You must read the Submission Guidelines before you pay and enter your film through FilmFreeway. If you have any problems with the submission process, please contact the office. Entry fees: $45.00 for adults, $25 for secondary students, $65 for feature-length films. 

Films made from the 1st Feb 2023 – 31st January 2025. Films cannot be entered after this date without approval. 

 

 

Categories                                                                                                                            

Best Film 2025 (Open category) 
Best Film By a Female Director (Open category) 
Best Feature Film (Victorian)
Best Film West 
Best Documentary 
Best Emerging filmmaker 
Best Cultural Diversity 
Best Student -Secondary Student or Primary School 
Best Acting Performance 
Best Animation
Best Film People’s Choice  
Best Indigenous Achievement  
Best Film International                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

• Feature: We’re looking for an Australian made independent feature film to premiere, (drama or documentary, any genre) during the festival. The premiere will be followed by a filmmaker Q and A. To be considered a feature length film, your film must be at least 60 minutes long and  have at least 51% Australian financing. Preference will be given to films that have not had a Victorian screening. Please contact the office to discuss.
• Short Films: Australian and International. All genres. Short films must be no longer than 30 minutes from opening to closing credits.
• Best Film By A Female Director: To be eligible for screening in the Rouge Program, a film needs two females (or female identifying) in the following roles: screenwriter, director, producer. The winner of the Best Film by a Female Filmmaker will go to a film with a female director.
• Best Emerging Filmmaker: must be a tertiary filmmaking student OR under 25 years of age. 
• Best Film Cultural Diversity: the film must explore or promote themes related to disabilty, sexuality, gender identity, race, culture or age.
• Best Film West: this award recognises a film that was made by a filmmaker from the Western suburbs; was filmed in the West; or is about the people or places of the West.      

Awards and prizes 2025

Best Film 2025 (Open category) $500 prize. If the Best Film winner is an international film, then $500 will be awarded to the Australian film that receives the highest score by the judges.

Best Film By a Female Director (Open category) $500

Best Feature Film, a screening at Sun Theatre followed by Q and A. (conditions apply)

Best Emerging Filmmaker – $2000 hire voucher from Hummingbird Rentals     

Best Youth Film (primary or secondary school) – DaVinci Resolve Studio 18 package                 

We are still receiving prizes so check back!

Prizes cannot be redeemed for cash and must be collected from the festival within two weeks of the festival ending or be forfeited. Non cash prizes are only available to Victorian filmmakers and not redeemable for cash.  

Judging 

Films will be judged and the finalist/winners announced on the website prior to the festival starting. The judges are a small group of media and film teachers, and industry professionals experienced in judging and making films. The finalists and winners in each category will listed on the website.

Films will be evaluated for the following:

• story – well told, fluent, good theme or subject, good structure, good dialogue
• engaging and entertaining for audience
• production values – camera technique, special effects, lighting and sound
• creativity and originality.