As young filmmakers we realised that despite the wide range of film schools across Australia, there were very few film festivals dedicated to showcasing the work of emerging young filmmakers, when compared to countries around the world. there are some current Australian festivals these events can be both prohibitive and expensive for young filmmakers trying to make a living, as well as intimidating when having to compete with professionals who have years of experience when compared to young filmmakers just starting out.

As a result of these challenges we created the Young Australian Film Festival, an event for young Australian filmmakers to showcase their work in a forum that is:
(i) Affordable for those who are unable to enter some of the larger festivals,
(ii) Accessible to diverse filmmakers from all walks of film,
(iii) Creating a supportive and inclusive environment where creatives can
submit their work without the threat of having to compete with more
experienced filmmakers.

We aim to launch this inaugural event on 22nd September 2024 at the Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn, with the vision to celebrate the future of Australian filmmaking and the young talent that Australia has to offer with our mission to create a platform for the next generation of filmmakers.

Awards & Prizes

YAFF will be exhibiting films created by Young Australians nationwide (Under 28). The
festival also has international categories and will feature films from other countries as
well as Australia, with all the categories for outstanding excellence stated below:

- Directing
- Actor
- Actress
- Writing
- Cinematography
- Production Design
- Editing
- Sound
- Documentary

Special Awards: These awards are open to creatives from any fields to celebrate films
that explore diversity and the ideas of storytellers who haven’t had as strong a platform
to express their voices:

- Under 18s Award
- People’s Choice Award
- Women’s Category
- LGBTQIA+ Category
- International Film/Foreign Language
- First nation and Torres Strait Islanders

(Please note that these special awards are their own category and do not make you eligible for any of the other individual awards, these awards are also subject to amount of submissions, and may not go ahead if there are not enough entries to fill up a category)

All nominated films are immediately eligible for the coveted 'Best Short Film' Award. All winners will receive a YAFF Trophy, as well as other awards and prizes that will be announced closer to the date of event.

Rules & Terms

Eligibility:

The individuals/entities who submits the film must meet one of the below categories:
1. They are currently under 28 years of age
2. They were under 28 at the point of production
3. If they are over 28 but have a current valid Student ID (which they must send to yaffawards@gmail.com in order to confirm eligibility.)

For any special categories, please look at the rules for each individual category for more details.

Permissions:

The submitter grants Young Australian Film Festival the rights to:
- Screen their film to a physical audience in a programmed session at the event on the 22nd of September.
- Use footage from the entered film for promotional purposes such as festival trailers and social media content. If needed, we may also reach out to ask to be provided with at least 1 still from the film via email as well as a poster if applicable. These will be used more media proposes and promotion of the event in formats such as website promotion, social media usage and print.

Criteria:

The film must meet the criteria:
- Only films submitted to the correct category, accompanied by the correct fee and received by the allocated deadline will be considered. YAFF reserves the right to disqualify a submission, and to have any and all paid fees forfeited, should the submission not meet all of these requirements.

- All films that are entered must be under 15 minutes long. Any longer will not be accepted as eligible.

- The film’s dialogue must either be in English or have English subtitles.

- The Producer or submitting filmmaker guarantees to the Young Australian Film Festival that they have obtained all the necessary permissions to enter this film and that the film does not infringe the rights, including copyright, of any third party. This includes use of music and literary material.

- All films screened at the 2024 Young Australian Film Festival must have had its Post-Production conclude after January 1st 2023.

Please note:
YAFF can not refund submissions that do not meet eligibility criteria or are otherwise deemed to be disqualified under these regulations. 

YAFF does accept rough cuts or WIPs, but please note that this is the ONLY version of the film we will accept, and will not consider any updated versions that occur post the dating of submissions closing.

Entries cannot be withdrawn after Sunday the 21st of July 2024. By submitting your film to the Young Australian Film Festival for consideration, you acknowledge this condition of entry and waive your right to withdraw your film from the Festival after this date.

Selection:

If your film is selected for the Festival, you will be sent an email confirmation by Friday the 21st of August 2024.

The festival requires that if selected, films should be supplied as hi-quality digital file (Pro-res or similar quality). 

If selected, nominated films will be judged by a jury of industry professionals independent of the Festival. Nominations will be publicly announced prior to  the Festival, and Award Winners will be announced on the awards Night.

All films nominated are also eligible for the coveted 'Best Short Film Award' which will be presented at the end of the awards night.

5 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
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Networking
  • Gwendalina Sputore

    Wonderful festival for young voices.

    October 2024
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  • Hsuan-Ze (Oscar) Lin

    Although the Young Australian Film Festival is being held for the first time, both the social media promotion and the thoughtful design of the screening event have been impressive. I hope to have the opportunity to attend the screening in person in the future!

    October 2024
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  • Yael Green

    An incredible festival for young and emerging filmmakers! Communication and organisation was flawless! I had the privilege of having an official selection and nomination for my films, and while I wasn’t able to attend the event in person, it looked incredible from what I saw online. Highly recommend :)

    September 2024
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  • Jack Hinz

    Lovely little festival. I was proud to have my documentary, Foundation, screen at this festival's inaugural event. It was a great experience and it is wonderful to have a festival just for young Australian filmmakers.

    September 2024
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  • Remy Megard

    Gréât festival, Alex the festival director is really organised and a really genuine human being. Definitely recommend this festival.

    September 2024
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