Welcome to the inaugural Pacific Ocean Short Film Festival, an exciting celebration dedicated to showcasing the incredible talent and diverse short stories of filmmakers from the Pacific region. Held in the vibrant city of Melbourne, this festival provides a unique platform for Pacific Islander filmmakers to share their work, connect with audiences, and engage in meaningful cultural exchanges.

Our mission is to highlight the rich tapestry of life in the Pacific through compelling narratives, innovative documentaries, and captivating short films. Join us for an unforgettable 2 nights of cinema that entertains, educates, and inspires, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Pacific's unique heritage and contemporary realities. Submit your short film today and be part of this exciting journey!

Awards & Prizes

At the Pacific Ocean Short Film Festival, we honor outstanding achievements in filmmaking with a range of awards celebrating creativity, storytelling, and technical excellence. Our awards recognize exceptional work across various categories, highlighting the talent and vision of filmmakers from the Pacific region.

All films chosen for the festival will be eligible to compete for the following awards:

- Best Short Film
- Best Short Documentary
- Best Short Animation
- Best Music Video
- Viewers’ Choice Award
- Best Director
- Best Cinematography
- Best Screenplay
- Best Actor
- Best Actress

Rules & Terms

Rules and Terms & Conditions for Entry

Eligibility:

- Short Films, Documentaries, and Animations must be 10 minutes in length or shorter.
- Music videos must be 5 minutes in length or shorter.

- Submissions must be made by a filmmaker of Pacific Island heritage, or a lead role in the production (such as a Lead Actor, director, producer, cinematographer, or writer) must be someone of Pacific Island heritage.

- Films must not have been completed before January 2022.

- Premiere status is not mandatory but may be considered during the selection process. Given the volume of submissions and limited screening slots, The festival may prioritize films by Pacific filmmakers that have not been publicly shown at other festivals or through other media platforms.

- All films must be in English or have English subtitles.

Submission Process:

- Submit your film through the FilmFreeway platform by the specified deadline. Submissions via any other platform will not be considered.

- By submitting your film, you grant the Pacific Ocean Short Film Festival the right to screen your film during the festival and use excerpts or stills for promotional purposes.

- You must have full rights to use all images, videos, music, and other content included in your film. Ensure all necessary permissions and clearances for third-party content are obtained.

- Films will be selected based on creativity, storytelling, and relevance to the festival’s theme by a panel of industry professionals and award-winning filmmakers in Melbourne, Australia, and the Pacific Region.

- Filmmakers are responsible for any travel or accommodation costs if attending the festival in person.

Disqualification:

- The festival reserves the right to disqualify any film that does not comply with these rules and terms.