FUTURE STARS FILM FESTIVAL
Entries for FSFF26
open FEBRUARY 01 2026.
Located in Brisbane Australia at one of Australia’s coolest venues within one of Brisbane’s coolest art precincts is the Queensland Future Stars Film Festival. Known passionately as “the student’s festival,” Queesnland's FSFF is on track to become the states premiere short film festival for high school students. Founded in 2022 by Brisbane's Australia Independent Film Festival in 2026 it has become a stand-alone festival.
“Brisbane is home to so much creative talent and we’re proud to be sponsoring the Australia Independent Film Festival and SEQ Future Stars, so today’s students have the opportunity to be globally renowned filmmakers tomorrow.” The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Adrian Schrinner.
About QLD students for QLD students!
Brisbane's very own QLD Future Stars film Festival is proud to present FSFF26 with categories for Southeast Queensland, Central Queensland, and Far North Queensland high school students in years 10 - 12.
“A massive thank you to Australia Independent Film Festival for having me as a guest judge today for their SEQ Future Stars session today. I got to see some amazing short films from some really talented young filmmakers. Well done to Jeremy and Rich for putting on another successful year of this growing festival, and thanks to my co-judges Tfer and Drew 👏🎬🎥”
Bart Mellish MP – Member for Aspley
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Students will only be competing amongst other students in years 10-12.
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The submission area is limited to Queensland.
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Official Selection Films shown within the session will not be mixed with other festival films that will most likely have more mature content and have been created by more experienced practitioners. There will also be a special awards ceremony immediately after the screening session.
Entry is open to any genre of short film (10 min max) with the award categories being:
Best QLD School Short Film
Best SEQ School Short Film
Best Regional School Short Film
Best FNQ School Short Film
Best QLD School Animation
Best QLD School Documentary
Best QLD School People's Choice
Submitted films are initially judged in-house to decide quarterfinalists, semi-finalists, and finalists.
The judging process considers:
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Originality/Creativity
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Direction
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Cinematography
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Editing (Style)
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Editing (Pace)
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Sound
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Make Up/Costumes
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Music/Composition
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Performances
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Production Value
A score out of 10 for each category is awarded and then an average is calculated.
At the screening session a live jury will score each official selection film as it is screened. The session will conclude with a dedicated awards ceremony.
Film entry is A$15 Entry fee includes all award categories in film.
ENTER @ https://www.filmfreeway.com/fsff
Where: PALACE CINEMAS - JAMES STREET
When: TBA
Screening & AWARDS: @ 18.00 - 21.00 (approx).
Tickets Adults: $22.50 CONCESSION $17.50 + booking fee.
Generally, the people that attend are high school filmmakers and their families and friends. It is a great opportunity for students to network with other students who they may then meet in the future at university or on other film sets.
"This is my first time attending a film festival! Even more incredible is that it's the Australian Independent Film Festival! I'm incredibly excited and honored that my first short film clip has achieved such a great result!" Xuewei Jiang FSFF24 entrant.
Two of our past winners who have released films online are:
GUS 2023 winner Best short film (drama)
https://youtu.be/aP9iXaJarZI?feature=shared
I'm Coughing Up Pink Gunk Again So Now I Need Your Money
2024 Best short film (drama)
https://youtu.be/OOTVlCLoGs4?feature=shared
We also screen music videos, documentaries and animations.
Please note - All official selection films will include two complimentary tickets to Future Stars Film Festival and awards ceremony.
Students are allowed to enter one film per entry fee, but multiple entries are accepted.
Most schools set up a school account on filmfreeway and submit all films together listing the submitter as the teacher and the director as the student who directed. The other credits are not necessary to include.
There are some students who set up their own accounts and submit as individuals. These are usually people that may be submitting to several different festivals. We accept entries at www.filmfreeway.com/fsff
The last date for entry is August 24 but this may be extended this until August 31.
Please note Quarterfinalist and Semi-Finalist Films will not screen at the festival.
We expect films to have correct permissions for music within films. The festival is also licensed through OneMusic for screening purposes.
FSFF24 Jury - Subject to change.
Drew Jarvis
Drew is an Australian children's television presenter who has appeared on television programmes The Shak and Lab Rats Challenge.
In 2014, Jarvis joined Network Ten's children's department as the producer of Toasted TV and in 2015 he joined as series producer of the twenty-third series of Totally Wild.[3] In June 2018 he was appointed as the executive producer of children's television on the network.
Tfer Newsome
Tfer is a highly respected Filmmaker and Lecturer who holds a Masters in Film Sound.
She Specialises in sound editing, dialogue editing and mixing for documentaries, and dialogue editing and delivery for games.
Tfer has been teaching sound for for over twenty years being firstly a lecturer at the Film, Screen and Animation School within the Creative Industries Faculty at QUT and now as a seasonal lecturer for Griffith University.
Bart Mellish MP
Bart is the Assistant Minister to the Premier for Veterans Affairs, Trade and COVID Economic Recovery, as well as being the member for Aspley.
Bart has a background in key government and private sector roles and has experience in transport and environmental policy. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree, a Post Grad Cert in Environmental Management and a Masters of Business Administration.
The FSFF26 Jury will be announced prior to the event.
The Future Stars Film Festival can be reached at hello@fsff.com.au
Follow us on Facebook at https://facebook.fsff.com.au
