11th NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL BENALLA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2025

Winners Announced 9 November 2025

Benalla Shorts embraces national and local film makers across all age groups and walks of life since 2014.

Films will be chosen from an array of entries and will be viewed at the Premiere and Award Ceremony on the 9 November 2025

Our judges have the difficult task of selecting and choosing the winners of this year’s festival,

Our Judges Krista Vendy and Bruce Hunt -Hughes.
Bruce holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Australia and is also a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA). He is a highly-regarded facilitator and coach, who bases his work on more than 20 years of experience as a professional actor. Film credits "GHOSTRIDER", "DARKNESS FALLS' & "THE VISITORS. TV Series - "A COUNTRY PRACTICE", "CITY HOMICIDE" "HOWZAT" Kerry Packer Wars and "THE PORTABLE DOOR" to name a few..

Krista Vendy is an Australian actress known for her roles on TV shows including Neighbours, where she played teacher Teresa "Tess" Bell. Since Neighbours she has guest starred in television roles in Australia and the United States including, Blue Heelers, Shock Jock, Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Pizza, Leverage and Mental. Her Film credits include The Writer, Fat Pizza, Horseplay, The In-credible Hulk and Matching Jack.

Awards & Prizes

CASH PRIZES AWARDED FOR :

JUDGES AWARD for BEST AUSTRALIAN $1,000.00
and BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM $500.00
LOCAL AWARD (within 100 Km of Benalla) $250.00
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD $250.00
STUDENT AWARD $500.00
BEST DOCUMENTARY $500.00
BEST PERFORMANCE. $100.00
The Kevin Perry ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD $250.00
Check https://benallashorts.com

Rules & Terms

BENALLA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (BSFF) 23 APRIL 2025

ENTRY TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• All short films must be original works

• Film categories are open to all film genres including animation, documentary and comedy.

• The duration of submitted films must not be longer than fifteen minutes including title and credit sequence.

• All short films to have been produced within the LAST 5 YEARS preceding the 2024 Benalla Short Film Festival and suitable for screening up to MA15+ classification.

• • Expressed preference for film to be 1920 x 1080 HD format using a 16:9 aspect ratio; if your film has an alternate aspect ratio, please submit mounted within a 1920 x 1080 frame. Judging will be based on submitted content. However films may be rescaled during DCP conversion for screening at Benalla Cinema.
(Please Note: If films are not submitted in this format, they will not be judged).

• Entries close 31 July 2025 at 11:59PM (AEST) and the short film must be submitted online via FilmFreeway.

• All entries will be retained by BSFF.

• The film maker must have secured and cleared all rights to performances, imagery and music used in their entry.

• The film maker guarantees that they have obtained all the necessary permissions, licences and clearances to enter a film, and that the film and all of its composing elements and our screening of the film does not infringe the moral and ethical rights including copyright of any third party. Any claims made by any person or entity against a film, actor, crew, locations or any other party, is entirely the responsibility of the film maker.

• The film maker grants the BSFF 2025 committee, a not for profit organisation, the non-exclusive rights to reproduce the film, or part of the film to exhibit the film by any medium for the sole purposes of the festival or its promotion, including encore screenings.

• Although films received by the closing submission date will be assessed for entry compliance, we regret not all films will be chosen for screening at the festival due to suitability and volume of entries. Selection judging and award judging will be undertaken by panels appointed by the BSFF committee and their decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. Award winners have no right to re-negotiate awards with the film festival committee or panel or sponsor.

• Film Award categories:
Judges Award for Best Australian Film and Best International Film, Local Encouragement Award (persons living within 100 km radius of Benalla, Victoria, Australia), Student Award, People’s Choice and a Documentary Award.

• The BSFF committee will communicate with all successful entrants by email.

17 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Hayley Warnock

    An incredibly well organised film festival and they do such a wonderful job at making each filmmaker and their work feel celebrated. Go Benalla!

    March 2025
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  • Marius Conrotto

    Congratulations to the entire Benlla Shorts team. Great communication and very professional work. A festival that takes care of selected shorts. Fully recommended festival.

    November 2024
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  • Yanni Dellaportas

    It was such an honour and a privilege to be in the audience to see my film 'Beautiful Storm' screened to a full house at the 2024 10th National and International Benalla Short Film Festival. Winning the Willow Award for best Documentary was an unexpected surprise. Thankyou to everyone involved including the judges Krista Vendy and Bruce Hunt Hughes. All the films were well chosen and enjoyable. This is a great festival - keep entering your films to this one.

    November 2024
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  • Andrew Flenley

    I cannot speak highly enough of the incredible team at Benalla Short Films!

    An amazing opportunity for local, national and international film makers to get their films presented in front of an audience!

    Welcoming, kind, and overall and amazing night for all who attend.

    A special thanks to Anna!

    November 2023
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  • Victor Guilbaud

    Great festival, thank you so muh for the selection !

    November 2023
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