FLiCKERFEST 2027 Official entries for all competitions are Now Open.

Celebrating its 36th year in 2027, 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 2027 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 40 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 and a half 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 36 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)
• 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
• 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

FLiCKERUP AWARDS
• AFTRS Award for Best Australian Youth Short Film
• Yoram Gross Award for Best Australian Youth Animation
• Avid Award for Best Editing in an Australian Youth Short Film
• Karma Drinks Award Special Mention for Youth Short Film

Plus many other cash and industry prizes.

The above industry and cash prizes will be awarded to approx $30,000 AUD in value.

SPECSAVERS TVC COMPETITION
• Entry for Australian residents only.
• Win up to $70k of a $150k prize pool and screen at Flickerfest 2026.
• The film needs to be written, filmed and produced by you & your team.
• Submit your own 30 second Should’ve TVC that delivers an entertaining, light-hearted sight gag with “Should’ve gone to Specsavers” as the punchline and become part of the brand’s legacy.

*Entrants need to include: a completed 30 second 'Should've gone to Specsavers' TVC with a supplied branded end frame.
Details and competition T&C's here soon, when competition opens on Wed 8th July.

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 2026 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 Award® 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 CRITERIA REQUIREMENTS and T&C's!
Read details here: https://flickerfest.com.au/entries/

*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. Touring films will be paid screening royalties.

* Note: There are no premiere requirements for FlickerUp, our national competition for young Australians 18 years or under.

* Specsavers TVC competition entrants must follow the Creative Brief and Terms & Conditions, available here soon, when competition opens on Wed 8th July.
76 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Diego Saram

    Premiering in Australia at Flickerfest was a fantastic experience. The organisation, screenings, and events were outstanding. A beautifully run festival that genuinely supports filmmakers.

    February 2026
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  • Larissa Allen

    A fabulous festival in a superb location and a magical team. We are so grateful to have had our world premiere at Flickerfest. Everyone was welcoming and the programmes were top notch. Thanks again for a fabulous week of films, events and learning opportunities (FlickerLab).

    February 2026
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  • Michael Chrisoulakis

    This is an excellent festival. Loved every aspect - communication, events, and the welcoming vibe for the filmmakers. To top it all off, the location is stunning right by Bondi beach. Great projection and sound quality, especially as it was an outside, open-air venue. Such a pleasure and an honour to have been accepted.

    February 2026
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  • Sophie Kesoglidis

    Flickerfest was a fantastic experience. From the broad variety of films to Flickerlab (a day of film industry-focussed sessions), it was an honour to screen our world premiere of Listen at this festival. A magical location worth entering and attending. Thanks to all the team at Flickerfest!

    February 2026
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  • Kristian A. Söderström

    As I wasn't attending I can't review Networking, but everything else was top notch!

    February 2026
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