After the resounding success of this years festival, thanks to the quality of the films submitted, the Australian, Oz Indie Film Festival will, once again, celebrate the very best of International and Australian independent film making. At a time when movies are becoming more and more programmed by market research, demographics, comic books and computer game sales, it has never been more important to discover and foster new brave independent and visionary filmmakers.

Your film will be judged on one criteria only – the quality of your work. So feel free to let the world know your opinions and politics, provided these are dramatically crucial to the work you submit. Within the realms of what's legally decent, we won't censure your work.

All the winners are nominated, awarded, and honored on our website and will receive certificates along with exclusive laurel and dedicated promotion. Every submission can also add additional categories, increasing the chances to become multi-award-winning.

Our categories include Australian Independent Feature Films, Australian Short Films, International independent Films, Documentaries, Indigenous Work, Animated Features, Animated Shorts, Smart Phone Work, Student Work, TV Pilot and Music Videos.

It's All About Exposure!
The massive exposure your Film, Documentary or Music Video can receive for your, Cast and Crew can get from entering Oziff.

Whether you are chosen for screening or not you entry may be selected for U.S. TV broadcast on The Mini Movie Hour (MMH) and PrimeTime Music.

The purpose of the shows are to provide filmmakers, singers and musicians, exposure on U.S. broadcast television. These shows reach approximately 50 million households throughout the U.S. and can also be viewed on OTT platforms, Roku & Amazon FireTV!

We would like to let you know in advance that we do not charge to be featured on the Mini Movie Hour or Prime Time Music, and they do not pay a licensing fee. Also, their licenses is non-exclusive.

Proudly, we have no other restrictions on your work. This includes your works premier status, it's age and/or whether your work has been made available online.

We look forward to your participation as either filmmakers, actors, musicians, industry judges, sponsors and theatre venues.

Best Short Film
Best Long Short
Best Feature Film
Best Short Documentary
Best Feature Documentary
Best Animation
Best Director
Best Male and Female Actor
Best Indigenous/First Nations Work
Best LGBTIQ+ Project
Best Music Video
Best Dance Film
Best Comedy
Best Horror
Best Sports Related Film
Best Student Project
Best Experimental Film
Best Web Series
Best TV Pilot
Best Feature and Short Screenplay

To submit a film, you must have created the project yourself, own the rights or have permission from the owner of the content to submit the film to us.

1. Any non English films must include English subtitles. (Music Videos don't require subtitles)

2. All films are nominated and voted upon by a global jury, including Hollywood film and TV professionals, from an independent point of view.

3. Student filmmakers are encouraged to apply but must present their valid Student ID in order to benefit from our student discount.

4. OzIFF is not responsible for broken or non-functioning films.

5. Films do not have to be screened publicly to be eligible for our festival, prizes, or awards. Due to time constraints not all films selected for inclusion in our festival can have a public viewing but will qualify for award nominations.

6. No film may be withdrawn from the festival programme after its selection, or withdrawn after 30 September 2020. By submitting your project to the Oz Indie Film Festival for consideration, you acknowledge this condition of entry and waive your right to withdraw your film from the Festival after this date or selection for screening.

7. All genres and formats are considered eligible for nomination into one or more competitive categories.

8. Scheduling - for selected films ONLY
Screenings are scheduled at the discretion of Oziff. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, Oziff reserves the right to make changes at any time for any reason. Oziff will not be liable for any costs claimed as a result of a change in scheduling.

9. All fees are non-refundable.

10. Promotion - for selected films ONLY
Selected films must acknowledge that Oziff reserves the right to promote the films on Oziff website and social media using both images and video that you provide.

11. Selection of Films
Submissions are reviewed and selected under the following criteria:
- Quality of narrative and production values.
- Independent nature of the production.

PLACE OF ORIGIN
Projects may originate from anywhere in the world.

PREMIERE STATUS
No premiere requirement .

DISTRIBUTION STATUS
Projects may have distribution .

We strongly encourage filmmakers to submit their film only after it is fully finished and will judge each submission as a completed work, whether it is or not. Once a film is entered, we can update the submission with a more recent cut so long as it is uploaded to our dropbox 4 weeks before screening. That said, because OzIFF’s focus is on story, minor technical changes will not affect the final decision of any film. Should the film be accepted to play during the Festival, the filmmaker will have the opportunity to supply the Festival with their most recent version.

Please do not send original material or masters for preview or screening.

The Oz Indie Film Festival will not return preview or screening tapes.

The Oz Indie Film Festival will screen films only from Digital download, QuickTime Video Codecs: Apple Pro Res 422/4444 or H.264. (.mov or .mp4).

No other formats are accepted.

STUDENTS
We've set up a student category so that the playing field was leveled. Students don't need to enter the other areas. If the judges feel that the project has the quality expected of seasoned film makers it will automatically be entered in that category too.

However students who feel confident can enter any category they wish.

If the project is accepted as a student entry they will have to provide evidence of student enrollment at time of film completion.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

By submitting your film, you confirm that you have granted The Oz Indie Film Festival the right to publicly exhibit your film and that The Oz Indie Film Festival will take all care but no responsibility for your film whilst in the possession of the Festival. We also confirm that if accepted into the festival you grant the Oz Indie Film Festival the right to publicly promote your film in all festival promotional materials, as appropriate. You also confirm that all necessary permissions have been obtained to enter this film in the festival and that the film does not infringe the rights including copyright of any third party. This includes use of music and literary material.

All selected nominees will be invited to our live screenings for the opportunity to meet people from the film industry.

All winners will receive “WINNER” laurel with a hard copy certificate. Winners and selected nominees that cannot attend the event will be contacted by OzIFF team to send the awards to the provided address.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Heidi-Marie Ferren

    Fantastic festival and incredible staff! Thank you so much for recognizing THE COUNTDOWN!

    January 2024
  • Space Boy MX


    It was an honor for us to have been included in the Oz Indie Film Festival with our short film "10:35". The opportunity to share our story and message through film is invaluable and we are grateful for this platform to spread it. We thank the organizers and everyone involved in the festival for their dedication and effort to make it happen. Thank you so much! Spaceboy.

    www.spaceboy.mx
    https://linktr.ee/spaceboymx

    May 2023
  • Great folks, great festival experiences, and a great result for us -- what's not to love :) thanks OzIFF!

    May 2023
  • This is awesome, thank you for the award!

    April 2023
  • Not sure at all about this festival despite being named an award winner. Nice but... I cannot work out whether my film was actually screened or not or where despite writing to the organiser twice requesting details on screening.

    April 2023