by FIlmInk Staff
Entries are now open for filmmakers, television producers and even TikTokers around the world to submit their works for consideration in SCINEMA International Science Film Festival, a competitive film festival that screens across Australia and other selected locations every August.
Screenings in Australia will form part of the annual National Science Week program, running August 15 to 23, 2026.
‘Technology has brought storytelling through film into everybody’s hands, quite literally,’ says Festival Director Cris Kennedy, ‘and so we’re looking forward to our 2026 season of science filmmakers to come from the classroom or the retirement home just as much as they come from the laboratory or from the film festival circuit.’
Last year’s SCINEMA fielded 142 international entries with the Jury voting Roser Cusó’s film I AM WATER (Spain, 6 mins) as the Best Animation; the Australian ABC production DR KARL’S HOW THINGS WORK (Australia, 30 mins) as Best Science Television Series; WAVES OF INK (USA/Iceland, 12 mins) as Best Short Film; and documentary LUPI NOSTRI/Our Wolves as 2025 Best Film.
For the 2025 Festival, THE SUN IS WAITING AHEAD FOR US (China, 22 mins) won a category titled ‘Best Junior’ that encompassed all student entries, from primary school through tertiary students internationally. For our 2026 Festival, SCINEMA will run a Best International Student Production category, and will shortly make announcements for an Australian national student film competition.
SCINEMA’s Call for Entries is open until 29 May 2026, with categories for Best Film (both Long Format and Short Format), Best Television Production or Television Series, Best Experimental Film, Best Animation, Best Vertical Production (which could be a TikTok or similar) and Best Student Film International.
The Festival is run by Festival Directors Cris Kennedy and Damian Harris working with Kylie Ahern and STEM Matters, and enjoys the support of CSIRO and Royal Australian Mint and works alongside the team of National Science Week.
Filmmakers should enter their films in SCINEMA on their Film Freeway page at filmfreeway.com/SCINEMAInternationalScienceFilmFestival or visit the SCINEMA website SCINEMA.net
