Young Australian Film Festival Award Winners

See what the next generation of Australian filmmakers is making at the Young Australian Film Festival.

Founded in 2024, the Young Australian Film Festival (YAFF) is Australia's fastest growing film festival, dedicated to the next generation of Australian filmmakers.

Now in its third year, with an expanded program screening nationwide across 10 days, the festival will culminate in an awards ceremony presented at ACMI, showcasing work by young filmmakers from across the country. The awards recognise craft, including writing and directing. They also cover formats like animation, documentary and music video.

Join us on 29 October to see the films that took out this year's awards. The screening will be proceeded by ACMI Crew Night, a monthly gathering for anyone interested in filmmaking to network, hang out, grab a drink and find collaborators for their next film project!

Films Screening:
Hazy
Dir. Ayden Trinder, 2 mins, 2025
As a man stumbles through a day filled with bizarre, unseen attacks, he pieces together that his vengeful ex is wielding a voodoo doll against him.

Bub
Dir. Abbey Hastings, 10 mins, 2026
When a sudden move disrupts Harper's life, she is left wondering what this change means for her relationship with her imaginary best friend, Maisie.

Zombie
Dir. Jessica Husband, Ethan Finch, 5 mins, 2025
After getting a voicemail from her partner, a woman clings to his voice, until she can’t tell memory from reality.

Grow Up
Dir. Dari Justin, 8 mins, 2025
When 12-year-old Kai is forced to recognise that his older brother has outgrown their childhood fantasy games, he decides it’s time to grow up - but is he ready?

Passion
Dir. Keira O'Connor, Ryan Prime, 8 mins, 2025
Passion is a short film exploring the emotional fatigue, relentless grind, and unwavering love for filmmaking.

Dead Certain
Dir. Charley Cowen, Alex Rozen, 14 mins, 2025
After surviving six near-death experiences, Debbie Malone began seeing the dead. When details from her visions surfaced during the Milat murders, she was drawn into a real police investigation and forced to defend her crew

Notes from the Underseen
Dir. Ameya Ajay, 3 mins, 2025
Notes from the Unseen is a short film about a work-driven young woman who is disconnected from her partner, working opposite hours of the day and communicating only through leaving sticky notes for one another.

Little Stars
Dir. Izzi Harris, 13 mins, 2025
Charlotte stands onstage, wooden sword in hand, coerced into the role of Romeo. The fate of her high school career, and Juliet, stare back. Queer realisation hits like a bitch.

I Fell in Love with a Sleep Paralysis Demon
Dir. Matthew J. Thompson, 7 mins, 2026
Scared of commitment, Sarah decides to pursue the most emotionally unavailable guy she can find, her sleep paralysis demon.

Mission: Wash Dishes Don’t Die
Dir. Miki Sheoaka Flett, 2 mins, 2025
How could washing dishes lead to a life-or-death situation? Quin finds out that her missing bra pad has been used as a sponge.

Time Between Us
Dir. Ayden Trinder, 14 mins, 2025
Time Between Us is a short Coming of Age /Supernatural Drama film that follows Jason, a teenage boy cursed to see the deaths of those he makes eye contact with.

One Bad Day
Dir. Hector Hennessey, Bianca Pritchard, 9 mins, 2025
One Bad Day follows a day in the life of a puppet. Specifically, a bad day. After a trying shift at work as a boom mic operator for a kid show, the puppet makes his melancholic trip home. But his day takes a turn for the worse.