May 28, 2025

Opening Date

July 20, 2025

Regular Deadline

August 4, 2025

Notification Date

August 9 – 17, 2025

Event Date

We accept entries in the following categories (note it is possible to enter the same work in multiple categories):
- Best Film (minimum 5 minutes, horizontal format)
- Best short Film (maximum 30 minutes, horizontal format)
- Best Television Series (horizontal format - judged from a sample episode)
- Best Vertical Video (Mobile shot and produced, under 3 minutes)
- Best Animation (any length or format)
- Scinema Junior Best Film (under 18, any format)

We welcome entries on any science topic for the awards; from oceans to black holes, and trees to robotics. This year we are also encouraging films that explore the 2025 National Science Week theme 'Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature's hidden language'.

There are awards for
- Best Film
- Best short Film
- Best Television Series
- Best Vertical Video
- Best Animation
- SCINEMA Junior

The prize in each category is a unique SCINEMA trophy made by the Tasmanian Kaleidoscope Company. And bragging rights!. No cash prizes issued.

Only one prize will be produced per category - if a winning production(s) is a group entry, the group will have to split or share their prize. The prize is a single trophy and does not have a cash value.

SCINEMA International Science Film Festival (the Festival) is a project of The Brilliant and STEM Matters, Serious Monkey (Damian Harris) and Cris Kennedy.

Films accepted into the Festival MAY be included in:
a) the SCINEMA Community Screening Program, bookable (for free) by any school or community or cultural organisation through the National Science Week website. Community Screening playlists are password protected and only issued to those that register, and the license period for these screenings runs across August 2025 to November 2025; and
b) screened through The Brilliant and SCINEMA websites, YouTube and TikTok accounts in consultation with the filmmaker, in a non-exclusive VOD license.

1. Entries will be accepted through FilmFreeway.
2. Entries must not exceed 120 mins in length
3. All media must be clearly marked with the title of the entry, the entrant’s name, contact email, phone and address. It is the responsibility of the entrant to update any changes of address or contact details post submission.
4. All films with dialogue must be in English or English narrated or subtitled.
5. All entries must have been produced after 1 July 2024.
6. All entries must be fully completed works - do not submit works in progress.
7. Confirmation of receipt of entry will be emailed.
8. SCINEMA accepts no responsibility for entries lost, delayed or not received for any reason.
9. SCINEMA may charge a small administrative fee in some high-volume categories to assist in employing staff to process entries.

1. A film review panel will be selected by SCINEMA, and this panel shall decide which entries make it to the final judging round and select award winners.
2. A selection of films reaching the final judging round will screen as part of the 2025 Festival.
3. All films accepted into the SCINEMA festival MAY be curated into a community film program or available to screen online under the SCINEMA banner, from August 2025 to July 2026. SCINEMA or participating venues may not charge admissions fees for screenings of this program.
4. By submitting your film for the Festival you are agreeing it can be screened at all of the above.
5. If selected, entrants agree and understand, that their film shall screen in either or both, our live festival event and/or our online festival event that utilizes VOD.
6. The jury’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
7. Only one prize will be produced per category - if a winning production(s) is a group entry, the group will have to split or share their prize. The prize is a single trophy and does not have a cash value.

1. Copyright resides entirely with the artist(s). By submitting your entry to the Festival you confirm that have obtained all releases necessary for the public exhibition of your work including internet.
2. In the case of student works, you must ensure you have obtained permission from students and/or their parents to use their image in your films. By submitting your entry to the Festival you confirm you have received all required permissions.
3. SCINEMA will not be held responsible for any breach of copyright or permissions arising from any entries submitted.

Promotional Use - Entrants shall allow clips or images from their works, to be reproduced by radio, newspaper, television and the Internet for promotional purposes only. Please provide a 300dpi image for this purpose. Ideally all entrants shall supply a short trailer for their film that can be used.