Sydney Film Festival 2024: Call for entries open!

Lights, camera, action! The 71st Sydney Film Festival invites filmmakers worldwide to submit their cinematic creations for the Festival scheduled from 5—16 June 2024. With a robust tradition of presenting diverse stories, this year’s event boasts a substantial $155,000 prize pool across multiple categories, including the renowned Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films and the Documentary Australia Award.

Commitment to Cinematic Excellence

Festival Director Nashen Moodley expressed his excitement: “Every edition of the Sydney Film Festival renews our commitment to cinema and its creators. This year, with a $155,000 prize pool, including the return of the world’s largest environmental film prize, we celebrate our long-standing legacy and offer a substantial platform to upcoming and established filmmakers. The world of cinema is vast, and we endeavour to capture its every nuance at the Sydney Film Festival.”

Submission Details

Submissions are open until March 1, 2024, for international and Australian productions, the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films, and the Documentary Australia Award. The Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films, celebrating its 55th year, stands as Australia’s oldest short film competition, having propelled numerous talents toward international success since 1970.

The winners of the Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films and the Documentary Australia Award are not only bestowed with recognition but also become eligible for the coveted Academy Awards, as these competitions are officially recognized as qualifying awards by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Entries are welcome in various categories, including short films, features, documentaries, and specialized programs such as the Screenability Program for filmmakers living with disabilities and the First Nations Program, encouraging submissions from Indigenous filmmakers worldwide.

Feature-length films selected for the Festival are considered for the Official Competition, competing for the esteemed Sydney Film Prize with a prize of $60,000. The Sustainable Future Award, worth $40,000, also recognizes films contributing to awareness of the global climate emergency.

The Festival has also introduced fee waivers for the Screenability and First Nations programs, emphasizing inclusivity and diversity in the filmmaking community.

Deadline

Aspiring filmmakers are encouraged to review the submission requirements on the official Sydney Film Festival website before entering. The deadline for all entries is March 1, 2024. For more information and to submit your film, visit Sydney Film Festival Submissions.