Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition takes flight
Got a feather in your cap when it comes to film-making? Looking to showcase your creativity and connect with passionate people like you?
Then join Wollongong City Council and Screen Illawarra for this year’s Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition.
Supporting emerging and professional filmmakers, the competition offers an opportunity for participants to hone and showcase their craft. With over $5,000 in cash and industry training prizes up for grabs, the “best of” will also be screened at the Creative Wollongong Outdoor Film Festival in 2026.
Open to filmmakers of all ages and experience levels, films must be new, original, and include a reference to this year’s signature theme, ‘Birds’.
In addition to the Open and 12 – 18 years categories, Screen Illawarra members can pitch a film idea incorporating the theme. Five winning pitches will be given a commission to develop their film in collaboration with local professional production companies.
Previous winners include Duncan Ragg and Anna Phillips, whose short film Over went on to win Best Australian Short Comedy at Flickerfest, as well as both Best of the Fest and Best Narrative Short at the Nevada City Film Festival.
Launching the competition last night, Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown welcomed its return and acknowledged the growing awareness of the Illawarra as a film-making hub.
“There is a strong current of creativity in our region, and we have long punched above our weight when it comes to local talent," Cr Brown said.
"I’m delighted to be able to launch this year’s Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition, and the opportunities that it provides for established and emerging filmmakers.
“This year’s theme is a cracker. Birds are fascinating—both as living creatures in our ecosystem and as metaphorical symbols. I can’t wait to see the local talent and local stories that are going to be created and shared.”
Entries close 30 January 2026. For more information and terms and conditions of entry, visit wollongong.nsw.gov.au/short-film
The Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition is brought to you by Wollongong City Council and Screen Illawarra.
Supported by the Guardians of the Grassy Woodlands project led by the Illawarra Ecosystems and Threatened Species Team, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Coequal, Bus Stop Films, ITec, TAFE Illawarra and TEN ALPHAS.
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