Surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Brindabellas and the Namadgi National Park, Canberra is not only Australia's Capital City, but home to a wonderful community of creative independent filmmakers.

The festival has been founded by some of those independent filmmakers with a desire to have a not for profit, fair and transparent event, a festival that is accessible to all, no matter where you sit on the film making spectrum.

This is a festival with a genuine physical screening. A screening where filmmakers, families, friends and the community can attend and watch your film. After all, isn't this why you make films?

From 7 to 9 November, the festival is held at the National Film and Sound Archives in Canberra, a national institution charged with the preservation of Australia's film and sound. What better place to hold a film festival!

This is a festival run by independent filmmakers, for independent filmmakers!

All selections will receive our film festival laureate (of course) and a festival certificate. Yes, we'll mail them to you if you can't attend!

Our winners receive beautiful trophies. Our Best In Festival will receive $500.

Winners are selected from each category.

We have special glass trophies for the winners of our spaced out and schlock horror categories.

A special and unique glass trophy is awarded to the Best in Festival, handcrafted by a local glass artist.

Our Award Categories are as follows:

Junior Stars (12 to 16 years) Best Film
Young Person (under 18 years) Best Film
Student Film (any age) Best Film

Emerging Film Maker Award - Judged from winners of the Junior, Young Person and Student Best Film.

Uniquely Canberra District - Best Film.

Open Mini (up to 10 minutes) - Best Film
Open Short (up to 20 minutes)- Best Film

Inaugural Selections (3 min)

Open Female - Best Film
Sci-Fi - Best Film
Horror - Best Film
Open Documentary - Best Film
Canberra District Documentary

Audience Award

All films officially selected and screened at the festival are automatically eligible to be considered for the following awards as part of their entry :

Best Actor Open
Best Actor Under 18yrs
Best Actress Open
Best Actress Under 18yrs
Best Director
Emerging Filmmaker Award (youth categories only)
Best Cinematography

Best In Festival

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:
1. By submitting your film (Film) to What The Film Festival (Festival), you (Filmmaker) agree to the following:
2. All the information provided either through the online entry form or through email correspondence is true and accurate.
3. Filmmaker either owns the rights to, or has permission to use, the footage, sound, music, images and all other contributions that are part of the Film to the extent necessary to submit the Film to the Festival and, if accepted, screen the Film at the Festival. Please note: if the Filmmaker has any doubts about any of the rights in the Film, they must notify the Festival at the time of submission.
4. The film must meet the maximum run length according to the category entered. 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.
5. All submission fees are non-refundable.
6. Filmmakers submitting must supply:
- Production credits/contact details
- Photos for promotional purposes, (min. resolution 1024 x 576 pixels)
- Press Kit for promotional use by Festival.
- Film Poster
- A trailer and/or scene clips from the film (ProRes 422 Full HD; 1920x1080).
7. Once a film is accepted by Festival and programmed, it cannot be withdrawn from the festival line-up, other than at the discretion of the Festival.
8. By submitting a film, the Filmmaker grants Festival the right to screen the film at one or more events, copy and/or reproduce, modify, adapt and any part thereof, up to one (1) minute of the film submission. We may also use the Filmmakers submission and any other promotional material/photo’s and/or information submitted by the Filmmaker to communicate it to the public in all media (including social media), including via our website and publicity materials, or to advertise and promote Festivals event(s), its products and services, or all, and to showcase the Filmmakers film.
9. Filmmaker owns the copyright to the film as its author, and warrants that the Filmmaker has (and will continue to have during the duration of Festival and thereafter) all necessary licences, rights, consents, and permissions we need to use the film; and the Filmmaker will provide evidence of such on reasonable request.
10. By submitting, the Filmmaker agrees that they have read and understood these terms & conditions of entry.
11. Festival reserves 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.
12. Films must have been completed within 24 months at the time of entry. In the event that the making of the film falls outside this time frame, the filmmaker should contact the festival seeking an exemption. There is no guarantee that an exemption will be given and remains at the sole discretion of the festival director.
14. Films submitted in the Youngest Stars category must have been made by a person who was 12 to 16 years of age at the time the film was made.
15. Films submitted in the Young Person category must have been made by a person who was under the age of 18 years of age at the time the film was made.
16. Films submitted in the Student Film category must have been made by a person who was a student at the time the film was made. The festival reserves the right to ask for proof of student status where it deems necessary.
17. The region applicable to filmmakers submitting in the Uniquely Canberra District category is defined as follows:
Any part out to and including – Yass, Goulburn, Braidwood, Jindabyne, Tumbarumba and Tumut and the south coast (Batemans Bay north to Merimbula and south to Nowra).
18. The Festival reserves the right of discretion to refuse any submission if it’s deemed to be inappropriate in content or films that don’t meet the intention and spirit of the festival.
19. If selected, films must be available for download via FilmFreeway, Vimeo Screener, MyAirBridge, or Dropbox.
20. Submitters are to provide a download link and agree for their film to screen at our live screening events.
21. All non-English language films must have English language subtitles.
22. Short excerpts or trailers can be displayed on the WTF website for publicity. Films will only be shown in part and only for festival and film promotional purposes.
23. Digital press kits should include the following:
At least three publicity stills from the film.
At least three screenshots from the film.
Stills must be submitted by email clearly labelled with the film's title.
Film Poster 1500px long side and 72dpi
Full production credits and director's biography.
Film synopsis – Up to 100 Words.
Film trailer – One minute (if available).
Films may be selected for screening at the main festival or at any other festival events. 24. All selected films will receive a laurel confirming that they are an official selection of the WTF Festival.
25. Filmmakers can enter more than one category. If the films are selected for multiple categories, the film will only screen in one category during the festival. The entered Film is eligible for awards in all entered categories.
26. Mailing of awards. Whilst every effort is made to pack trophies to ensure they arrive in one piece, WTF accepts no responsibility for loss, or damage in transit. WTF is not obliged to replace or repair awards that have not arrived, or arrived damaged through the actions of postal and/or delivery services, or have been returned to sender. All award winners are contacted by WTF and their mailing address requested. In the event that the filmmaker does not respond to this request, WTF will have no further obligation to pursue the filmmaker to obtain their mailing address.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Robbie Robertson

    I absolutely loved this festival and the incredible correspondence with the festival staff. The excitement love of film was so apparent and their communication with filmmakers was excellent! We were so pleased to win two awards for our film COMMON AS RED HAIR... especially meaningful to win the People's Choice Award! Thank you so much and we highly recommend this fest to all!

    October 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Robbie. Hope to see another of your films at the festival next year!

  • Leon Braun

    An outstanding film festival and a real celebration of independent filmmaking. Steve and the team did an amazing job of attracting top-quality films from around the world, while also keeping the festival accessible for young people and budding amateurs. The categories are well chosen, the NFSA is a perfect venue, and the whole process from entry to awards ceremony is extremely well-run. Can't wait for next year!

    October 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the feedback Leon. see you next year!

  • Ruth Pieloor

    What a wonderful festival! So lovely to see so many filmmakers in one space. An incredible range of films of such top quality. I think Steve's suggestion that next year it might be delivered over 2 days or more is spot on. If you build it... :)

    October 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the feedback Ruth. Yes, we have moved to a Friday evening/Saturday festival for next year! Should be great!

  • PHILIP MEDDOWS

    I was overwhelmed with the variety of films and really enjoyed the entire day. I can't wait till next year as the entire team did a fantastic job of creating a phenomenal event for all to enjoy.

    October 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for the feedback Phil. Loved your film and looking forward to your entry next year!

  • Reinhard Koller-Astleithner

    Very nice correspondence.
    Festival by cinephiles.
    I wish I had the time and money to go there. Maybe next year.

    October 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Reinhard. We'd love to see you at our festival!