SCINEMA Science Film Festival

Across Australia National Science Week 2027

  • SCINEMA has concluded for 2026 / 2027 Festival open for entries now on FilmFreeway

    SCINEMA 2027 will screen across Australia as part of the 30th anniversary program for National Science Week. Filmmakers - we want your films! Entries for SCINEMA 2027 now being accepted on FilmFreeway.

Images of SCINEMA logos from previous years

Bringing Science Film to Australia Since 2000

SCINEMA, pronounced with a long ‘i’ to emphasise the science behind the cinema, is an international science film festival based in Australia, providing a platform on which filmmakers - professional, amateur and student - can showcase their science films, from dramas to documentaries, animations or epic natural history. The festival was founded with the aim of forging links between the sciences and the arts. SCINEMA accepts entries from all over the world.

  • Meet Our Team

  • CRIS KENNEDY

    Festival Director

  • DAMIAN HARRIS

    Festival Director

  • KYLIE AHERN

    STEM MATTERS CEO

  • Ian Colon

    Film Jury

  • Jedd Bishop

    Film Jury

  • Liz Lea

    Film Jury

  • Stephanie McCarthy-Reece

    Film Jury

  • Russell Nankervis

    Film Jury

  • Emi Kolawole

    Film Jury

  • Harvey Moon

    Film Jury

  • Caddie Brain

    Film Jury

What Our Filmmakers Say

  • "It was an absolute honor to have 'Through Abe's Eyes' selected for this film festival. From the moment of submission, they sent confirming emails about our participation and kept us informed as the short advanced to each phase. They offer great communication, show true respect for filmmakers, and write insightful reviews for each selected film. Highly recommended!"

    Melissa Yaeth Paredes Cabrera
    (‘Through Abe’s Eyes’ - 2026 entry)

  • "A wonderful festival, with a rich, interesting and eclectic programme"

    Cyrille Cornu

  • "I value having been a part of this festival. I appreciate the ease of participating, the thorough communication, the easy access to the online content and being shown alongside many wonderful films."

    Dan Kelin

  • "Scinema International Science Film Festival is a wonderful festival with science at its core. Great communication and very supportive. We were very happy to be part of it."

    Oktay Ortabasi

  • "SCINEMA’s approach to programming is truly unique — blending scientific themes with artistic freedom. It was a pleasure to discover the other films in the lineup. I’m proud that my experimental short Transcience 2.0 made it to the finals and was in such great company. I really appreciated the festival’s openness to abstract and conceptual forms of filmmaking."

    Sylwia Zolkiewska (2025)

  • It was a great honor to have my film selected for SCINEMA International Science Film Festival. I truly appreciate the opportunity to share my work with audiences through such a meaningful international science film program. Thank you to the SCINEMA team for including my film in the 2026 program.

    Makoto Ishii

  • "I sincerely appreciated showcasing Flight Line at SCINEMA. Thank you for curating an intentional space for science stories."

    Nisha Balaram
    ‘Flight Line‘ - 2026 entry