Go to...

• Filmmakers Area

Festivals Area

Industry Area

Festhome TV

Capricorn Film Festival (10)

Deadlines

10 Feb 2025
Call for entries

01 Oct 2025
Standard deadline

24 Oct 2025
Late deadline

24 Oct 2025
Final deadline

7
mths

03 Nov 2025
Notification date

08 Jan 2026
11 Jan 2026

Address

-, 4701, Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia

Festival description

Short film festival 30'<

Feature film festival >60' 200'<

Festival requirements

Film festival

Fiction

Documentary

Animation

Fantastic

Terror

Experimental

Music Video

Other

Any Genre

Any Theme

Has submission fees

National Festival

Physical Location

May 2024

Production countries: Any

Shooting countries: Any

Director nationalities: Any

Debut Films

School projects

Short Films 30'<

Feature Films >60' 200'<

Any language

Subtitles
English

Share on Social Networks

Facebook
Tweet

English

Festival description (Edition: 10)

Festival start: 08 January 2026 Festival end: 11 January 2026

The Capricorn 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.

Shortlisted films are screened at the event with a total prize pool of $4,000 in cash and prizes awarded between the winners of each category.

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. Contact us to receive your DISCOUNT coupon code on any upcoming entries.

Prizes and qualifications

Cash Prizes: 3,500$

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.

The Capricorn Film Festival is competitive, with over $4,000 in cash and prizes awarded to the winners. The categories include:

Feature Films in competition:
CAPS Feature - $1000 (AUD) World Open

Documentaries in competition:
CAPS Doco - $1000 (AUD) World Open

OTHER LONG FORM AWARDS:
CAPS Best Director
CAPS Best Actor

CAPS Short Film Competition:

CAPS Short - $1000 (AUD) World Open
CQ Shorts - $500 (AUD) Central Queensland only

OTHER SHORT FORM AWARDS:
CAPS EXperimental Winner
CQ Rising Star
Best Short Director
Best Short Actor

Rules

All Films must be submitted to the Film Festival by 15th Oct 2025.

Only films completed after 1st May 2024 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 removed if it is believed that there are legal issues about producer rights.

Accepted films can only be removed at festivals discretion.

Submitters will be added to organisation digital newsletters and other opportunities.

CQ Shorts (Short Film)

Short Films >1' 30'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Standard 10$ 9.2$ 7.7$ 01 Oct 25

Late 20$ 18.4$ 15.4$ 24 Oct 25

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
24 Oct 25

Save up
2.3$

Submit

We want the best short films made by residents of Central Queensland! Any age and a resident of Central Queensland (Bundaberg, Gladstone, Yeppoon, Rockhampton and surrounding areas) can enter this category. CAPS Open winner receives $500 AUD. For more information please refer to Category rules.

CAPS Short (Short Film)

Short Films >1' 30'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Standard 20$ 18.4$ 15.4$ 01 Oct 25

Late 30$ 27.6$ 23.1$ 24 Oct 25

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
24 Oct 25

Save up
4.6$

Submit

We want the best short films in the world! The winner takes home $1000 AUD. World Open to all ages. All Welcome. Please refer to Rules and Terms for more information. Maximum length of 30 minutes per film.

CAPS Feature (Feature Film)

Feature Films >60' 200'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Standard 40$ 36.8$ 30.8$ 01 Oct 25

Late 52$ 47.84$ 40.04$ 24 Oct 25

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
24 Oct 25

Save up
9.2$

Submit

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.

Please refer to Rules and Terms for more information.

CAPS Doco (Documentary)

Short and Feature Films

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Standard 40$ 36.8$ 30.8$ 01 Oct 25

Late 52$ 47.84$ 40.04$ 24 Oct 25

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
24 Oct 25

Save up
9.2$

Submit

We want emotive, challenging and experimental docos. World Open to all ages. Minimum length of 60 minutes per film. Please refer to Rules and Terms for more information.

CAPS EXperimental

Short Films 20'<

Fee

-8%

PRO 23%

Standard 10$ 9.2$ 7.7$ 01 Oct 25

Late 20$ 18.4$ 15.4$ 24 Oct 25

Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees

Submissions deadline
24 Oct 25

Save up
2.3$

Submit

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.

Please refer to Rules and Terms for more information.

Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods.