FLiCKERFEST 2025 Official entries for our International, Australian and Documentary competitions are now closed, except for invited entries.
For late entry enquiries please contact: coordinator@flickerfest.com.au

Celebrating its 34th year in 2025, 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 2025 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 around 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 34 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)
• EU In Award for Best EU Short Film
• Azure Productions Award for Best Rainbow LGBTQi Short Film *both international and Australian films in competition are considered for this award.

DOCUMENTARY AWARD
• Flickerfest Award for Best Short Documentary (Academy Award® Qualifying)
*both Australian & International short documentaries are eligible for this competition.

AUSTRALIAN AWARDS
• Panasonic Lumix Award for Best Australian Short Film (Academy Award® Qualifying)
• Spectrum Films Award for Best Direction in an Australian Short Film
• AFTRS Award for Best Screenplay 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
• Specsavers Award for Best Australian Comedy Short Film

SPECSAVERS TVC PRIZE
• Entry eligibility for Australian residents only.
• $5000 AUD
• Opportunity to direct a fully funded TVC with mentorship and production from the Specsavers Australia Creative Agency and team.
*Entrants need to include: 1-minute script, & a link to 1 example of of previous moving image content demonstrating your skills in a directing role & a bio.

FLiCKERUP AWARDS
• Flickerfest Award for Best Australian Youth Short Film
• Yoram Gross Award for Best Australian Youth Short Animation
• Avid Award for Best Editing in an Australian 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 422 file.

All productions screening at Flickerfest 2025 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 REQUIRE FILMS TO BE AUSTRALIAN PREMIERES. (with the exception of other Academy Awards® Qualifying Australian festivals).

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

*NOTE: ENTERING A FILM IN FLiCKERFEST CONFIRMS YOU ACCEPT OUR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS and T&C's!

*Note: The programming team may consider an exception to the above rules at their discretion.

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.

*Note: The Specsavers TVC Competition is open to Australian filmmakers only.
Please go to: flickerfest.com.au/specsavers-comp for full Creative Brief and T&Cs.

* Note: There are no premiere requirements for FlickerUp our national competition for young Australians 18 or under.
66 Reviews
Overall Rating
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  • Gisela Chicolino

    Please keep working on generating this exquisite programming for the audiences. @films.to.festivals

    June 2024
    Helpful
  • Festival Formula

    One of the BEST Australian film festivals for short filmmakers out there. We cannot commend the festival team enough with what they provide for filmmakers, and the experience they deliver.

    For the 2024 edition we had five clients screen:

    7 Minutes
    Cages
    Linda
    My Week With Maisy
    Portrait

    March 2024
    Helpful
  • Tatiana Wanda Doroshenko

    Great to be in Flickerfest this year. Bondi Pavilion outdoor screen was brilliant. The weather was bliss and that famous coast line unbeatable. Well organised and the films were super, Cheers <3

    February 2024
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  • Yoo Lee

    Very organized, great communication, and stellar lineups. Everything a filmmaker could ask for to be part of. Thank you!

    February 2024
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  • Georgina Haig

    Thanks for having Ashes at Flickerfest- what a great festival! Really interesting panels too.

    February 2024
    Helpful