2026 Screening Programme

• Australia
• Short Film
• 18m
• Mself-rated

Directed by Chris Beadnell

With Scarlett Monks, Danica Jenner, Jessica Lawry

• Drama
• Thriller

• Best Australian Short Film · Chris Beadnell, Simon Mitchell, Joshua Roberts
• Best Youth Performance · Scarlett Monks

In the tranquil Australian hinterland town of Pomona, young Kellie Handly, a nine-year-old with a vivid imagination, navigates her days with the companionship of her imaginary friend, Bingo Man. The picturesque backdrop of dawn breaking and blooming spring flowers sets a stark contrast to the dark undertones of the story. Kellie's mother, Donna, and her Aunty, Alice, are deeply troubled by recent events. Two young girls have gone missing, one of whom was in Kellie's class. As Donna prepares to leave for a trip, she expresses her fears about Kellie's safety, but Alice reassures her, offering to take care of Kellie during her absence. In a moment of frustration, Donna scolds Kellie for breaking a cookie jar, but Kellie blames Bingo Man. The family's concern for Kellie deepens, as Donna reveals that Kellie's therapist believes Bingo Man represents a father figure, a stark contrast to her real father who is in prison. At school, Principal Gwen Alberts takes responsibility for Kellie's safety, as a car breakdown means Alice can't get to the school before 3.45pm. Then a brief distraction during a schoolyard scuffle results in Kellie wandering off on her own. As the search for Kellie begins, Alice arrives at the school, only to discover her niece is missing. Guided by Bingo Man, Kellie befriends a younger girl named Cindy and convinces her to embark on an adventure to the old Mill. Despite Cindy's initial hesitation, Kellie reassures her with Bingo Man's promises of safety. The two girls explore the abandoned mill, but as the sun sets, an eerie sense of danger looms. In the next terrifying sequence as Kellie returns home, she encounters a shadowy figure in the bush. Franticly she runs for her life, calling out to Bingo Man for help. During the chase the tension reaches its peak as the unknown pursuer closes in on Kellie and seizes her. The next day, the town is in turmoil as news of a third missing girl spreads. Donna returns home, devastated by the unfolding events, while Alice grapples with guilt over losing Kellie. The police intensify their search, combing through the town and surrounding areas. As the investigation progresses, the police find significant evidence at the old Mill, heightening the sense of mystery and danger. The town grapples with the fear and uncertainty brought on by the disappearances, and the bond between Kellie and her imaginary friend, Bingo Man, remains an enigmatic and central element to the chilling finale. Read the full synopsis

In the tranquil Australian hinterland town of Pomona, young Kellie Handly, a nine-year-old with a vivid imagination, navigates her days with the companionship of her imaginary friend, Bingo Man. The picturesque backdrop of dawn breaking and blooming spring flowers sets a stark contrast to the dark undertones of the story. Kellie's mother, Donna, and her Aunty, Alice, are deeply troubled by recent events. Two young girls have gone missing, one of whom was in Kellie's class. As Donna prepares to leave for a trip, she expresses her fears about Kellie's safety, but Alice reassures her, offering to take care of Kellie during her absence. In a moment of frustration, Donna scolds Kellie for breaking a cookie jar, but Kellie blames Bingo Man. The family's concern for Kellie deepens, as Donna reveals that Kellie's therapist believes Bingo Man represents a father figure, a stark contrast to her real father who is in prison. At school, Principal Gwen Alberts takes responsibility for Kellie's safety, as a car breakdown means Alice can't get to the school before 3.45pm. Then a brief distraction during a schoolyard scuffle results in Kellie wandering off on her own. As the search for Kellie begins, Alice arrives at the school, only to discover her niece is missing. Guided by Bingo Man, Kellie befriends a younger girl named Cindy and convinces her to embark on an adventure to the old Mill. Despite Cindy's initial hesitation, Kellie reassures her with Bingo Man's promises of safety. The two girls explore the abandoned mill, but as the sun sets, an eerie sense of danger looms. In the next terrifying sequence as Kellie returns home, she encounters a shadowy figure in the bush. Franticly she runs for her life, calling out to Bingo Man for help. During the chase the tension reaches its peak as the unknown pursuer closes in on Kellie and seizes her. The next day, the town is in turmoil as news of a third missing girl spreads. Donna returns home, devastated by the unfolding events, while Alice grapples with guilt over losing Kellie. The police intensify their search, combing through the town and surrounding areas. As the investigation progresses, the police find significant evidence at the old Mill, heightening the sense of mystery and danger. The town grapples with the fear and uncertainty brought on by the disappearances, and the bond between Kellie and her imaginary friend, Bingo Man, remains an enigmatic and central element to the chilling finale.

Contains: Swearing

Australian

01 of 14 Short Film

• Australian Premiere
• USA
• Short Film
• 18m
• PGself-rated

Directed by Colleen Davie Janes

With Steve Lichtenstein, Vandit Bhatt, Kate Greer

• Sci-FI
• drama

• Best Visual Effects
• Best Lead Performance · Steve Lichtenstein

When Cliff’s only companion - a virtual assistant - shuts down in a future where the air itself is becoming unbreathable, an asthmatic 70-year-old man’s cry for help to a faraway support desk becomes a haunting search for meaning and human connection. "A compelling work, which really grabs one in. it’s authentic and heartfelt" Nelson Farber, Culture Journalist/Filmmaker

02 of 14 Short Film

• Australian Premiere
• Thailand
• Micro Short
• 10m
• PGself-rated

Directed by Nipan Chawcharernpon, J.R. De Ford

• Best Visual Effects
• Best International Micro Short Film · Nipan Chawcharernpon, J.R. De Ford
• Best Film Editing · Nipan Chawcharernpon

In the future, humans can live forever, but it costs them their soul.

04 of 14 Micro Short

• Portugal, USA
• Micro Short
• 8m
• Gself-rated

Directed by Pedro Chaves

With Bonnie Piesse, Daniel Lundh, Mabel Hoekstra Ferreira

• Drama

• Best International Micro Short Film · Bruno Barros

A woman struggling with the loss of her father confronts her grief by restoring the model rocket they built during her childhood.

06 of 14 Micro Short

• Australian Premiere
• Ukraine
• Short Film
• 18m
• MA 15+self-rated

Directed by Polina Kino

With Valerii Melashenko, Daniil Kino

• Best Supporting Performance · Daniil Kino
• Best Lead Performance · Valerii Melashenko

On the shore, two young men make plans for their lives amid the apocalypse. Their conversation reveals an invisible abyss between them. Whose perspective will prevail? For one, the new world is a space of freedom and new possibilities. For the other, it is silence and meaninglessness

Contains: Suicide

First-time filmmaker

09 of 14 Short Film

• Australia
• Student Short Film
• 12m
• Mself-rated

Directed by Aimee Dunn

With Mia Foley, Logan So

• Drama

• Best Student Narrative Short Form · Yufeng Liu
• Best Australian Supporting Performance · Logan So

After losing her best friend Yue to depression, Joy struggles to celebrate his first birthday without him, reflecting on their past, she desperately tries to only remember the good things.

Contains: Suicide

Australian Student First-time filmmaker

10 of 14 Student Short Film

• Australian Premiere
• USA
• Short Film
• 13m
• PGself-rated

Directed by Parker Croft

With Nolan Gould, Millie Gibbons, Bill Weldon

• drama

• Best Film Editing · Parker Croft

Academy Award-nominee Abigail Breslin presents: The Liars of Black Mountain Road. When a couple runs over a stranger's dog, they compete for the moral high ground at any cost.

Contains: Swearing

11 of 14 Short Film

• UK
• Short Film
• 14m
• PGself-rated

Directed by Asa Bailey

With Owen Teale, Sophie Thompson, Leo Harris, Sule Rimi

• Drama

• Best International Short Film · David Cormican, Shawn Christensen, Brenden Hubbard, Damon Russell, Dwayne Hill
• Best Director · Asa Bailey
• Best Youth Performance · Leo Harris
• Best Supporting Performance · Sophie Thompson
• Best Lead Performance · Owen Teale

When a bullied young boy discovers an elderly man quietly covering a forgotten brick wall with painted eggshells, an unlikely friendship forms, and a "pointless" act becomes something transformative.

Contains: Violence (Fight/Action)

12 of 14 Short Film

• World Premiere
• UK
• Short Film
• 15m
• Mself-rated

Directed by Tristan Loraine

With Tegan Grace Muggeridge, Antonio Aakeel, Rita Ramnani, Edwin De La Renta

• Drama

• Best International Short Film · Tristan Loraine
• Best Art Direction

In the middle of London's mobile phone theft epidemic; a young woman with the reputation of one of the most gifted phone thieves is challenged by a notorious street gang leader to see just how good she really is, but is it a wise choice?

Contains: Violence (Fight/Action)

14 of 14 Short Film

• Australia
• Micro Short
• 10m
• PGself-rated

Directed by Samuel Lucas Allen

With Vaishnavi Suryaprakash, Jake Fryer-Hornsby, Richard James Allen

• Drama
• Climate Change
• Relationships
• Politics

• Best Australian Micro Short Film · Richard James Allen
• Best Australian Supporting Performance · Jake Fryer-Hornsby

What do you do when the world is on fire? 'Misery and Other Choices' is a darkly comic drama pitting climate nihilism against murderous hope. The world sizzles with climate change. A politician lets it burn. A young couple finds out they’re pregnant. What should they do if they find that politician alone and barely breathing? ‘Misery and Other Choices’ is a darkly comic drama short that asks what will you do when the world’s on fire? ‘What do you do when the world is on fire? You make a razor-sharp, electrically charged (of course) articulation of ecological grief. In a gloriously dark reckoning of power, 'Misery and Other Choices' is a brilliant examination of rage and betrayal at the coalface of the inferno.’ Dr Madeleine Miller, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Narrative Ecologies of Warragamba Dam; Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Community Engagement for the Circular Economy; Executive Officer, Geographical Society of NSW Read the full synopsis

What do you do when the world is on fire? 'Misery and Other Choices' is a darkly comic drama pitting climate nihilism against murderous hope. The world sizzles with climate change. A politician lets it burn. A young couple finds out they’re pregnant. What should they do if they find that politician alone and barely breathing? ‘Misery and Other Choices’ is a darkly comic drama short that asks what will you do when the world’s on fire? ‘What do you do when the world is on fire? You make a razor-sharp, electrically charged (of course) articulation of ecological grief. In a gloriously dark reckoning of power, 'Misery and Other Choices' is a brilliant examination of rage and betrayal at the coalface of the inferno.’ Dr Madeleine Miller, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Narrative Ecologies of Warragamba Dam; Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Community Engagement for the Circular Economy; Executive Officer, Geographical Society of NSW

Australian

01 of 10 Micro Short

• Queensland Premiere
• Australia
• Short Film
• 25m
• MA 15+self-rated

Directed by James Murray

With Fenn Leon, Chris Hardy

• Science Fiction
• Thriller

• Best Australian Short Film · Kaytee Elliott

In a dystopian near-future where animal species are on the brink of extinction, a violent sociopath is interviewed by an institutional psychologist after confessing to a brutal attack. In search of a motive, the psychologist realises he must sink his teeth into the one thing that his subject finds meaningful: an obsessive fascination with animal nature and evolution.

Contains: Violence (Fight/Action) · Violence (Gore/Extreme)

Australian

02 of 10 Short Film

• World Premiere
• Australia
• Micro Short
• 10m
• Mself-rated

Directed by Lyndon Cantwell, Nisha Selvaraj

With Nisha Selvaraj, Lyndon Cantwell

• Drama
• Thriller

• Best Australian Short Film · Lyndon Cantwell, Nisha Selvaraj
• Best Australian Lead Performance · Nisha Selvaraj

A young widow seeking solace is lured into a dinner gathering by a charismatic man from her grief support group, only to discover that the empty guest list and eerie noises hide a sinister trap.

Contains: Violence (Fight/Action)

Australian First-time filmmaker

03 of 10 Micro Short

• World Premiere
• USA
• Short Film
• 24m
• Mself-rated

Directed by Joshua Gary, Tony Gary

With Michael Silberblatt, Rick Andosca

• Drama

• Best Film Editing · Dietrich Stork
• Best Supporting Performance · Rick Andosca

Jean returns home after his grandmother’s passing to find his grandfather, George, ensnared by a manipulative religious sect exploiting his dementia, compelling Jean to navigate a labyrinth of fading memories and moral dilemmas to protect his grandfather from losing everything.

Contains: Swearing

04 of 10 Short Film

• Australia
• Short Film
• 14m
• PGself-rated

Directed by Rose Newland

With Amelia Conway, Ruth Larner, Katie Picton, Milly James

• Fantasy

• Best Australian Short Film · Adriana Masevski, Rose Newland
• Best Australian Lead Performance · Amelia Conway

When PR executive Faye has a breakdown while trying to spin her company’s toxic waste scandal, they send her to their forest retreat to recover. But forest guardians transport her into an infected woodland scarred by the toxic waste, and then into the fey realm itself. Confronted by two fey, Fern and Flora, Faye must reckon with her role in the damage being done - and her capacity to help heal it. Faye learns she was once one of them and has abandoned her mission to help humans reconnect with and heal the Earth. Through surreal encounters, fractured memories, and absurd humour, she reclaims her fey powers and returns to the human world determined to push her company toward real change. FAYE is a quirky fantasy short with an eco-heart, blending satire and wonder to explore eco-anxiety, burnout, and collective resilience through a distinctly cinematic lens. Read the full synopsis

When PR executive Faye has a breakdown while trying to spin her company’s toxic waste scandal, they send her to their forest retreat to recover. But forest guardians transport her into an infected woodland scarred by the toxic waste, and then into the fey realm itself. Confronted by two fey, Fern and Flora, Faye must reckon with her role in the damage being done - and her capacity to help heal it. Faye learns she was once one of them and has abandoned her mission to help humans reconnect with and heal the Earth. Through surreal encounters, fractured memories, and absurd humour, she reclaims her fey powers and returns to the human world determined to push her company toward real change. FAYE is a quirky fantasy short with an eco-heart, blending satire and wonder to explore eco-anxiety, burnout, and collective resilience through a distinctly cinematic lens.

Australian

05 of 10 Short Film

• Australian Premiere
• Russia
• Short Film
• 25m
• R18+self-rated

Directed by Daria Lebedeva

With Anna Nikiforova, Daniil Pugaev

• Romance comedy
• Fiction
• Drama

• Best International Short Film · Anna Nikiforova, Xenia Minaeva, Victoria Goncharova, Tatiana Turenkova, Alexander Kuko
• Best Cinematography · Andrey Gubenko
• Best Director · Daria Lebedeva
• Best Sound & Music · Artyom Adyrkhaev, Alina Rostotskaya, Evgeny Tumanov
• Best Lead Performance · Anna Nikiforova

This is a high-stakes romantic comedy set in an alternative reality where people are given strange diagnoses. Yura has 300,000 heartbeats left to live. You might think - nonsense. He thought so too, until right in front of him another patient’s heartbeat counter hit zero, immediately resulting in… instant death. Now Yura wants to cheat nature and slow his heart like a mountain monk. He plans to turn his remaining week into an eternity. For this, he chooses the calmest place he knows - the roof of his building. Tonya comes to the same rooftop, a girl with an equally rare condition: she must never fall asleep. To prolong her life as much as possible, Tonya needs adrenaline, electric shocks, and emotional extremes. But beside her is the calm Yura, who begs her to stay away - because any strong emotion brings him closer to the end. Read the full synopsis

This is a high-stakes romantic comedy set in an alternative reality where people are given strange diagnoses. Yura has 300,000 heartbeats left to live. You might think - nonsense. He thought so too, until right in front of him another patient’s heartbeat counter hit zero, immediately resulting in… instant death. Now Yura wants to cheat nature and slow his heart like a mountain monk. He plans to turn his remaining week into an eternity. For this, he chooses the calmest place he knows - the roof of his building. Tonya comes to the same rooftop, a girl with an equally rare condition: she must never fall asleep. To prolong her life as much as possible, Tonya needs adrenaline, electric shocks, and emotional extremes. But beside her is the calm Yura, who begs her to stay away - because any strong emotion brings him closer to the end.

Contains: Swearing · Violence (Fight/Action)

06 of 10 Short Film

• Australia
• Student Short Film
• 15m
• PGself-rated

Directed by Trinity Leigh

With Alyssa Valenti, Zac Hinkins, Michael Davoren, Victoria Edwards

• Australian
• Family
• Comedy

• Best Student Narrative Short Form · Hans Salceda

At Sturnley’s Supamart, a faded family grocery store, awkward checkout clerk Nora dreams of singing the store jingle. But when a customer mistakes small talk for life-changing wisdom, Nora is thrust into the spotlight as the store’s new mascot. Overnight, she’s elevated from trainee to the face of the Sturnley empire, caught between her power-hungry father, her jealous brother, and the zealous locals. As Nora’s influence spirals into absurdity, she must decide whether to stick to the script or use her own voice.

Australian Student

07 of 10 Student Short Film

• Australian Premiere
• USA
• Student Short Film
• 19m
• R18+self-rated

Directed by Christopher Lewis

With Ron Lance Thomas, Paul Van Scott, Michael Silerblatt

• Horror
• Sci-Fi

• Best Student Narrative Short Form · Estevan Valdes
• Best Visual Effects
• Best Sound & Music · Alexander Arntzen, Steve Borne
• Best Art Direction
• Best Supporting Performance · Ron Lance Thomas

During a coroner’s inquest into a gruesome and inexplicable death, a witness’s testimony reveals the existence of an enigmatic creature.

Contains: Violence (Gore/Extreme)

Student First-time filmmaker

08 of 10 Student Short Film

• Queensland Premiere
• Belgium
• Short Film
• 13m
• PGself-rated

Directed by Michaël Vermaercke

With Reno Cole, Ali Watt, Tristan Heanue, Michael Barker

• War
• Drama
• History
• Biography

• Best International Short Film · Elena Reynaert
• Best Visual Effects
• Best Sound & Music · Benjamien Lycke, Nick Leyers
• Best Cinematography · Bert Degraeve
• Best Director · Michaël Vermaercke

Sound of the Somme tells the true story of private James C. Richardson, a 20-year-old bagpiper serving in the 16th Canadian Scottish Battalion. Despite being assigned to stay behind as stretcher bearer, James is determined to play his bagpipes in the heat of the battle. His unwavering resolve to support his comrades and boost morale leads him to defy orders, risking his life to bring a glimmer of hope amidst the horrors of war. This heroic act earned James the Victoria Cross, the highest honor within the British Commonwealth. Read the full synopsis

Sound of the Somme tells the true story of private James C. Richardson, a 20-year-old bagpiper serving in the 16th Canadian Scottish Battalion. Despite being assigned to stay behind as stretcher bearer, James is determined to play his bagpipes in the heat of the battle. His unwavering resolve to support his comrades and boost morale leads him to defy orders, risking his life to bring a glimmer of hope amidst the horrors of war. This heroic act earned James the Victoria Cross, the highest honor within the British Commonwealth.

Contains: Violence (Fight/Action)

09 of 10 Short Film

• Australia
• Short Film
• 17m
• Mself-rated

Directed by Grace Uther, Sam Uther

With Arnijka Larcombe-Weate, Mitchell Bourke, Christopher James Baker

• Thriller
• Horror
• Dark Comedy
• Action

• Best Australian Short Film · Grace Uther
• Best Sound & Music · Dylan Barfield, Steve Nossiter
• Best Australian Lead Performance · Arnijka Larcombe-Weate
• Best Australian Supporting Performance · Mitchell Bourke

With reports of a serial killer on the loose, a curious woman locked out of her roadside motel room turns to the stranger next door for help.

Contains: Swearing · Violence (Fight/Action) · Violence (Gore/Extreme)

Australian

10 of 10 Short Film

• USA
• Micro Short
• 5m
• PGself-rated

Directed by Parker Croft

With Sean Marquette, Sharon Powers, Bill Welden

• Sci-Fi
• Drama

• Best International Micro Short Film · Nolan Gould, Parker Croft, Erika Totoro

A place where dreams are real, wishes come true, and everything is always awful for everyone. The first installment of the Hard Times anthology, Hell, follows the patriarch of a dying farm on the outskirts of Ash Harbor as he is methodically ground down by the machinery of despair. What begins as endurance curdles into something far more existential, a portrait of collapse told through dust, labor, and silence. Hell made its world premiere in 2026 at Animation Dingle, where it quickly garnered critical acclaim and went on to collect multiple awards at festivals around the world. Read the full synopsis

A place where dreams are real, wishes come true, and everything is always awful for everyone. The first installment of the Hard Times anthology, Hell, follows the patriarch of a dying farm on the outskirts of Ash Harbor as he is methodically ground down by the machinery of despair. What begins as endurance curdles into something far more existential, a portrait of collapse told through dust, labor, and silence. Hell made its world premiere in 2026 at Animation Dingle, where it quickly garnered critical acclaim and went on to collect multiple awards at festivals around the world.

01 of 11 Micro Short

• Australia
• Documentary Short
• 7m
• PGself-rated

Directed by Dean Ginsburg

• Documentary
• Short

• Best Documentary Short Subject · James Carr, Sean O'Reilly, Rebecca Matthes

FADING FORWARD explores the revival of film photography, questioning technological progress and asking ‘is newer always better’.

Australian

02 of 11 Documentary Short

• Australian Premiere
• USA
• Short Film
• 11m
• PGself-rated

Directed by Gabe Reiss

With Taylor Nichols, Avery McClure, Miju Kim Pascual, Shannon Morrissey

• Comedy
• Drama
• Supernatural
• Black comedy

• Best International Short Film · Mel Sanchez
• Best Supporting Performance · Taylor Nichols

An amateur exorcist tries to help a man rid his house of a ghost, only to find that his client’s relationship to the tormenting spirit is more familiar and complicated than he expected. Featuring Taylor Nichols (PEN15).

03 of 11 Short Film

• Australia
• Micro Short
• 7m
• PGself-rated

Directed by Adam Szudrich

With Damien Garvey, Leigh Parker

• Best Australian Micro Short Film · Jon Coghill

Rob can do the impossible, but only when no one is watching. After a lifetime of invisibility, one anonymous act forces him to decide whether being unseen is a curse or a choice.

Australian

06 of 11 Micro Short

• Australia
• Micro Short
• 7m
• Gself-rated

Directed by Paul Rye

With Tommy Ropati, Karina Summers

• Comedy / Mockumentary

• Best Australian Micro Short Film · Paul Rye

When a documentary crew starts filming his obsession with hourglasses, a charmingly awkward collector finds himself learning life's biggest lesson. time is precious, do what you what makes you happy.

Australian

08 of 11 Micro Short

• UK
• Micro Short
• 7m
• MA 15+self-rated

Directed by Jadey Duffield

With Desmond Eastwood

• Dark comic thriller
• action

• Best International Micro Short Film · Neil Marshall

When an agent screws up and a mission goes wrong, another operative is tasked with cleaning up the mess, only to find out the hard way that love and bullets don't mix because the target is his own wife.

09 of 11 Micro Short

• Australia
• Short Film
• 18m
• MA 15+self-rated

Directed by Grace Wriggles

With Grace Wriggles, Patch Harrison, Mitchell Cox, Bree Paige

• Western
• Drama
• action

• Best Australian Short Film · Christian McCarty, Grace Wriggles, Aaron McCarty
• Best Art Direction
• Best Cinematography · David Aponas
• Best Australian Supporting Performance · Mitchell Cox

A vengeful-mistress is kidnapped and left to die in the Australian bush on her morning of ex-lovers wedding day.

Contains: Violence (Fight/Action) · Violence (Gore/Extreme)

Australian

10 of 11 Short Film

• Australia, India
• Feature Film
• 1h 15m
• Mself-rated

Directed by Tony Rogers

With Robert Santiago, Vikrant Narain, Ria Patel, Rohan Ganju

• Best Feature Film · Victoria Schaw, Jason Byrne
• Best Director · Tony Rogers
• Best Art Direction

A group of students and teachers from The Delhi College of Linguistics hit the road to discover Australia and gain first-hand experience of its authentic language and culture. When their plane is diverted to the country town of Dubbo due to storms, and their tour-leader is detained by customs, the hapless bunch unearth the ‘real’ Australia while never making it to Sydney, Melbourne...or even Brisbane.

Contains: Swearing

Australian

11 of 11 Feature Film