South Melbourne Short Film Festival organized by Crown Visual Studio is a brand-new showcase for bold, creative, and independent storytelling in the heart of South Melbourne. Hosted in an intimate studio-turned-cinema space, our festival celebrates filmmakers who push boundaries and share unique perspectives through the short film format.

We welcome submissions from emerging and established filmmakers worldwide, with a special focus on supporting Melbourne’s local creative community. Selected films will be screened to a live audience in our custom-designed studio cinema, complete with professional projection and surround sound.

Awards & Prizes

South Melbourne Short Film Festival celebrates outstanding short films with recognition and community.

Best Short Film – Acknowledged on Crown Visual Studio’s website and social media.

Audience Choice Award – Voted by festival attendees during the screenings.

Best Local Film (Melbourne / Australia) – Special recognition for a standout film from our local creative community.

All official selections will also be acknowledged online and across our platforms.

Rules & Terms

By submitting your film to the South Melbourne Short Film Festival, you agree to the following:

Ownership & Rights - You confirm that you are the rightful owner of the film and/or have full authority to submit it.

You confirm all music, visuals, and other content used in your film are either original, licensed, or public domain.

Screening Permission - By submitting, you grant the festival the non-exclusive right to screen your film at the event.

You also allow the use of stills, posters, and short clips (under 30 seconds) for festival promotion.

Format - Films must be submitted through FilmFreeway. Selected filmmakers may be asked to provide a high-resolution screening file (MP4 or MOV).

Length - Maximum runtime: 20 minutes (including credits).

Selection - All entries will be reviewed by the festival committee.

Submission does not guarantee selection.

Decisions of the festival are final.

Liability - The festival is not responsible for any copyright infringements or disputes that may arise.