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Melbourne International Film Festival
Saturday, 08 August 2026 until Sunday, 23 August 2026
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.
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.
Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award
The Blackmagic Design Australian Innovation Award recognises an outstanding Australian creative within a film playing in the MIFF program.
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.
MIFF Audience Award
During the festival, MIFF audiences vote for their favourite narrative or documentary feature film to win the MIFF Audience Award.
MIFF Shorts Awards
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