FLiCKERFEST 2023 entries are now open.

Please contact coordinator@flickerfest.com.au for any enquiries.

Celebrating its 32nd year in 2023, Flickerfest has grown to become Australia's leading competitive International Short Film Festival celebrating masterful, creative and impactful storytelling and the most original voices from filmmakers across the globe. Flickerfest will screen in January 2023 under the stars over 10 days in the peak of the Australian summer at the iconic Bondi Beach with select highlights of the festival touring to 50+ venues Australia wide.

Flickerfest is an Academy® Award Qualifying and BAFTA Qualifying festival. Since 2003 Flickerfest has been a recognised festival by the Academy® of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. With four awards qualifying for consideration across our International, Australian and Documentary Competition categories.

For over 3 decades Flickerfest has welcomed filmmakers from at home and around the world to celebrate their films on the big screen with our passionate and loyal audiences. Our popular screenings, gala festival events and filmmaker workshops connect filmmakers with the wider industry and each other, creating an immersive and welcoming festival experience.

Join us on the red carpet at Bondi Beach this January as Flickerfest brings 32 years of the most engaging , bold and entertaining short films to our film loving audiences and celebrates our most talented filmmakers from at home and across the world.

Awards & Prizes

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
• Flickerfest Award for Best Short Film (Academy® Award Qualifying)
• Flickerfest Special Jury Award
• Yoram Gross Award for Best Short Animation (Academy® Award Qualifying)
• Flickerfest Award for Best Short Documentary (Academy® Award Qualifying) *both international and Australian films in competition are considered for this award.
• SAE Award for Best Use of Digital Technology in a Short Film
• Azure Productions Award for Best Rainbow LGBTQi Short Film *both international and Australian films in competition are considered for this award.

AUSTRALIAN AWARDS
• Panasonic Lumix Award for Best Australian Short Film (Academy® Qualifying)
• Spectrum Films Award for Best Direction in an Australian Short Film
• Yoram Gross Award For Best Australian Short Animation
• John Barry Award for Best Cinematography in an Australian Short Film
• Avid Award for Best Editing in an Australian Short Film
• Avid Award for Best Original Music in an Australian Short Film
• Rebel8 Award for Outstanding Emerging Female Director

SAE FLiCKERUP AWARDS
• SAE Award for Best Australian High School/Youth Short Film
• Yoram Gross Award for Best Australian High School/Youth Short Animation
• Avid Award for Best Editing in an Australian High School/Youth Short Film

Plus many other cash and industry prizes.

Industry and cash prizes will be awarded of approx $30,000 AUD in value.

Rules & Terms

To be eligible for Flickerfest film competitions all shorts must be no more than 35 minutes in length.

All selected films must be available for screening on H264 or ProRes file.

All productions screening at Flickerfest 2023 must have been completed within 2 years of the entry closing date.

All films must be in English or have English subtitles.

DUE TO THE COMPETITIVE NATURE OF FLiCKERFEST, WE STRONGLY PREFERENCE AUSTRALIAN FILMS THAT ARE AUSTRALIAN PREMIERES.

WE STRONGLY PREFERENCE INTERNATIONAL SHORTS THAT ARE AUSTRALIAN PREMIERES.

FOR ALL COMPETITIONS WE REQUIRE FILMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN BROADCAST IN AUSTRALIA OR MADE AVAILABLE PUBLICLY ON THE INTERNET.

Following the festival, a small selection of highlights screened in the International and Australian competitions plus some in out-of-competition programmes will be toured around Australia. If your film is unable to tour it WILL remain eligible for competition. All touring films will be paid screening royalties.

There are no premiere requirements for SAE FlickerUp our national competition for young Australians 18 or under.
39 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sébastien Pins

    It's a great honor and a source of tremendous pride for my film "When the swallows fly away " to have selected at the prestigious "Flickerfest International Short Film Festival"!😃✨
    If you have a precious film to share, don't hesitate to submit it to this amazing festival!

    February 2022
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  • Alfonso Films

    It was an honour to be included in this years Flickerfest! It was an amazing programme, thank you to all the organisers. Hopefully we can join you in person soon.

    February 2022
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  • Michael Cusack

    A huge thank you to Flickerfest for all their hard work in putting on such an incredible festival in these uncertain times. Flickerfest is one of Australia's great festivals and this year was no exception. It helps that my film won an award this year, but I have been in the festival on previous occasions when I didn't and the communication with filmmakers and the networking opportunities are always outstanding. Highly recommended!

    February 2022
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  • Celia Willis

    Such an honour to be a part of Flickerfest 2022 - loved the programming. Although I couldn't attend the festival it was really easy to feel a part of it with panel talks online and social media updates. Great communication and super helpful team with all things technical.

    February 2022
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  • Peter Ireland

    Bronwyn and her team delivered yet another exceptional Flickerfest in 2022, and maintain their status as the gold standard for filmmakers' festival experience. The fact it was in person this year with large, enthusiastic audiences - in these pandemic times - is testament to Flickerfest and the incredible work of the organising team. A++

    February 2022
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