Canberra Short Film Festival

Overview

The Canberra Short Film Festival celebrates short films and the creative voices that shape them. Held annually, it is one of Australia's longest-running competition-based short film festivals. Screening at Dendy Cinema and Smith's Alternative, it draws filmmakers from Canberra, Australia, and beyond, and plays to audiences who simply love cinema.

The festival honours short film as a craft in its own right, not a stepping stone to something longer. Films are chosen for their distinct point of view and their willingness to challenge, delight, and inspire, regardless of budget or scale. Visitors can expect stories that are bold, funny, moving, or quietly observed, spanning every genre and voice, all selected because the filmmaker knew exactly why they made the film they made.

Built at a human scale, the festival is a place where nobody gets lost in the crowd. Screenings are curated with care, question-and-answer sessions unfold as genuine conversations, and the closing awards night feels like a real celebration rather than a formality. Local film lovers and visiting filmmakers fill Canberra's venues throughout the week, drawn together by a shared love of storytelling.

The Canberra Short Film Festival is an integral part of the city's screen culture, bringing local and international talent together each year in a warm, welcoming setting.