AFIN 2027 · Our 10th season
How entries work
Entries for our 10th season are open on FilmFreeway.
Entries for 2027 are open on FilmFreeway, and the festival returns to Brisbane in October 2027. Every film enters one of 10 lanes, set by its length, where it is from and its genre, and is up for every award that lane can win. Fees and the full rules are on the FilmFreeway listing.
Where your film fits
Every film enters one lane, set by its length, where it is from and its genre. The lane decides its own best-film award; directing, performance and craft awards are open across lanes.
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Feature
Best Feature Film
A narrative film over 40 minutes
13 awards it can win
Example: How To Talk Australians, winner, Best Feature Film 2026
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International short
Best International Short Film
A narrative film from outside Australia, over 10 and up to 40 minutes including credits
11 awards it can win
Example: Something Pointless, winner, Best International Short Film 2026
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Australian short
Best Australian Short Film
An Australian narrative film, over 10 and up to 40 minutes including credits
11 awards it can win
Example: Dear Moon, winner, Best Student Narrative Short Form 2026
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Micro
Best Micro Short Film
A narrative film of 10 minutes or less, from anywhere
13 awards it can win
Example: Marbles, winner, Best Australian Lead Performance 2026
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Comedy
Best Comedy Film
A comedy of any length, as confirmed by the jury
13 awards it can win
Example: Scary lullaby, winner, Best Director 2026
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Horror
Best Horror Film
A horror film of any length, as confirmed by the jury
13 awards it can win
Example: They Kill By Night, winner, Best Australian Short Film 2026
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Documentary feature
Best Documentary Feature Film
A documentary over 40 minutes
6 awards it can win
Example: My Soul Is in a Hurry, winner, Best Documentary Feature 2026
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Documentary short
Best Documentary Short Film
A documentary of 40 minutes or less including credits
6 awards it can win
Example: The Comfort Dogs of Uganda, winner, Best Documentary Short Subject 2026
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Feature script
Best Feature Screenplay
An unproduced feature screenplay
1 award it can win
Example: THE RED ZONE, winner, Best Feature Screenplay 2025
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Short script
Best Short Screenplay
An unproduced short screenplay
1 award it can win
Example: READING OF THE WILL, winner, Best Short Screenplay 2025
Web series are welcome, and are judged as short films in their lane.
The 2027 entry calendar
- 1 Nov 2026 Entries open
- 7 Feb 2027 Earlybird deadline
- 28 Mar 2027 Intermediate deadline
- 28 May 2027 Regular deadline
- 27 June 2027 Final deadline
- 13 Aug 2027 Nominees told
The festival returns to Brisbane in October 2027; the exact dates are announced once the venue confirms. Fees for each deadline, and the final word on every date, are on the FilmFreeway listing. Everything about 2027.
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.
You enter once. A comedy or a horror film competes for its genre award rather than Feature, the shorts or Micro, and stays up for Director, Emerging Filmmaker, performance and craft. Every award takes up to 6 nominees.
First Nations Free Entry
Free entry for First Nations films
AFIN is committed to authentic Australian First Nations storytelling. Films led by First Nations creatives, or that tell a First Nations story through meaningful collaboration with First Nations communities, enter free under the "First Nations Free Entry" categories (eligibility in the rules).
A film qualifies through at least one of these:
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First Nations-led storytelling
The film centres on First Nations characters, themes, or cultural elements.
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First Nations creative leadership
The film has a First Nations writer, director, or producer who can confirm their connection to a First Nations community.
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First Nations collaboration and cultural consultation
If a non-First Nations filmmaker is telling a First Nations story, they must demonstrate meaningful collaboration with First Nations communities, such as a First Nations cultural advisor being consulted, or First Nations voices included in the writing, casting, or production process.
Important: simply having distant First Nations ancestry is NOT enough; the film must actively feature First Nations leadership or collaboration. Screenplays are NOT eligible for First Nations Free Entry, as verification is more difficult at the script stage. Films that qualify can still be considered for all other applicable awards.
Submitters must provide a short statement in their FilmFreeway submission confirming how their film qualifies. AFIN reserves the right to request further verification, including a letter of support from a First Nations community or consultant. False claims result in disqualification and a permanent ban from future AFIN submissions.
A festival that backs filmmakers
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A truly equal playing field
We recognise engaging, thought-provoking, innovative films. Production value matters, but budget constraints are weighed into every selection.
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One entry, several awards
Your film enters one lane and is considered for every award that lane can win: up to 13 of the 22, at no extra cost.
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Feedback, if you want it
Every entry can choose to add Standard Feedback: scoring insights and potentially high-level comments.
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A record that stays
Every nominee gets an official laurel, a certificate and a permanent page on this site with its credits and its result, and a film nomination is IMDb-qualifying.
If you have a film, SUBMIT IT. If you don't, make one immediately, so you can.
Ready when you are
Enter on FilmFreeway
AFIN's FilmFreeway listing carries the entry fees for each deadline and the full rules. We link to it rather than repeat it here, so the two can never disagree.
Open AFIN on FilmFreeway →Already have a FilmFreeway account? Your existing project files can be submitted with one click.