles.

3. We only accept films that have been produced during and after 2022. Films that are widely available via public screening platforms (Vimeo, YouTube, etc) or on the filmmaker's official website will not be considered unless under special circumstances.

4. All submission fees are non-refundable. Please do not ask for a full fee waiver. Waivers are only offered to films invited to submit by SSFFF.

5. How to submit:
• Complete and submit Your online submission form.
• Pay relevant submission fee
You will receive confirmation of Your successful registration

6. Student and Young Filmmaker category entrants must be registered in a recognised film school, university, college, high school, middle school or elementary school with proof of ID from the institution to qualify for the relevant fees. You must supply the following:
• Your Student ID
• Name of school, college or university
• Name of Your Course
• Lecture or teacher
• Email of lecturer or teacher

7. FAN FILMS: SSFFF will accept fan films to this festival. You must have all permissions from the copyright holder and/or franchise holder and/or intellectual property owner and reveal those for the SSFFF upon request.

8. Filmmakers submitting must supply:
• Production credits/contact details
• 5 (five) photos for promotional purposes, (min. resolution 1024 x 576 pixels)
• Press Kit for promotional use by SSFFF
• Film Poster
• A trailer and/or scene clips from the film (ProRes 422 Full HD; 1920x1080 or higher).

9. If selected, a .DCP file on a formatted hard drive of the full film must be supplied for the SSFFF theatrical screening, unless an alternate format is otherwise agreed upon by SSFFF. All costs associated with digital delivery of a .DCP file or the generation of a .DCP file will be paid by You.

10. Once a film is accepted by SSFFF and programmed, it cannot be withdrawn from the festival line-up, other than at the discretion of the SSFFF.

11. The SSFFF undertake to make every effort to adhere to the published schedule program. However, SSFFF reserves the right to alter this schedule and venue at any time for any reason. SSFFF does not accept any liability for any costs claimed to arise as a result of a change in the scheduling.

12. Awards may be presented during the SSFFF, at the discretion of the organisers and the Jury Panel (where applicable).

13. By submitting a film, You grant us the right to screen Your film at one or more SSFFF event, including but not limited to Melbourne screenings; copy and/or reproduce, modify, adapt and any part thereof, up to one (1) minute of the film submission. We may also use Your submission and any other promotional material/photo’s and/or information submitted by You to communicate it to the public in all media, including via our website and publicity materials, or to advertise and promote SSFFF event(s), its products and services, or all, and to showcase Your film.

14. You own the copyright to Your film as its author and represent and warrant that You have (and will continue to have during the duration of SSFFF and thereafter) all necessary licenses, rights, consents, and permissions we need to use Your film and You will provide evidence of such on our reasonable request.

15. We accept no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities or injury incurred or suffered by any person as a result of submitting a film to SSFFF and its curation and all related events.

16. You indemnify and hold harmless SSFFF from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening materials entered.

17. By submitting, You agree that you have read and understood these terms & conditions of entry.

18. The SSFFF reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to change, modify or otherwise alter these 'Terms and Conditions' at any time. Unless otherwise indicated, amendments will become effective immediately.

For further information contact SIMON FOSTER, Festival Director.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Franck Zuanic

    The Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival is, in a nutshell, superlative. The embedded exceptional transparent communication, combined with professional and genuinely hospitable manner to accommodate and showcase the extraordinary qualitative entries make the SSFFF a must.

    October 2024
  • Just Nice People Productions

    This is a great little festival punching above its weight, showcasing some amazing work and filmmakers. Wonderful program, great hospitality. Fantastic to be a part of it.

    October 2024
  • Sydney Scifi Fest was a long way away for us, but we felt the love across the time-zones! And Simon, the festival director, is a great communicator.

    We felt involved across social media with an in-depth written Q&A and the festival itself presented SOULMATE as a DCP in a cinema (which is best-case at any festival, but doesn't always happen). We also got to be a double-bill as a short film preceding a feature film (called LOVE AND WORK) which I’ve always wanted to be part of. I just wish I had been able to see that! It would have been a good night out for sure 👌🏻

    October 2024
  • Masoud Varjavandi

    Thank you so much for hosting our short film SAM. I love the festival, sorry couldn’t stay for all 3 days but I do encourage more canberrans to attend this festival. The festival directors are so friendly and helpful. I was so impressed by the organisation and the quality of films. Well done.

    October 2024
  • Thomas Fairchild

    I was honoured to have my film HEEL selected for the 2024 Festival Season. Simon Foster and the festival team crafted a wonderfully passionate and thoughtfully programmed event that is run with professionalism and personal care. I felt extremely proud to have my film included in such a well curated program of unique visions and voices. Simon’s deep love for science fiction in all its forms was best illustrated by his ability to see how the festival could adapt to the selected films rather than the other way around.

    From initial selection through to the conclusion of the event, communication was stellar and the promotion of the event was great. Having travelled to attend the festival in person I felt immediately welcome and was treated like I was a well-established friend. It was wonderful to meet the enthusiastic network of filmmakers and creatives that has cultivated around the event.

    SSFFF is amazing and a wonderful pillar of the Australian Film Festival Community.

    October 2024