This year’s competition attracted the highest number of entries to date, with 35 locally made films submitted across three categories. Sixteen standout finalists across all categories were screened at the Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival held at the UOW Hall on Friday 27 March 2026.
Films had to be new, original, filmed in the local area and incorporate this year’s signature, “birds.
The competition was judged by an acclaimed panel of Australian screen industry representatives:
Vincent Sheehan – Producer (Fisk, Mullet, Jasper Jones)
Yael Stone – Actor (Orange Is the New Black)
Ian Collie – Producer (Colin from Accounts, The Twelve).
The youth category was judged by cinematographer and recent AFTRS graduate Skye Netting (Ace of Spades).
Competition winners shared in more than $5,000 in cash and prizes.
Download the 2026 Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival program.
Best Film
| Category | Winners |
|---|---|
| Commissioned Films | Winner – Best Film: Bin Day By Jane Fullerton-Smith and India Goss Maher with Moonlander Media Second Place – Best Film: MiMic By Glenn Hanns with Sketchbook TV |
| Open | Winner – Best Film: The Things We Bury By Nicole Stojanovska and Nuno Dias Second Place – Best Film: Bogan Bird By Holly Trenaman & Tyrone McCrystal |
| Ages 12 - 18 years | Winner – Best Film: The Day By Five Islands Secondary College. Supported by Wollongong Youth Services Second Place – Best Film: Queer Bingo Supported by Wollongong Youth Services |
Best Performance
| Category | Winners |
|---|---|
| Commissioned Film |
Amelia Conway (Faye) Jennifer Gray (MiMic) |
| Open | Adriana Mazevski (The Things We Bury) Jack Tickner (River of Destiny) |
| Ages 12 - 18 years |
Kayden Jackson Sabina Bassi (The Day) |
Additional Prizes
- Emerging Actor Award: Ricky Gamble for Dark Sails on the Horizon
- Screen Illawarra annual memberships awarded to: Aristos Markou (The Black and Blue), Brian Yap (4 the Birds, Sound of Summer), David Willison and Joke Amosun (Processing) and Antra Johri and Alana Holley (Serendipity).