Port Shorts Film Festival
Also known as: Port Shorts, PortShorts
📝 Sign up as a festival representative to manage this page!
Port Shorts screens short films outdoors beneath the palms at Rex Smeal Park in Port Douglas, Tropical North Queensland. Its programme combines Australian and international work with a separate selection of films by local filmmakers, alongside music videos. Animation, fiction and documentary all feature in the festival’s selection.
The not-for-profit festival presents Open Filmmaker, Local Filmmaker and Music Video categories. The 2026 edition takes place on 24 October at Rex Smeal Park, with 25 finalists from Far North Queensland, elsewhere in Australia and overseas.
Country
Australia
Categories
Animation, Documentary, Music Video, Short
Awards and prizes
The 2026 cash prizes are AUD 5,000 for Open Filmmaker, AUD 1,000 for Music Video, AUD 500 for Local Filmmaker, AUD 750 for the Jury Award and AUD 500 for Audience Choice. Best Queensland Film receives AUD 250 and an AACTA package.
Festival rules
For 2026, eligible films have a completion date after 1 February 2025. The Open Filmmaker competition accepts all genres worldwide, with a 15-minute limit including credits. Music videos require permission from the relevant rights holders.
Local entrants must reside in Douglas, Cairns, Mareeba, Tablelands, Wujal Wujal or Cook shires; films have a four-minute limit including credits. Entries go through FilmFreeway in MP4 or MOV with stereo sound. Selected filmmakers provide a downloadable high-resolution version and retain copyright, while granting promotional use of stills and up to 20 seconds of footage.
Contacts
- portshorts.com
- hello@portshorts.com — General enquiries
- filmfreeway.com — Film submissions