Welcome to the 2nd Annual Pacific Ocean Short Film Festival!

Following a successful debut, POSFF returns to Melbourne for another year to celebrate the incredible talent and diverse short-form storytelling of filmmakers from the Pacific Region. This festival is a unique platform for Pacific Islander filmmakers to showcase their work, connect with audiences, and engage in meaningful cultural exchanges.

Our mission remains strong—to spotlight the rich tapestry of life in the Pacific through compelling narratives, innovative documentaries, and captivating short films. This year, we are thrilled to expand the experience with two unforgettable nights of cinema, bringing powerful stories to the big screen that entertain, educate, and inspire.

Submit your short film today and be part of this growing celebration of Pacific storytelling!

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 Actor/Actress (Outstanding Performance)

Rules & Terms

Pacific Ocean Short Film Festival – Rules & Terms & Conditions for Entry
Eligibility

Film Categories:

Short Films, Documentaries, and Animations must be 10 minutes or shorter.

Music Videos must be 5 minutes or shorter.

Filmmaker Requirement:

Submissions must be made by a filmmaker of Pacific Island heritage, or at least one key creative role in the production (Lead Actor, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, or Writer) must be of Pacific Island heritage.

Completion Date:

Films must have been completed on or after January 2023.

Premiere Status:

Premiere status is not mandatory, but it may be considered during the selection process.

Due to the limited number of screening slots, the festival may prioritize films by Pacific filmmakers that have not been widely screened at other festivals or platforms.

Language:

All films must be in English or include English subtitles.

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.

You must hold full rights to all images, videos, music, and other copyrighted content used in your film. Filmmakers must ensure they have obtained all necessary permissions and clearances.

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 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.
1 Review
Overall Rating
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  • 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