What's your story?

An International Festival of the First Person - celebrating international films and scripts in monologues with the main protagonist a woman. Does your film include outstanding and bold music? We have an award for that too.

This Festival is founded by Voices of Women, an award-winning organisation whose mission is to amplify and empower independent and aspiring diverse voices from female creatives across the globe. Since it launched in 2018 Voices of Women has produced independent live shows, run regional workshop programs, had global recognition for its feature film Entanglement and many short films. In 2023 Entanglement was shown at the United Nations Womens Conference in Rwanda Uganda and won awards around the globe. We have produced live shows across Australia, including at KACT Broadway, a leading independent theatre in Sydney.

This festival is not just about awards; it’s about recognition, networking, and forging lifelong connections with like-minded artists. It’s about the joy of seeing your work resonate with audiences, sparking conversations, and leaving a lasting impact on society. You will be amazed about the impact that has on your work.

We are encouraging all women creatives to take part - at all stages of their creative development. As well as the main awards for actors and writers and directors, we have awards for first time directors, actors and directors over 50 and emerging actors under 18.

We accept submissions in three main categories: Best Film, Best Script, Best Music.
Submissions are open from April 4 to September 30. The final selection is announced in December 2024.

Scripts should be double spaced in 12-point type or in screenplay format produced with FirstDraft etc - length under 4 pages.

Music categories are judged as included in the film submission.

Once you submit your film and your script, our international film and script team will watch and read and review your project. The highest scored films and scripts will become finalists and automatically will join the Official Selection and will receive the festival laurel.

All the films that end up being part of our final lineup come from submissions only.

Selected films will be screened at a live screening event in Sydney. Selected scripts will be read at an event in Sydney, and may be selected to be included in live theatrical and filmed productions. These events are great opportunities to network and get involved.

Voices of Women is an international not-for-profit organisation based in Sydney, Australia.

Awards & Prizes

FILMS
Best Short
Best Short Documentary
Best Short Drama
Best Short Low Budget
Best Short First Nations
Best Short LGBTQI+
Best Short Comedy
Best Arthouse

Best Actor
Best Actor Woman of Colour
Best Newcomer Actor (under 18)
Best Actor over 50
Best Director
Best Newcomer Director (under 18)
Best First Director over 50

SCRIPTS
Best Short Monologue
Best Short Monologue Drama
Best Short Monologue Documentary
Best Short Monologue First Nations
Best Short Monologue LGBTQI+
Best Short Monologue for a Woman of Colour
Best Short Monologue Experimental

MUSIC
Best Original Music Score
Best Experimental Music Score

Rules & Terms

Terms and Conditions

This is a film festival designed to support and promote stories that promote gender equality and have been created by female, non-binary and self-identifying female filmmakers. To be eligible for entry, your entry must meet two criteria, and you must be able to produce evidence of these being met if required by the festival directors:

a. Voices of Women International Film and Script Festival accepts films and scripts and music scores from women filmmakers and storytellers in leadership positions. At least THREE women must fill the ‘above the line’ role of either director, producer, composer or screenwriter.

b. Films must have a running time of no longer than 5 minutes with the main protagonist being a woman speaking in the first person. Voices of Women International Film and Script Festival accepts films and scripts that include a female or non-binary or self-identifying female protagonist.

All non-English language films must have English subtitles or be dubbed in English.

Films must not have had any cinematic release, or been released on any public online streaming, TVOD, or SVOD platform.

Scripts must not have had any public theatre or cinematic release, or been released on any public online streaming, TVOD, or SVOD platform.

Music scores must not have had any public theatre or cinematic release, or been released on any public online streaming, TVOD, or SVOD platform. Music categories are judged as included in the film submission.

Previous screenings, readings or performances at other film festivals, as well as private, industry, and press screenings are OK.

Scripts should be double spaced in 12 point type or in screenplay format produced with FirstDraft etc - length under 4 pages.

Films must have been completed post-production in the previous 18 months of the closing date.

FILM PROMOTION & INTERVIEWS:
VOW will forward any interview request directly to filmmakers or their publicist for them to arrange and coordinate. The VOW PR Department pitches the overall festival program and events to maximize exposure and build buzz in advance of and during the festival by procuring curtain raisers (festival preview features) and capsule reviews/film picks/highlights with local media including print dailies & weeklies, TV & Radio, and online/blogs. VOW may use segments (up to 1 min) taken from any film submitted and accepted into the final lineup for promotional purposes.

By submitting your film or screenplay for consideration to the Voices of Women International Film and Script Festival you agree to the following Festival Rules, Terms, and Conditions. You agree to being contacted by VOW in relation to its current and future festival competitions:

1. I have read all of the Voices of Women International Film and Script Festival rules. I understand and agree with the rules.
2. I warrant the submission of my original work, and there are no disputes regarding the ownership, distribution, or exhibition rights of the submission in part or in entirety. I also warrant the submitted material does not defame or invade the rights of any person living or dead and I fully indemnify the Voices of Women International Film and Script Festival against any claim made for such violations of law.
3. To the best of my knowledge, the statements herein are true and correct. I understand that failure to adhere to festival rules will result in disqualification from screening and forfeiture of the entry fee.
4. The festival reserves the right to use a clip, and or clips or photos from accepted entries for up to three minutes in length for promotional purposes. The festival reserves the right to screen accepted entries.
5. I agree and hold the Voices of Women International Film and Script Festival Inc. harmless from and defend them from all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys' fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether groundless or not, based on any film submitted to the festival.
6. Voices of Women International Film and Script Festival reserves the right to cancel and modify the schedule with any entry or entry fee and can do so at its discretion.
7. Voices of Women International Film and Script Festival has a zero-tolerance policy on abuse and harassment. Any communication deemed aggressive, threatening, abusive, or defaming from any team members will result in immediate disqualification.