by FilmInk Staff
Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) has today revealed the nominees for this year’s MIFF Awards, spotlighting an outstanding cross-section of the festival’s program with over $300,000 in prize money on offer.
From ten Australian-premiering films by first- and second-feature directors, all vying for the prestigious Bright Horizons Award, to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen creatives shortlisted for the Uncle Jack Charles Award, and the local directing talent vying for the Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award, this year’s nominees showcase the breadth and ambition of contemporary screen storytelling, both local and global.
Awarding $140,000 to the winning film, the Bright Horizons Award remains one of the richest prizes in the world. Supported by VicScreen, the Competition is dedicated to discovering the next generation of cinematic storytellers and champions ten Australian-premiering titles from home and abroad. This year’s cohort is as follows:
Big Girls Don’t Cry – dir. Paloma Schneideman
Blue Heron – dir. Sophy Romvari
Elephants in the Fog – dir. Abinash Bikram Shah
Goodbye, Cruel World – dir. Félix de Givry
Josephine – dir. Beth de Araújo
La Gradiva – dir. Marine Atlan
Sweet Milk Lake – dir. Harvey Zielinski
The Friend’s House Is Here – dir. Hossein Keshavarz and Maryam Ataei
Wicker – dir. Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer
Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep – dir. Rakan Mayasi
Artistic Director Al Cossar, said: “In its fifth year, Bright Horizons has become one of MIFF’s most essential programs, continuing to showcase the work of extraordinary breakout filmmakers, from all around the world, and bringing them to Melbourne to connect with audiences.
The first- and second features you’ll find throughout the Bright Horizons Competition are some of the boldest and most brilliant works of new auteur cinema that you’ll see this year, anywhere, and we look forward to introducing audiences to these very special Australian Premiere screenings.”
A number of this year’s Bright Horizons creatives will be in attendance at the festival, travelling from across the globe to be part of MIFF. International guests include filmmaking and real-life partners Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer, who will attend the MIFF Opening Night Gala screening of their spiky fable, Wicker; plus their fellow Bright Horizons filmmakers, Abinash Bikram Shah, Beth de Araújo, Hossein Keshavarz and Maryam Ataei, Paloma Schneideman, Rakan Mayasi, Sophy Romvari and local director Harvey Zielinski.
Audiences can catch the Bright Horizons Competition lineup with a dedicated pass, granting access to any three films in the program at a discounted price. Last year’s Bright Horizons Award went to A Poet, Colombian director Simón Mesa Soto’s Cannes-winning tragicomedy about a washed-up poet who finds unexpected purpose mentoring a gifted teenager from a nearby underprivileged neighbourhood.
The Uncle Jack Charles Award, supported by the MIFF Lumiere Patrons recognises an outstanding Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander screen creative featured in this year’s festival program. The winning creative receives a $20,000 cash prize.
The nominations for 2026 are:
Charles Perrurle Perkins – The Native Police
Keinan William McGillivray Pethybridge and Marcus Raymond – Man Wearing a Helmet
Kieran Satour and Tyson Perkins – Facing the Numbers
Talia Liddle – Protest on the Dancefloor
Tammy Lee Rock – Queens to the Front
Presented by Blackmagic Design, the Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award honours an outstanding Australian director whose film screens as part of this year’s festival program. The winner receives a $50,000 cash prize and a fully kitted URSA Cine 12K camera valued at $27,500.
The 2026 nominees are:
Dario Russo – The Fox
Harvey Zielinski – Sweet Milk Lake
Hyun Lee – French Girls
Maddelin McKenna – Mad Rush
Rounding out the main suite of prizes, MIFF will also host the MIFF Schools Youth Jury Award, presented by Collarts. Awarding a $10,000 cash prize, the winning film is selected from within the MIFF Schools program by a trio of young filmmakers from the 2026 Top Screen class.
Sam Jacob, Collarts CEO, said: “Melbourne is one of the great film cities of the world: the heart of the vibrant and vital Australian film industry. At Collarts, we’re passionate about storytelling, and our long-term creative partnership with Melbourne International Film Festival gives our students an access-all-areas pass to some of the world’s best stories.
We are thrilled that our partnership continues to include mentoring the Youth Jury members and presenting the 2026 MIFF Schools Youth Jury Award, with a prize of $10,000 to the winning film. Together, we amplify new voices and create new worlds.”
MIFF viewers have their say with the Intrepid Audience Award. Festival-goers can rate their favourite film, to go into the draw to win two spots on an Intrepid trip of their choice, with experiences including Sacred Land of the Incas, Morocco Uncovered, Classic Japan, Best of Sri Lanka, East Africa Highlights and the Amalfi Coast.
Alexa Theofanou, Head of Marketing, Intrepid Travel, ANZ said: “Curiosity sits at the heart of everything we do at Intrepid, which is why our partnership with MIFF feels like such a natural fit. Whether it’s through travel or film, the experiences that stay with us are often the ones that introduce us to new perspectives, create meaningful human connection, and leave us thinking long after they’re over. We’re proud to continue our partnership with one of Australia’s most celebrated cultural events, supporting a festival that brings curious people together to discover new stories and perspectives from around the world. Good luck to all of the films in the running for Intrepid’s Audience Award.”
Winners across all categories will be announced at the 2026 MIFF Awards ceremony on Saturday 22 August at Rydges Melbourne.
Now in its 65th year, the MIFF Shorts Awards and Talent of Tomorrow Party, presented by Armani Beauty, will also take place during the festival. Celebrating the best in short-form filmmaking with a prize pool of $50,000, the 2026 winners in key categories will be eligible for submission to the 98th Academy Awards® and considered for entry into the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards.
Bethany Cartan, Brand Director, Armani Beauty, ANZ said: “As the Presenting Partner of the MIFF Shorts program, we are proud to champion the unique artistry that brings cinema to life. These nominees demonstrate an exceptional commitment to their craft, echoing the dedication to detail that drives Armani beauty’s own creative spirit. We are honoured to celebrate these storytellers, whose work ensures the future of film remains both compelling and timeless.”
The MIFF Shorts Awards ceremony and Talent of Tomorrow Party will take place on Sunday 16 August at Melbourne Town Hall.
