Read about categories, prizes and judging in the Submit Film section here.
By entering the Setting Sun Film Festival, entrants agree to abide by the following terms and conditions. Failure to abide by these terms and conditions will result in disqualification. Fees will not be refunded. By entering a film, it is presumed that every entrant has read the Terms and Conditions, award categories and judging information.
All films in all categories entered into the competition, must have been completed from 1st Feb 2023 – 31st Jan 2025 midnight.
Our 2025 festival will screen in venues, with a small section of films online.
All short film categories in the competition, must not be more than 30 minutes opening to closing credits. Films in the Under 18s youth section, and the female filmmaker section, can be no more than 20 minutes.
Judges’ decisions are final and no discussion will be entered.
All short films must be uploaded by the filmmaker onto FilmFreeway, via YouTube or a Vimeo link for judging. No hardcopy DVDS are to be submitted to the festival. Please check the quality of your film once uploaded. Please provide the password on your application.
For screening purposes at the Sun Theatre successful short film festival applicants will need to provide an MP4 file set to 24 fps films by deadline. Failure to do so may mean your film may not be included.
Feature films that require KDMs will require a valid KDM for festival duration as well as 2 weeks in advance to allow for testing. The Sun Theatre will charge a late fee to any file submitted late.
For screening at the Blue Arts Centre, the Greek Centre and online:
Filmmakers will need to provide an MP4 file.
BEST SHORT FILM WEST
Filmmakers entering the Best Short Film West Award must have had key creatives (director, producer, writer) living in the West, or have completed their entry in the West.
ROUGE PROGRAM AND BEST FILM BY A FEMALE DIRECTOR
Entrants must have two of the following to be eligible to be screened in the female filmmaker program, The Rouge: producer, screenwriter, director.
Only films with a female director can be eligible to win the Best Film by a Female Filmmaker and the $500 prize. The winner agrees to use the festival laurel in the credits. The winner of the Rouge Program agrees to mention the festival in media interviews and use a laurel.
SECONDARY STUDENTS entering a film in the competition must be over 13 years of age to enter. It is presumed that by entering the competition that the child’s parent/ guardian has read the terms and conditions and has consented.
FEATURE FILMS
For the purposes of the festival, an Australian film is any film with 51% or more Australian financing.
i. Your film can be a documentary or a narrative.
ii. Your film must not have had a screening in Victoria before the festival or have screenings scheduled for two weeks after the festival screenings. We reserve the right not to screen a feature if the films entered cannot meet this criteria or to withhold the screening fee. It must have been completed between 1st Feb 2023 -31st January 2025. Please feel free to contact the office you are unsure of your film’s eligibility.
iii. Your film must be more than 60 minutes long.
iv. You are available for a Q and A following the film’s screening
v. The feature film file chosen to screen at a theatre during the festival must be a DCP file set to 24fps or 25fps.
All films that require KDMs will require a valid KDM for festival duration as well as 2 weeks in advance to allow for testing.
ALL ENTRANTS
Once a film is entered into the festival, it cannot be withdrawn after 24 hours has passed. Films cannot be withdrawn at all after the Call for Entries deadline expires and judging begins. Should a filmmaker choose to withdraw their film, no refund will be issued. Refunds are not issued if the film has not been entered by the deadline.
A filmmaker may not substitute a film that has been entered into the festival with another film.
The Setting Sun Film Festival will not be responsible for damaged, lost, misdirected or unusable content.
Content that is libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, sexually, culturally or racially offensive will not be included. A film under the threat of litigation, or facing litigation must not be entered. No refunds will be issued.
An entrant is solely responsible for ensuring that all necessary copyright and other permissions for their film has been obtained prior to submitting their film. This includes, but not limited to, music, stock images, footage, photos, graphics and sound. Entrants warrant their film does not breach any of the intellectual rights, or any other rights, of any other person. Entrants will fully indemnify the Setting Sun Film Festival of any costs, loss, expenses, damages, or liability, whether direct or indirect, arising out of a claim by a third party or another party.
The judges’ decision is final and no discussion will be entered. Entrants agree not to approach festival staff to discuss.
Rarely, film festival programs may be subject to change, and films may have to be removed, because of issues that may arise with your file prior to screening at the venue. Filmmakers need to stay update via emails sent through FilmFreeway and/or Facebook. In case issues arise with your file, every entry must have a phone number and address or your film may excluded.
Filmmakers agree to send their MP4 file by deadline. Failure to do so can result in disqualification. Entry fees will not be refunded.
As the Sun Theatre theatres are small, finalists will receive one free ticket to the Opening Night, only if their film is screening. Everyone else receives one double ticket to a general session screening of their film. Selected finalists are also expected to attend the festival or send someone from the film to represent them if they are a winner in the competition.
The Setting Sun Film Festival is an artistic festival. Corporate films, films that promote or publicise an organisation, issue or event will not be accepted. Films with contact details for an organisation or an event will not be accepted.
Films may be moved for judging into different categories at the discretion of the Festival Director.
Films cannot be entered into the competition more than once.
Finalists and winners must be present, or send a representative, to accept their award. Please notify the festival office if you are unable to collect your award Winners must contact the festival office to collect their prizes within two weeks of the conclusion of the festival or forfeit their prize.
By submitting a film into the festival, entrants authorise the SSFF, the right to use their short film, synopsis and details for publicity and promotional activities related to the festival, social media the right to additional screenings outside of the festival as part of marketing the festival. We always let filmmakers know in advance. Please drop us a line if you have any queries.
If your film has been selected for the 2025 Setting Sun Film Festival, it must not be screened on social media until the Festival ends.
PUBLICITY, MARKETING, SOCIAL MEDIA AND AWARDS
While we welcome feedback and discussion, we expect participants in the festival to act in a respectful manner on social media. Festival entrants agree not to make:
i. knowingly false or mischievous complaints or statements about individuals, companies or sponsors involved with the festival
ii. content that is misleading, obscene, off-topic, sexist, racist or spam
111. content that uses SSFF site for promotional or commercial purposes
iv. content that breaks or encourages others to break the laws of Australia and its states and territories in any way, including breaching privacy laws
v. content that defames or harasses any participant of SSFF site, administration, employees, sponsors or volunteers.
DISCLAIMER
Except as provided by law, the SSFF Website is provided “as is” and without any warranty or condition, express or implied. SSFF does not warrant that the information contained in or accessible through the SSFF website is accurate, suitable for your purposes or without errors. SSFF does not warrant the accuracy of any advice, opinion, statement, representation or other information displayed on or accessible through the SSFF Website. Subject to the provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974, SSFF makes no representations or warranties in respect of the information and materials available on the SSFF Website or the means of accessing that information and material (including the software operating in connection with the SSFF Website).
For screening purposes at the Sun Theatre
For screening at Kindred Studios, the Greek Centre and online
Filmmakers will need to provide an MP4 file for theses venues.
BEST SHORT FILM WEST
Filmmakers entering the Best Short Film West Award must have had key creatives (director, producer, writer) living in the West, or have completed their entry in the West.
ROUGE PROGRAM AND BEST FILM BY A FEMALE DIRECTOR
Entrants must have two of the following to be eligible to be screened in the female filmmaker program, The Rouge: producer, screenwriter, director.
Only films with a female director can be eligible to win the Best Film by a Female Filmmaker and the $500 prize. The winner agrees to use the festival laurel in the credits. The winner of the Rouge Program agrees to mention the festival in media interviews and use a laurel.
SECONDARY STUDENTS entering a film in the competition must be over 13 years of age to enter. It is presumed that by entering the competition that the child’s parent/ guardian has read the terms and conditions and has consented.
FEATURE FILMS: For the purposes of the festival, an Australian film is any film with 51% or more Australian financing.
i. Your film can be a documentary or a narrative.
ii. Your film must not have had a screening in Victoria. It must have been completed between 1 December 2021- 31 December 2024. Please feel free to contact the office you are unsure of your film’s eligibility. We reserve the right not to screen a feature if the films entered cannot meet the criteria.
iii. Your film must be more than 60 minutes long.
iv. You are available for a Q and A following the film’s screening
v. The feature film file chosen to screen at a theatre during the festival must be a DCP file set to 24fps or 25fps.
All films that require KDMs will require a valid KDM for festival duration as well as 2 weeks in advance to allow for testing.
ALL ENTRANTS
Once a film is entered into the festival, it cannot be withdrawn after 24 hours has passed. Films cannot be withdrawn at all after the Call for Entries deadline expires and judging begins. Should a filmmaker choose to withdraw their film, no refund will be issued. Refunds are not issued if the film has not been entered by the deadline.
A filmmaker may not substitute a film that has been entered into the festival with another film.
The Setting Sun Film Festival will not be responsible for damaged, lost, misdirected or unusable content.
Content that is libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, sexually, culturally or racially offensive will not be included. A film under the threat of litigation, or facing litigation must not be entered. No refunds will be issued.
An entrant is solely responsible for ensuring that all necessary copyright and other permissions for their film has been obtained prior to submitting their film. This includes, but not limited to, music, stock images, footage, photos, graphics and sound. Entrants warrant their film does not breach any of the intellectual rights, or any other rights, of any other person. Entrants will fully indemnify the Setting Sun Film Festival of any costs, loss, expenses, damages, or liability, whether direct or indirect, arising out of a claim by a third party or another party.
The judges’ decision is final and no discussion will be entered. Entrants agree not to approach festival staff to discuss.
Rarely, film festival programs may be subject to change, and films may have to be removed, beyond the control of the festival, because of issues that may arise with your file prior to screening at the venue. Filmmakers need to stay update via emails sent through FilmFreeway and/or Facebook. In case issues arise with your file, every entry must have a phone number and address or your film may excluded.
Filmmakers agree to send their DCP file to the Sun Theatre, six weeks prior to the start of the festival. Failure to do so can result in disqualification.
As the Sun Theatre theatres are small, finalists and winners will receive one free ticket to the Opening Night, only if their film is screening. Everyone else receives one free ticket to a general session screening of their film. Selected finalists are also expected to attend the festival or send someone from the film to represent them if they are a winner in the competition.
The Setting Sun Film Festival is an artistic festival. Corporate films, films that promote or publicise an organisation, issue or event will not be accepted. Films with contact details for an organisation or an event will not be accepted.
Films may be moved for judging into different categories at the discretion of the Festival Director.
Films cannot be entered into the competition more than once.
In the event of a global pandemic, the festival will go online.
Finalists and winners must be present, or send a representative, to accept their award. Please notify the festival office if you are unable to collect your award Winners must contact the festival office to collect their prizes within two weeks of the conclusion of the festival or forfeit their prize.
By submitting a film into the festival, entrants authorise the SSFF, the right to use their short film, synopsis and details for publicity and promotional activities related to the festival, social media the right to additional screenings outside of the festival as part of marketing the festival. We always let filmmakers know in advance. Please drop us a line if you have any queries.
If your film has been selected for the 2024 Setting Sun Film Festival, it must not be screened on social media until the Festival ends.
PUBLICITY, MARKETING, SOCIAL MEDIA AND AWARDS
While we welcome feedback and discussion, we expect participants in the festival to act in a respectful manner on social media. Festival entrants agree not to make:
i. knowingly false or mischievous complaints or statements about individuals, companies or sponsors involved with the festival
ii. content that is misleading, obscene, off-topic, sexist, racist or spam
111. content that uses SSFF site for promotional or commercial purposes
iv. content that breaks or encourages others to break the laws of Australia and its states and territories in any way, including breaching privacy laws
v. content that defames or harasses any participant of SSFF site, administration, employees, sponsors or volunteers.
DISCLAIMER
Except as provided by law, the SSFF Website is provided “as is” and without any warranty or condition, express or implied. SSFF does not warrant that the information contained in or accessible through the SSFF website is accurate, suitable for your purposes or without errors. SSFF does not warrant the accuracy of any advice, opinion, statement, representation or other information displayed on or accessible through the SSFF Website. Subject to the provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974, SSFF makes no representations or warranties in respect of the information and materials available on the SSFF Website or the means of accessing that information and material (including the software operating in connection with the SSFF Website).
