See below for guidelines.
1. Conditions of Entry
1.1. Films are only eligible for selection in SFF if they submit a Preselection Entry as detailed in clause 3.1 and meet the following criteria:
1.1.1. Entries must be in English or with English subtitles.
1.1.2. Films must have been completed since 1 March 2024. SFF reserves the right to make exceptions, by invitation only.
1.1.3. To be eligible for the 2025 Sydney Film Festival any film over 40 minutes in length must be a NSW premiere, e.g. it must not have screened* in the State of New South Wales (includes Sydney) to a public audience, of any size, prior to the festival’s Closing Night (15 June 2025).
1.1.4. For films under 40 minutes, to be eligible for the 2025 Sydney Film Festival any film under 40 minutes in length must not have screened* in Sydney to a public audience, of any size, prior to the festival’s Closing Night (15 June 2025). **
* A screening being the public presentation of the film either; in a cinema or other space; online (such as YouTube); on a streaming service (like Netflix or SBS on Demand); or broadcast (e.g., on a television channel such as ABC).
** The only exception to Clause 1.1.4. being films submitted to and selected for the 2025 Dendy Awards for Australian Short Films and/or Screenability for which no premiere status is required but Australia or NSW premieres are preferred (e.g. they can have screened anywhere in Australia or online in any format).
1.2. A Preselection Entry must be received at the SFF office by the official closing date, 28 February 2025, and must include:
1.2.1. A completed online Preselection Entry Form via Film Freeway.
1.2.2. An uploaded film file of appropriate quality, with English subtitles (if the original language is not English).
1.2.3. A synopsis, a director's statement, and biography and filmography of the director and producer.
1.2.4. Entries will not be accepted without payment of the entry fee.
1.2.5. A film may be entered for selection in only one SFF festival. SFF reserves the right to make exceptions, by invitation only.
1.3. Works that are solely promotional, educational, or scientific in nature, including music videos, are not eligible for entry for the SFF.
1.4. Australian premiere status is required for Official Competition (see Clause 2) and preferred for Opening and Closing Nights.
2. Official Competition
2.1. The Official Competition has been established to reward new directions in film. The SFF will be seeking films that have emotional power and resonance, are audacious, cutting edge and courageous, and go beyond the usual treatment of a subject matter.
2.2. Films may only submit to the 2025 Official Competition by invitation from the SFF.
2.3. A maximum of 12 films will be presented to the Jury of the Official Competition.
2.4. The Jury, appointed by the SFF, will comprise five members and a maximum of two members will be of Australian nationality, and will be in alignment with FIAPF guidelines.
2.5. Selected films must meet the following criteria:
2.5.1. Films must be fictional and feature length (defined as over 70 minutes). The SFF reserves the right to invite non-fiction features if they clearly meet all other criteria.
2.5.2. Films must have been completed after 1 June 2024 and must not have been released theatrically outside their country of origin more than 12 months before the start date of the 2025 Sydney Film Festival (4 June 2025). The date of completion is the date of the delivery or availability of a locked-off print, tape, or final digital format. SFF reserves the right to make exceptions, by invitation only.
2.5.3. Films must not have screened publicly (see clause 3.5) in Australia prior to 15 June 2025. SFF reserves the right to make exceptions, by invitation only.***
2.5.4. Priority will be given to films that are world premieres provided all the criteria are met.***
*** See Clause 1.4. Australian premiere status is required for Official Competition and preferred for Opening and Closing Nights.
2.5.5. Films must have provided the SFF with the information and materials specified in Clause 3.
2.6. The Jury will determine the winner of the award based on a simple majority of votes. The Jury President will exercise a casting vote in the event the Jury is unable to determine a winner. The results will be known only by the Jury and SFF and will be embargoed until the announcement at the 2025 Official Competition Award Ceremony.
2.7. An SFF representative may attend Jury deliberations as an observer but will take no part in the voting or proceedings.
2.8. The director(s), or his/her nominee(s), of the winning film of the 2025 Official Competition will receive a cash prize of $AUD60,000.
2.9. Any person, including as determined by SFF, who has taken part in, or to have or perceived to have an interest in relation to, the production or distribution of a film in the 2025 Official Competition will declare that interest and will not participate in the selection or judging process.
2.10. Jury decisions will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
3. Films invited to participate - General
3.1. Once a film has been selected to participate in the 2025 Sydney Film Festival, the entrant must complete an official SFF Entry Form (a more detailed version of the Preselection Entry Form) and forward it to the SFF office no later than 25 April 2025, accompanied by (at a minimum) the following materials:
3.1.1. at least four high resolution stills (by email) from the selected film;
3.1.2. a one paragraph (short) synopsis and a one-page (long) synopsis (in English);
3.1.3. director's statement about the film;
3.1.4. the director's photo, biography and filmography;
3.1.5. an online copy of the film; as well as any other documentation that might contribute to the promotion of the work.
3.1.6. in the case of films over 40 minutes in length, two sets of at least four different excerpts of maximum three minutes in length, the film's trailer and an electronic press kit with scene clips and interviews. Excerpts must be provided in broadcast quality full resolution Quicktime file (preferably ProRes).
3.1.7. in the case of films under 40 minutes in length, two sets of at least four different excerpts of maximum two minutes in length, the film's trailer and an electronic press kit with scene clips and interviews. Excerpts must be provided in broadcast quality full resolution Quicktime file (preferably ProRes).
3.2. By submitting the SFF Entry Form and the above materials, the entrant(s) grant to SFF a non-exclusive licence to publicly screen the selected film in the 2025 Sydney Film Festival (4-15 June) in theatres used by the festival.
3.3. By submitting the SFF Entry Form and the above materials, the entrant(s) grant to SFF a non-exclusive licence to:
3.3.1. publicly screen any submitted excerpts - or any selected excerpts as specified under the rights holder's agreement in the SFF Entry Form - from the submitted film on screen (cinema screen and monitors);
3.3.2. use stills from the submitted materials and descriptive material about the selected film in the marketing and promotion of the 2025 Sydney Film Festival, the official festival program and on the official festival website;
3.3.3. make information extracted from the submitted materials available to the press.
3.4. By submitting the SFF Entry Form the entrant accepts the Rules and Regulations for participation.
3.5. The entrant may not withdraw the film from the SFF once it has been selected for participation and the entrant has confirmed its agreement.
3.6. By entering in the SFF the entrant warrants that the rights to their films are cleared to allow the SFF to use the film for the purposes specified in paragraph 3.3 and 4.2.
4. Films invited to participate - Official Competition
4.1. Films selected for the Official Competition must comply with the criteria in clauses 3 and 4. In the event of inconsistency between clauses 3 and 4, clause 4 prevails.
4.2. By submitting the SFF Entry Form and the materials specified in clause 3.1 the entrant(s) in the Official Competition grant(s) to SFF a non-exclusive licence throughout the world in perpetuity (and at no cost to SFF) to:
4.2.1. screen the submitted Film to the Jury or members of the Jury for the purposes of determining the winner of the 2025 Official Competition;
4.2.2. publicly screen any submitted excerpts - or any selected excerpts as specified under the rights holder's agreement in the SFF Entry Form - from the submitted film on screen (cinema screen and monitors) at any SFF Awards Ceremony and at any pre- and post- SFF Awards functions;
4.2.3. use stills from the submitted materials at any SFF Awards Ceremony and any pre- and post- SFF Awards functions;
4.2.4. use stills from the submitted materials and descriptive material about the submitted film in the official program for any SFF Awards Ceremony and on the SFF's Official Website;
4.2.5. make information extracted from the submitted materials available to the press.
4.3. The licence specified in clause 3.2 is in addition to that granted under clause 4.2.
4.4. It is a condition of participation in the Official Competition that the winner of the Official Competition will use the name and logo of the SFF and the Official Competition in all their publicity in the most prominent position on all publicity material as agreed with the SFF.
5. Transportation of Selected Prints & Digital format
5.1. SFF requires all selected films to provide screening copies in a DCP format. SFF reserves the right and decision to screen selected films in a non-DCP format, if agreed to by the entrant(s).
5.2. SFF encourages filmmakers to deliver DCPs digitally. In the event digital delivery is not possible, the SFF will cover the cost of shipping the digital copy or print of the film to and from Australia. However, if the print/digital copy is to be forwarded to another festival the outward costs from Sydney must be covered by the festival receiving the print/digital copy, as is the usual arrangement between festivals recommended by FIAPF.
5.3. Digital presentation materials of films invited to screen in the SFF must arrive in Sydney no later than 14 days before the Festival’s Opening Night (4 June 2025) unless special arrangements are made with the SFF organisers.
5.4. SFF is committed to delivering an inclusive festival experience. In case of selection, we encourage you to (also for English spoken films) provide English subtitles, Open Captioning, Closed Captioning and/or Audio Description where possible.
5.5. The DCP, or other screening format, sent to the festival prior to its start is the version that will be screened at the Festival. SFF does not allow changes of the version unless in exceptional circumstances, and then only with the express permission of the Festival Director/CEO. If these exceptional circumstances involve a matter of content, then that change will be announced prior to the screening of the film, and along with the film’s synopsis on the website.
5.6. Films will be returned to participants within two weeks following the end of the SFF. DCPs will be deleted from the festival’s servers after the festival.
5.7. The SFF will insure works for all sections of the festival for the entire time the material (of whatever format) is in the SFF's custody, either before, during, or after the festival, against any loss or damage.
5.8. The liability of the SFF is limited to reimbursement of the replacement costs of a new drive or print (in the case of retrospective works supplied on such formats), as per the prices declared by the entrant. All other costs or liabilities are specifically excluded.
5.9. The SFF may refuse to allow the participation of any film where the print or digital format of that film fails to meet the technical requirements for a public screening of good quality.
Sydney Film Festival (SFF) (Level 2, 10 Hickson Road, The Rocks NSW 2000, Australia. ABN 84 000 233 741) is organised by the Board and Staff of the Sydney Film Festival. The SFF is a non-commercial organisation, incorporated in New South Wales (NSW) as a non-profit-making company under the Corporations Act 2001.
In keeping with its mission and values, SFF recognises the importance of equal opportunity and diversity in creating a healthy team environment and promotes a culture that is free from discrimination. SFF welcomes submissions from First Nation’s people, people who identify as having a disability and those who come from culturally diverse backgrounds.
The SFF is recognised by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) as a competitive specialised festival and is subject to its regulations.
Should the Sydney Film Festival announce a cancellation due to restrictions associated with COVID-19 before 1 May 2025, submission entry fees will be refunded, less any credit card or other associated transaction fees. After 1 May 2025, only films which have been formally notified of their invitation for the 2025 festival, will be entitled to a refund.
The Sydney Film Festival reserves the right to alter the regulations and/or terms and conditions without notice.