Port Shorts

The coolest film festival in the heart of the tropics - Port Shorts Film Festival - Port Douglas

ia’s most creative minds, with a support network geared to stimulate the next generation of filmmakers. Acclaimed Australian actor Stephen Curry, Wolf Creek and Rogue Executive Producer Matt Hearn, and the brilliant Australian film actress, Rarriwuy Hick, will be with emerging filmmakers every step of the journey as official ambassadors, mentors and judges of the Port Shorts Film Festival. We love helping Australia’s best emerging filmmakers achieve their potential and celebrate their individuality.

20/07/2025

🎶 Calling All Creators! 🎥
https://filmfreeway.com/PortShortsFilmFestival

Got a killer Music Video that deserves the spotlight? The Port Shorts Music Video Award is open to entries from around the world!

Whether you're indie, rock, rap, or electronic - if your visuals hit as hard as your beats, we want to see it.
💰 PRIZE: $1,000 AUD cash
✅ Just make sure you’ve got permission from everyone involved in the music + video

Enter now and let your sound be seen 🎥
https://filmfreeway.com/PortShortsFilmFestival

pic - Joshua

Screen Queensland Screenworks Garricks Camera House Cairns Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA)

18/07/2025

🎬 Queensland filmmakers, this one’s for you!

Best Queensland Short Film – Presented by Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA)
Open to short films shot in Queensland with at least two Queensland-based key creatives.

Submit your work to the Port Shorts Open section for your shot at:
💵 $250 cash
🎞 An incredible AACTA Prize Package, including:
✨ AACTA Professional Memberships for up to 4 Key Creatives (value $560)
✨ Access to AACTA Incubator Program events at the 2026 AACTA Festival for the winning director, screenwriter OR producer
✨ 2 x tickets to the 2026 AACTA Industry Gala (value $620)

That’s $1,430 in prizes and a launchpad for your next big move.

Enter now on FilmFreeway!
https://www.filmfreeway.com/portshortsfilmfestival

Screen Queensland Screenworks Screen FNQ & NQ Garricks Camera House Cairns

17/07/2025

Local Filmmakers
FNQ, this one's for you! 🎥
If you're a local filmmaker, don’t miss your chance to enter Port Shorts 2025.
📍 Cash prize for Local Film
📍 Screen on the big screen under the stars
📍 National recognition

Entries close Sept 1 👉 https://
www.filmfreeway.com/portshortsfilmfestival

🎬 PORT SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL 2025 The Coolest Short Film Festival in the Tropics – and now an AACTA Awards Qualifier 📅 OCTOBER 18, 2025 | 🌴 PORT DOUGLAS, ...

06/07/2025

🎬✨ Port Shorts 2025 is on the horizon!
Calling all storytellers, dreamers, and lovers of great film, it's time to get excited.

From jaw-dropping short films to next-gen youth talent, workshops with legends, and a waterfront under the stars – Port Shorts is where the screen lights up and the magic happens.

📍 Reel Futures Youth Festival – Sept 12, Clink Theatre
📍 Port Shorts Film Festival – Oct 18, Rex Smeal Park

Submissions now open 🎥 | Tickets coming soon 🎟️
Follow us for the journey. It’s going to be a ripper.

https://www.portshorts.com

Screen Queensland Douglas Shire Council Visit Port Douglas & Daintree Screenworks Garricks Camera House Cairns Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Homescape Tiles

28/06/2025

This isn’t just a film festival - it’s a tropical dream with popcorn. 🍿

🎟️ Be there. Or better yet, screen there!
Enter at https://www.filmfreeway.com/portshortsfilmfestival

Screen Queensland Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Visit Port Douglas & Daintree Garricks Camera House Cairns Douglas Shire Council Screenworks

23/06/2025

🎬 Filmmakers, this is your shot.
Your film. On the big screen. At the edge of the Coral Sea. 🌊🌴

Submissions are now open for Port Shorts 2025 - and this year, we’re officially an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) qualifying festival. That means finalists in our Open Category are up for consideration for the AACTA Award for Best Short Film. Yes, that AACTA.

There’s also a brand spanking new award for Best Queensland Film - presented by AACTA with a fab prize to boot.

🔥 New in 2025:
🏆 Best Queensland Short Film presented by
💰 $15K+ in cash & prizes
🎥 Epic screenings under the stars at Rex Smeal Park, Port Douglas

🚨 Deadline: September 1, 2025
🎟 Apply now via FilmFreeway 👉 https://filmfreeway.com/PortShortsFilmFestival

This is the kind of exposure you can’t stream.

23/05/2025

🎬 Exciting News! 🎉
https://www.filmfreeway.com/reelfutures

To celebrate the launch of our newly rebranded Youth Film Festival - Reel Futures - entry fees for the 2025 competition are absolutely FREE! 🌴

Mark your calendars: the event hits the big screen at the Clink Theatre on 12 September 2025.

Get your cameras rolling — the future of film starts now! 🎥

Screen Queensland Screenworks ATOM Queensland Tropical North Queensland Film School Shorts Garricks Camera House Cairns Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA)

Submit your films now!
https://www.filmfreeway.com/reelfutures

21/05/2025

We have a fantastic opportunity for screen practitioners in North and Far North Queensland to make your film and television productions more sustainable ♻️ 🌳

Join us for the free NQ Screen Skills: Sustainability Coordinator workshop in Cairns from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June and gain the skills and understanding to lead environmentally responsible productions. Local filmmakers, producers, crew and emerging practitioners can take the first step into the fast emerging and highly sought-after role in this three-day workshop.

NQ Screen Skills: Sustainability Coordinator workshop is delivered as part of our North Queensland Regional Program.

Places are limited, be quick to register👇
https://screenqueensland.com.au/sq-news/events/nq-screen-skills-sustainability-coordinator-workshop/

12/05/2025

Taste of the Tropics is back for Season 2 – dishing up $35,000 in funding per team to develop authentic, factual food stories for SBS Food

Brought to you by Screen Queensland Screenworks and SBS – Showcase the unique flavours, faces, and culture of your place to audiences across the country.

Applications now open! 👇
Submissions close 21 May

Image: Dishes from Taste of the Tropics season one — hi-res version and additional images are available to download here. Screen Queensland, Screenworks and SBS Food are looking for a second serving…

10/05/2025

🎬 BIG NEWS from the tropics! ⚡
Port Shorts is now officially a shortcut to the AACTAs 👏

NEW FOR 2025: All finalists in the Open category of the 2025 Port Shorts Film Festival will be eligible for consideration in, and receive discounted entry to, the AACTA Best Short Film Award category..🎟️ Thanks to our brand new partnership with the legends at Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA)

And that’s not all...

🌴 We’re thrilled to announce a brand new award:
🏆 Best Queensland Short Film – Presented by AACTA
Open to shorts shot in QLD with at least two Queensland-based key creatives.

Get your film on a national stage – entries are open now!
🎥 https://filmfreeway.com/PortShortsFilmFestival

Screen Queensland Screen Queensland Community Screen Producers Australia ATOM Queensland Tourism Port Douglas Daintree - Industry Tropical North Queensland Garricks Camera House Cairns Homescape Tiles Port Douglas Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA)

02/05/2025

Port Shorts extends heartfelt thanks to Elliot Davidson for his years of passionate contribution, especially in developing our Music and Youth Awards.

Wishing him every success as he continues his journey as an educator, musician, and filmmaker. ✨

18/04/2025

🎥 OK Go has done it again!

Their brand-new music video LOVE is a breathtaking one-take wonder, captured on take 39 (yes, 39!) and packed with mirrors, robots, and signature OK Go spectacle.

The clip’s a visual stunner - and a timely reminder that music videos still matter. Especially yours.

If you’ve made something bold, beautiful, or bonkers (in the best way), submit it to the Music Video category at Port Shorts 2025. https://filmfreeway.com/PortShortsFilmFestival $1000 AUD up for grabs!

🎶 Watch ‘Love’ by OK Go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz9BRl7DVSM

Get this song: https://sym.ffm.to/andtheadjacentpossibleAnd all things OK Go: https://linktr.ee/okgomusicIn this mini-documentary by our partners at the Pro...

Address

Port Douglas, QLD
4877

Website

http://www.PortShorts.com/, https://www.filmfreeway.com/portshortsfilmfestival

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Our Story

A breathtaking location, the platform to showcase some of the world's best short films and some of Australia’s most accomplished film exponents sharing their knowledge with emerging filmmakers – the Port Shorts Film Festival is a feast for the film making senses. The Port Shorts Film Festival is staged under the stars in nature’s playground, Port Douglas in Far North Queensland, where the majestic Daintree Rainforest meets the spectacular Great Barrier Reef. With a prize pool worth more than $15,000 up for grabs, the Port Shorts Film Festival shines the spotlight on the imagination of Australia’s most creative minds, with a support network geared to stimulate the next generation of filmmakers. Acclaimed Australian actor Stephen Curry, Wolf Creek and Rogue Executive Producer Matt Hearn and Australian Film Industry Awards nominated screenwriter Kier Shorey (Blurred) will be with emerging filmmakers every step of the journey as official ambassadors, mentors and judges of the Port Shorts Film Festival. Port Shorts organisers conduct workshops for youth and adult filmmakers of all experience to provide them with the tools to produce quality short films, documentaries and music videos in the months leading up to the film festival. We want to help Australia’s best emerging filmmakers achieve their potential and celebrate their individuality.