If you’ve just finished a short film and you’re staring at a spreadsheet of potential festival submissions, I get it. The process is confusing, expensive, and there’s very little guidance out there that’s specific to Australia. So here’s what I’ve learned from covering the festival circuit for fifteen years and talking to hundreds of filmmakers along the way.

Choose Your Festivals Strategically

Not all festivals are created equal, and submitting to every single one is a waste of money. Australian filmmakers should think about festivals in three tiers.

Tier one is your dream festivals. These are the ones that can genuinely change your career. In Australia, that means Flickerfest (which qualifies for Oscar consideration), Melbourne International Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, and the Adelaide Film Festival. Internationally, Sundance, Cannes (Short Film Palme d’Or), Berlin, and Toronto are in this bracket.

Tier two is solid festivals with industry presence. St Kilda Film Festival, Revelation Perth, Brisbane International, CinefestOZ, and the various state-based shorts festivals fall here. These won’t make international headlines, but they connect you with local industry and give your film a solid screening history.

Tier three is niche and community festivals. These are worth considering if your film has a specific angle. Think Queer Screen, Antenna Documentary Festival, or regional festivals that align with your film’s subject matter.

Timing Your Submissions

This is where most filmmakers get caught out. The major Australian festivals typically have submission deadlines between March and June for festivals that screen between July and December. If your film is finished in November, you’re looking at a six-month wait before the big festivals even open submissions.

Use that time wisely. Submit to international festivals with earlier timelines. Sundance shorts deadline is usually in August, Toronto in April, and various European festivals open throughout the year. Getting an international premiere can actually strengthen your Australian festival applications.

Platform Choices: FilmFreeway vs Withoutabox

FilmFreeway is the dominant submission platform in Australia now. Almost every Australian festival accepts submissions through it, and many use it exclusively. Set up your FilmFreeway profile properly: good stills, a strong synopsis, complete tech specs, and a screener link that works.

Some festivals still accept direct submissions via email or their own portals. Check individual festival websites before assuming FilmFreeway is the only option. Occasionally the direct submission route gets you noticed faster because there’s less volume.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t premiere on YouTube before your festival run. This is the most common mistake I see. Many festivals require regional or national premieres. Once your film is publicly available online, most festival programmers will pass.

Don’t submit works-in-progress. Unless a festival specifically has a WIP program, send the finished film. Programmers watch a lot of submissions and they can tell when colour grading is temporary or sound mix isn’t final.

Don’t ignore the tech requirements. If a festival asks for a DCP, provide a DCP. If they want a specific file format, give them that format. Technical issues are the easiest reason for a programmer to skip your film.

Don’t write a novel in your synopsis. Keep it to 2-3 sentences for the short synopsis and a paragraph for the long version. Programmers read hundreds of these. Be clear and concise.

Cover Letters and Supporting Materials

Most Australian festivals don’t require cover letters for short film submissions, but when they do, keep it brief. Mention any notable cast or crew, previous festival selections, and a one-sentence pitch for why the film fits their program.

Director statements are more important than cover letters. Write something genuine about why you made the film. Programmers appreciate honesty over pretension. If this is your first film, say so. There’s no shame in being new.

Budget Your Submission Costs

Festival submissions aren’t free, and they add up fast. A typical Australian festival charges $15-$40 per submission. International festivals can charge $50-$100 or more. If you’re submitting to 20 festivals, that’s $400-$800 before you’ve even bought a coffee at a screening.

Set a submissions budget at the start and stick to it. Prioritise the festivals that matter most to your career goals and don’t submit to festivals you’ve never heard of just because they have an early deadline on FilmFreeway.

After Selection

If you get selected, congratulations. Now the work starts again. Most festivals will want high-resolution stills, a DCP or high-quality digital file, and possibly a Q&A appearance. Budget for travel if the festival is interstate. Show up if you can. The networking at Australian festivals is genuinely valuable and often leads to your next project.