1. SUBMITTING A FILM
a. Submissions are welcome from any filmmaker (Director, Producer, Writer or other
key creative) from North and Far North Queensland. If you have recently moved
from the region you may still qualify.
b. The festival will accept up to three entries per filmmaker only. If you have multiple
films, please select your final three films for submission carefully.
c. The duration of your film must be 8 minutes or less, including credits. There is no
minimum duration, the film can be as short as you like.
d. The festival will only accept local films created in the past two years.
e. Entry is free.
f. There is no payment offered to the applicant for submitting your film. There can be
no claim for compensation or payment in any form.
g. All submissions are final and will be used for both judging and screening. You
cannot apply and then submit a final for screening.
h. Please provide 3 x landscape stills at 300 dpi, 1920 pixels wide x 1080 pixels high for
publicity use with your application.
i. Please give permission to download your film and the landscape stills when you
submit your application.
2. APPLICATION CLOSING DATES
a. Applications to Understory High close at 4pm Monday 31 August 2026.
Please note: Late applications will not be accepted.
3. FILM GENRE
a. Films of all genres will be accepted, and we welcome first time filmmakers. You are
encouraged to explore your own stories, culture and issues which affect you. Your
film can be any style, including animation, documentary, drama, music video,
experimental etc.
b. Whilst Understory High accepts films of all genres, this does not mean each genre will
attract an award.
4. FILM RATING
a. The rating must pass G, PG, or M guidelines. The festival will arrange exemption of
classification for the screening. See w.w.w.classification.gov.au for rating guidelines
or contact festival@cairns.qld.gov.au for more information.
5. FILM SOUNDTRACK
a. Music in the film must abide by all copyright laws. You must guarantee that all the
rights have been granted for the use of the music within our film. Refer to
Australian Performing Rights Association: www.apra.com.au
6. AI GENERATED IMAGERY
a. Films using AI generated imagery will not be accepted.
7. LICENSING
a. The Producer grants a non-exclusive license, throughout the world indefinitely, to
Cairns Regional Council to allow to show the film to the public by any means
including, but not limited to, the internet, cable, satellite, and by any media yet to be
devised for the purposes of promoting the festival only, including future publicity of
the festival. Short listed films will be screened at other Council events throughout
the year and will also tour to the regions in Far North Queensland. The rights
described in this agreement are granted to commence immediately upon
submission of content and continue indefinitely. However, after one year, the
Producer may write to Council at any time and request termination of the non-
exclusive license, whereupon council will remove your content from Council’s video
hosting account and all associated distribution within 90 days.
8. PERMISSION / TALENT RELEASES
a. The Producer warrants to Cairns Regional Council that all necessary
permission/talent releases have been obtained and that the film does not infringe
the rights including copyright of any third party.
9. INDIGENOUS CULTURAL & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (ICPC)
a. If your film contains Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content you will need to complete an INDIGENOUS CULTURAL & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (ICPC) submission form. This ensures that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories are told with consent, proper credit, & cultural integrity. Please email festival@cairns.qld.gov.au to request a form.
10. JUDGING PROCESS
a. A panel of screen industry experts will be engaged to judge the films.
b. Whilst the Festival accepts films of all genres, this does not mean each genre will
attract an award.
11. JUDGING CRITERIA
a. All films must meet the judging criteria set out below.
i. Films must contain appropriate content
ii. Films must not breach any copyright laws
iii. Technical quality must be to adequate screening presentation standards
b. If your film is deemed not to meet the judging criteria you will be notified and your
submission will not be accepted.
12. SCREENING
a. Not all film entries will be shown at the Understory High Film Festival event. Screening
time is limited to approximately 90 minutes.
13. SHORTLIST
a. Shortlisted entries to Understory High will be announced Wednesday 16 September.
Please see https://www.facebook.com/understoryFilmFest
b. Shortlisted entries to Understory High will be screened at the Tanks Arts Centre on Friday 9 October. Awards will be announced after the screening presentation. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
c. Films that are shortlisted will give Cairns Regional Council non-exclusive rights to
screen the films at their events throughout the following year.
d. Films that are shortlisted will give Cairns Regional Council non-exclusive rights to
package their films as part of the Understory Touring Film Festival, scheduled to
tour across venues in North and Far North Queensland from December 2026 continuing throughout 2027.
If you have any questions, please phone (07) 4032 6656 or email festival@cairns.qld.gov.au
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1.1 The filmmaker allows Cairns Regional Council to utilise segments of their film for the creation of teaser trailers for the promotion of the festival.
1.2 Understory High will not be responsible for lost, damaged, misdirected, unusable or unreadable content.
1.3 In regard to intellectual property, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content, you are fully responsible for the clearance of any music, sound, images or graphics contained in your entry. If any record company or music publisher contacts us about an entry’s music rights, we will refer that company to you so be sure to obtain all the appropriate clearances beforehand.
1.4 Understory High retains the right to accept only the entries that abide to the guidelines set down in this document.
1.5 Filmmakers who are selected for the Understory High Finalist Shortlist, will allow non-exclusive rights for up to six screenings of their films, at Cairns Regional Council Creative Life events throughout the following year.
1.6 Filmmakers who are selected for the Understory High Finalist Shortlist, will give Cairns Regional Council non-exclusive rights to package their films as part of the Understory Touring Film Festival, scheduled to tour across venues in North and Far North Queensland from December 2026 continuing throughout 2027.
1.7 DECLARTION FOR FILM ENTRIES
• By entering the festival, I, the Producer, understand and agree to the Understory High
Guidelines and Terms and Conditions of entry as outlined above.
• I also understand that the judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be
entered into.
• I acknowledge that there can be no claim for compensation or payment in any form
in future relation to the above stated use, or any associated therewith.
• Cairns Regional Council may exhibit your film in whole or in part without
restrictions or limitations for any Understory Film Festival/Understory High screening or promotional purposes for Cairns Regional Council, and those acting pursuant to its authority,
deem appropriate.
