Melbourne International Film Festival

TypeTV, Feature film and short film festival

ThemeInternational festival

LocationAustralia

PeriodAugust

Event presentation

The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is a not-for-profit organisation that has been continuously running since 1952, making it the leading film festival in Australia and one of the world’s oldest film festivals, alongside Cannes and Berlin. Presenting a curated global program of innovative screen experiences and the world’s largest showcase of exceptional Australian filmmaking, MIFF is an accessible, iconic cultural event that provides transformative experiences for audiences and filmmakers alike.

MIFF’s vision for the future builds on the festival’s role at the centre of Melbourne’s cultural life and, in particular, its success in generating both social and economic capital for Melbourne and Victoria. Complementing MIFF’s highly anticipated festival program is MIFF's renowned industry program that includes an investment fund (the Premiere Fund) and the director’s development program (Accelerator Lab). MIFF’s finance market (37°South) brings the national and international screen industry to Melbourne during the festival and celebrates Melbourne as a centre for screen business. MIFF also supports emerging arts and culture writers through its annual Critics Campus program, and takes the film festival experience to regional Victoria through the MIFF Regional program.

Information on feature films

Awards & Prizes

Bright Horizons Award

Presented by VicScreen, the flagship Bright Horizons Award celebrates the new, the next, the breakthrough and the best of first- and second-time feature filmmakers, as chosen from within the Bright Horizons film competition. Awarding A$140,000 to the winner, it is one of the most substantial film prizes in the world.

Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award

The Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award recognises an outstanding Australian creative within a film playing in the MIFF program with a A$70,000 cash prize.

First Nations Film Creative Award

The First Nations Creative Award, presented in collaboration with Kearney Group, recognises an outstanding Australian First Nations creative within a film playing in the MIFF program. The pool of contenders is drawn from across all film creative departments including directing, producing, screenwriting, composing, editing, cinematography, acting, production design, art direction and sound design. The recipient will be awarded a A$20,000 cash prize and $25,000 worth of financial services with Kearney Group.

MIFF Audience Award

During the festival, MIFF audiences vote for their favourite narrative or documentary feature film to win the MIFF Audience Award.

Prize Eligibility Conditions can be found here: https://miff.com.au/submissions/miff-awards-regulations

The category of feature film is reserved for any film whose runtime is 40 minutes and 30 seconds or more (including credits). Check https://miff.com.au/submissions for more information about submission of a feature film to MIFF.

Information on short films

MIFF hosts one of the most highly regarded short-film competitions in both the Asia Pacific region and the Southern Hemisphere, with awards presented across the following categories:

City of Melbourne Grand Prix for Best Short Film

VicScreen Erwin Rado Award for Best Australian Short Film

Award for Emerging Australian Filmmaker

Award for Best Fiction Short Film

Award for Best Documentary Short Film

Award for Best Animation Short Film

Award for Best Experimental Short Film

Prize Eligibility Conditions can be found here: https://miff.com.au/submissions/miff-awards-regulations

The category of short film is reserved for any film whose runtime is 40 minutes and 29 seconds or less (including credits). Check https://miff.com.au/submissions for more information about submission of a short film to MIFF.

Registration conditions for short films

Films produced on or after : l'année précédent le festival
Subtitling required
Maximum runtime : 40'29''
Films produced on or after : l'année précédent le festival
Genres accepted : All genres
Conditions : Films not previously broadcast on TV (by country)
Screening format requirements : Video File, DCP (Digital Cinema Package)

MIFF hosts one of the most highly regarded short-film competitions in both the Asia Pacific region and the Southern Hemisphere, with awards presented across the following categories:

City of Melbourne Grand Prix for Best Short Film

VicScreen Erwin Rado Award for Best Australian Short Film

Award for Emerging Australian Filmmaker

Award for Best Fiction Short Film

Award for Best Documentary Short Film

Award for Best Animation Short Film

Award for Best Experimental Short Film

Prize Eligibility Conditions can be found here: https://miff.com.au/submissions/miff-awards-regulations