Queensland, from amateur to professional and is supported by some of Australia's premiere filmmakers and industry companies. We appr
Festival overview
About Capricorn Film Festival
Physical film festival in Queensland, from amateur to professional and is supported by some of Australia's premiere filmmakers and industry companies. We appr with submission categories including CQ Shorts (Short Film) and CAPS Short (Short Film).
Festival is a not for profit organisation that discovers local, national and international cinema gems, and shares them with a diverse audience of film lovers. The Capricorn film festival was established to encourage production, not just exhibition.
Our event is not just about ‘showing’ films – it’s about ‘making’ them. We aim to provide you with the opportunity to showcase your work to as wide an audience as possible, and help you promote your career and film-making endeavours.
The event is held mid year, where a crowds of thousands from all over Central Queensland enjoy five days of cinema, supporting filmmakers from the region and all corners of the globe. The festival is open to any level of filmmaker, from amateur to professional and is supported by some of Australia's premiere filmmakers and industry companies.
We appreciate our Festival ALUMNI.
Schedule
Important Dates
Call for Entries Opens
Feb 1, 2026
Final Submission Deadline
Nov 7, 2027
Notification Date
Nov 7, 2027
Festival Starts
Jan 13, 2028
Festival Ends
Jan 16, 2028
Recognition
Awards & Prizes
Cash Prizes: 3,500$Cash Prizes: 3,500$Best Director CAPSBest Short DirectorBest Short Actor
Eligibility
Rules & Eligibility
General Rules+
All Films must be submitted to the Film Festival by 7th Nov 2027.
Only films completed after 1st May 2025 will be considered for the sections.
Short Films: Any genre of film under 30 minutes length will be considered for CQ Shorts.
The film must not have appeared on Australian television, Pay TV or be screened on an internet site.
Short Films do not require a premiere screening to be accepted.
Must be subtitled in English if not English language.
Filmmakers must enter the correct category.
Festival staff reserve the right to request proof.
Entrants may enter multiple films in multiple categories.
CAPS Short, Open & Junior must NOT contain; nudity, drug use or excessive violence.
Feature Films must be suitable for audiences 15 years and above.
Entrant must have copyright over the film and music and the film submitted.
You must pay the entry fee when you submit and upload your film via this submission site in the correct format to be in the running for any monetary prizes and trophies.
Submissions must be received no later than the entry deadline with all required paperwork and releases provided.
Accepted films will be required to sign a finalist agreement.
Accepted films can be remo
Current Categories, Deadlines & Fees
Category
CQ Shorts (Short Film)
CQ Shorts (Short Film) currently lists a maximum runtime of 30 minutes. Listed fees include USD 10 regular and USD 20 late.
Current FeeUSD 10.00Standard
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 30 minutes
Category
CAPS Short (Short Film)
CAPS Short (Short Film) currently lists a maximum runtime of 30 minutes. Listed fees include USD 20 regular and USD 30 late.
Current FeeUSD 20.00Standard
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 30 minutes
Category
CAPS Feature (Feature Film)
Open to features not distributed or broadcast. Sales Agents and Distributors able to submit upcoming features. World Open. Minimum length of 60 minutes per film.
Current FeeUSD 40.00Standard
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 200 minutes
Category
CAPS Doco (Documentary)
We want emotive, challenging and experimental docos. World Open to all ages. Minimum length of 60 minutes per film.
Current FeeUSD 40.00Standard
Category
CAPS EXperimental
CAPS EXperimental = short videos which are more artistic in nature, embracing visuals and audio expression over story structure. We are after thought provoking, unique, visually stunning and innovative video shorts. This category accepts all styles of videos including animation, documentary, Experimental, Music Video, Short, Student, Web / New Media, Performance, Installation. CAPS EXperimental is an original video arts event held over the course of the Capricorn Film Festival at the region's premiere arts gallery, Fig Tree Galleries.
