Feature Films
Narrative features of any length above the FilmFreeway threshold. Best Feature and Best Australian Film winners receive direct introductions to international sales agents.
Submissions
Submissions for the 2026 festival have closed. Judging is under way.
Every 2026 entry is now with the adjudication panel. Nominees will be announced ahead of the Awards Night on 19 September 2026. The notes below describe how AFIN submissions work each season.
Where your film fits
Short Films & Web Series
Short-form work - single shorts, anthologies, and web-series episodes - judged on storytelling, originality, and craft. Budget is weighed into selection.
Documentaries
Long and short documentaries, observational, essayistic, hybrid. The work has to matter; production value matters less than what it has to say.
Screenplays
Feature and short screenplays. Selected projects are introduced to the festival's reading network. Industry-partnership opportunities apply.
Live Events
In-person screenings, panels, and the formal red-carpet awards ceremony at SunPAC, Brisbane. Award winners are announced on Awards Night.
What we look for
Entries are evaluated on five things: artistic value, originality, distributable appeal, production quality, and narrative. Selection is judged on what the film achieves with what it had - budget constraints are weighed into every decision.
Every entry is considered for multiple awards across categories, not just the one you ticked when you submitted. If your short fits a screenplay strand, the screenplay readers see it too.
A festival that backs filmmakers
A truly equal playing field
We recognise engaging, thought-provoking, innovative films. Production value matters, but budget constraints are weighed into every selection.
Multi-award consideration
Projects submitted in one category are considered for multiple awards - you do not need to pay extra to be seen across categories.
Feedback for every entrant
Every entry receives feedback at affordable pricing. The festival treats feedback as a deliverable, not an upsell.
Sales-agent introductions
Best Feature and Best Australian Film winners receive direct introductions to international sales agents.
Ready when you are
Canonical entry path
Submit via FilmFreeway
AFIN's FilmFreeway listing carries the authoritative entry rules - current category set, regular and late deadlines, entry fees, and the full award list. We deliberately don't duplicate those values here so they don't fall out of sync.
Open AFIN on FilmFreeway →Already have a FilmFreeway account? Your existing project files can be submitted with one click.