Terms and Conditions
By submitting your film to the Adelaide Independent Film Festival, you acknowledge and agree to the below terms and conditions.
1. ELIGIBILITY
• We accept short films completed in any year, from any genre, with or without dialogue and with a runtime up to a maximum of 30 minutes (including credits)
• All entries with dialogue must be in English or contain English subtitles
• No strict premiere requirements
• We accept student short films (up to a maximum of 20 minutes) made from any global film academy/university/TAFE or college with film subjects (for South Australian students, please refer to the SA Student Short Film submission category)
• Only short films originating from a country in the Middle East are eligible for the free Middle Eastern short film category (please refer to the Middle Eastern section below)
• Only short films produced by First Nations filmmakers are eligible for the First Nations short film category
• Only short films containing themes relating to mental health are eligible for the Tell Your Story short film category
• Only short films produced in the City of Unley are eligible for the City of Unley short film category (please refer to the City of Unley section below for eligibility)
• All short films officially selected are eligible for the ‘Audience Award’
2. SUBMISSION
• All short films (excluding the Middle Eastern short films) are to be submitted by 27 February 2026 at 23:59 (PST) (Earlybird), 24 April 2026 at 23:59 (PST) (Regular), 22 May 2026 at 23:59 (PST) (Late) or by 12 June 2026 at 23:59 (PST) (Final)
• All Middle Eastern short films are to be submitted between 28 February 2026 to 24 April 2026 at 23:59 (PST)
• Submissions through FilmFreeway
• Entry fee is non-refundable
• You will receive an email receipt confirming we have received your short film
• We accept multiple short film entries per submitter as long as it meets all the submission requirements, includes a separate entry form and you have paid the entry fee per additional short film
• Any technical issues are the responsibility of the submitter (you) or the producer/director and if at the time of judging the short film does not work or is not viewable, we will send an email to the address on file to follow up. If a response with the correct information is not received within seven (7) days, the submission will be deemed ineligible
3. SUBMISSION MATERIAL
• Short film
• Logline
• Synopsis (short)
• Director's statement (short)
• Trailer (if available)
• Screenplay (if participating in the Script Swap program)
4. DISCOUNT CODE
• Enter ‘AIFFx20’ to receive 20% off*
*Note: This code applies to the Australian (Live Action & Animation), International, Documentary, South Australian and Micro Short categories only.
5. NOTIFICATION
Shortlist
• On 25 July 2026, you (the submitter) will be notified via email if you have been shortlisted for the official selection
Official Selection
• On 8 August 2026, you (the submitter) will be notified via email of the final outcome
6. OFFICIAL SELECTION
• A 2K QuickTime (QT) ProRes 422HQ screening copy and a 2K H.264 backup copy is required by 5 September 2026
• If you are unable to provide a 2K QT ProRes 422HQ, please provide a 2K H.264 version
• If you are unable to provide a 2K H.264 version of your short film, please contact us immediately
• The submitter of the selected short film will receive two (2) free tickets to the screening scheduled for 3-4 October 2026
• The creative team of the selected short film that will be attending the festival are responsible for travel, lodging, and all other expenses
• We do not pay screening fees or royalties
• You will receive an AIFF ‘Official Selection’ laurel on 8 August 2026. Please use this laurel when promoting your short film’s selection
Please note: We DO NOT require a Digital Cinema Package (DCP). We will create a DCP from your 2K QT ProRes 422HQ screening copy. If you have a DCP available, please send a 2K QT ProRes 422HQ and a 2K H.264 version, as your DCP may not read on the venue’s projector.
7. SCREENING & PRESS KIT ASSETS
Press Kit Assets
• Poster (digital)
• Trailer (Less than 2 minutes) [1080p, H.264]
• Logline (one sentence)
• Short Synopsis (if available)
• 2-3 Excerpts (maximum of 30 seconds each) [1080p, H.264]
• 3 x High quality production stills (digital)
• 3 x High quality behind-the-scenes stills (digital)
Please note: The PRESS KIT ASSETS are required by 22 August 2026 for promotional purposes.
Screening Assets
• 2K QuickTime ProRes 422 HQ
• 2K H.264 (backup)
• Aspect ratio (2K Scope or 2K Flat)
• Sound Mix (7.1, 5.1 or Stereo)
• Resolution (if less than 2K)
Please note: The SCREENING ASSETS are required by 5 September 2026.
8. AWARDS COLLECTION
• The Best International Short Film Award will be posted via mail (free of charge) to the submitter’s address on FilmFreeway
• Awards won by an interstate filmmaker will be posted via mail (free of charge) to the submitter’s address on FilmFreeway (unless collected at the awards night)
• All other awards, if won by a South Australian filmmaker and not collected at the awards night, are to be picked up in person from the Capri Theatre (141 Goodwood Road, Goodwood, SA 5034)
• We do not pay for postage within South Australia. Please contact us if you are unable to pick up your award
Please state your address in the following format (or in a similar format) on FilmFreeway to prevent your award from being undelivered due to a mailing address error.
Example:
STREET NUMBER AND NAME
SUBURB, STATE, POSTCODE
COUNTRY
9. CITY OF UNLEY SHORT FILMS
• Only short films produced in the City of Unley are eligible for the City of Unley Short Film Category (Map: https://www.unley.sa.gov.au/Development-projects/Building-renovating/Unley-Maps/General-map)
• This includes pre-production, post-production and/or principal photography
• Eligibility extends to all cast and crew members residing in the City of Unley
• Pre-production includes any stage. Eg. Writing, location scouting, etc
• Post-production includes any stage. Eg. Editing, composing, etc
10. MIDDLE EASTERN SHORT FILMS
• Key creatives from a country in the Middle East who have produced their short film in a country outside of the Middle East are not eligible for the free category and are encouraged to submit to the other categories. Eg. You live in and produced your film in the UK, but you were born in Turkey.
• Only short films (up to a maximum of 20 minutes) originating from a country in the Middle East are eligible for the free Middle Eastern Short Film category
Eligible countries include: IRAN, EGYPT, TURKEY, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, QATAR, BAHRAIN, IRAQ, SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN, YEMEN, SYRIA, ISRAEL, LEBANON, GAZA and JORDAN.
• All entries with dialogue must be in English or contain English subtitles otherwise your short film will be deemed ineligible
• Due to the high volume of submissions for this category, we are accepting submissions from 28 February 2026 until 24 April 2026
11. SCRIPT SWAP PROGRAM
• The Script Swap program is open to writers based in Australia
• All screenplays submitted must be formatted to the industry standard and be under 20 pages
• We will be accepting screenplays between 28 March 2026 to 24 April 2026
• Submissions through FilmFreeway. Alternatively, you can email us with your screenplays attached
• Entry is free
• The submitter of the nominated screenplay will receive two (2) complimentary tickets to the awards presentation and industry event scheduled for 3-4 October 2026
• The winners of the Best Interstate Screenplay and Best South Australian Screenplay Awards will be announced on 3 October 2026
• You will receive a feedback form via email to complete as part of the program between 13 June 2026 and 11 July 2026
• Your feedback form is due no later than 11 July 2026. If we do not receive your feedback form by the due date, you will be deemed ineligible for the Best Screenplay Awards.
• You will receive a copy of the feedback associated with your screenplay via email on 29 August 2026
• The AIFF will announce the nominations for the Script Swap program on 8 August 2026. If you are nominated, you will be notified via email. All decisions are final and at the discretion of the AIFF
• The writer and the creative team of the nominated screenplay are responsible for travel, lodging, and all other expenses (if attending the awards presentation)
• The Best Interstate Screenplay Award will be posted via mail (free of charge) to the submitter’s address on FilmFreeway (or the address provided to the AIFF via email) unless collected at the awards night
• The Best South Australian Screenplay Award (if not collected at the awards night) is to be collected from the Capri Theatre (141 Goodwood Road, Goodwood, SA 5093). We do not pay for postage within South Australia.
12. RIGHTS
• By entering your film for consideration to the Adelaide Independent Film Festival (hereinafter referred to as the Festival), you grant the Festival permission to use film excerpts, film stills, press kits (including BTS stills and trailers), audio excerpts, and other promotional materials from the selected short film for publicity and promotional purposes strictly in relation to the Festival, including, but not limited to, on all of the Festival’s social media platforms, the Festival’s FilmFreeway profile, the Festival’s Soft Sticks Podcast and on the Festival’s website for at least two (2) years, unless stated otherwise in writing and agreed by both parties;
• You certify that you have all the relevant rights to submit your short film, including the use of any and all music, sound and performances and can provide written evidence if requested by the Festival;
• You certify that there are no current or imminent litigation with respect to the use, validity or ownership of the copyright;
• You certify that the use of the work in the short film won’t infringe any intellectual property rights or any other rights of any third person;
• You must indemnify the Festival from all claims made against the Festival arising from or in connection with the submission of the film, or any infringement of any intellectual property in connection with the screening of the film as part of the Festival;
• We reserve the right to determine the eligibility of any work submitted;
• We reserve the right to update our terms and conditions at any stage;
• You give the Festival permission to exhibit your short film at the Capri Theatre on 3 October 2026.
For any questions
aiff@auteursforum.com
