The Pacific Ocean Short Film Festival (POSFF) is an annual celebration of short-form storytelling, based in Melbourne, Australia, dedicated to amplifying the voices, cultures, and creative visions of the Pacific region.

Now in its third year, POSFF continues to grow as a platform for Pacific Islander and diaspora filmmakers to share powerful, authentic stories with local and international audiences.

Each year, the festival showcases a curated program of short films that reflect the richness, diversity, and evolving identity of the Pacific — including narrative films, documentaries, experimental works, and music videos.

POSFF is committed to nurturing emerging talent, strengthening cultural exchange, and creating opportunities for Pacific filmmakers to connect with industry professionals and audiences in Australia and beyond.

For the 2027 Season, the festival has expanded its scope to include a curated International Selection, highlighting outstanding global short films that complement and enrich the Pacific storytelling experience.

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 Pacific Short Film
- Best Pacific Short Documentary
- Best Pacific Short Animation
- Best Pacific Music Video
- Viewers’ Favourite Award
- Best Actor/Actress (Outstanding Performance)/ Emerging Performer Award
- Best International Short Film

Rules & Terms

🌺 PACIFIC COMPETITION – ELIGIBILITY

Film Categories:
- Short Films, Documentaries, and Animations must be 10 minutes or shorter
- Music Videos must be 5 minutes or shorter

Filmmaker Requirement:
To be eligible for the Pacific Competition, submissions must meet at least ONE of the following:
- The filmmaker identifies as being of Pacific Island heritage, OR
- At least one key creative role (Director, Producer, Writer, Lead Actor, or Cinematographer) is of Pacific Island heritage.

Completion Date:
Films must have been completed on or after January 2024

Language:
- Films must be in English or include English subtitles

Selection Priority:
Due to limited screening capacity, priority will be given to:
- Pacific Islander filmmakers
- Films that have not been widely screened at other festivals or platforms
- Strong storytelling, cultural relevance, and originality

🌍 INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILMS – CURATED SECTION

POSFF includes a separate curated International Short Films section showcasing outstanding works from global filmmakers.

Eligibility:
- Open to filmmakers of all nationalities
- Films must be 10 minutes or shorter (short films, documentaries, or animation)
- Music videos must be 5 minutes or shorter

Selection Process:
International films are curated by the festival programming team
Selection is based on:
- Artistic quality
- Storytelling strength
- Originality and impact
- Relevance to global audiences and themes

Important Note:
International films do not compete in Pacific-specific award categories
They are featured as a special showcase program within the festival

🎥 SUBMISSION PROCESS
Films must be submitted exclusively via FilmFreeway by the specified deadline
Submissions via other platforms will not be accepted

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

Filmmakers must hold full rights to all content in their films, including:
- Images
- Video
- Music
- Any copyrighted material

All necessary permissions and clearances must be obtained by the filmmaker.

🎬 SELECTION CRITERIA
Films will be selected based on:
- Creativity
- Storytelling
- Cultural relevance (for Pacific entries)
- Artistic merit

Selection is made by a panel of industry professionals and filmmakers from Melbourne, Australia, and the Pacific region.

✈️ ATTENDANCE
Filmmakers attending the festival in person are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.

❌ DISQUALIFICATION
The festival reserves the right to disqualify any film that does not comply with these rules and terms.
3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Anne McNeill

    It was an honour to have ‘Woven’ selected as part of the 2026 Pacific Ocean Film Festival and a pleasure to participate in.
    It was evident that a lot of thought and effort went into making this a wonderful experience for all. Communication was great.
    Thrilled to have received the ‘Viewers Choice Award’ and grateful to have been a part of this festival.
    Thank you!

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Kā'eo Luke

    Thank you for organizing this festival and for all of your hard work that made it happen. I would absolutely submit future projects to the POSFF.

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Leonardo Santetti

    Glad to have received an honorable mention for my short 起来! ARISE!
    Overall communication was great, recommended to everyone!

    March 2025
    Helpful