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Short + Sweet Film Festival Sydney

No limits, other than your imagination. 

The Short+Sweet Film Festival Sydney is back! Showcasing the best local and international short films. What stories can you tell in 10 minutes? 

2025 Film Festival Program:

22 March  | Heat 1 
12 May     | Department of Education Films (5:30 PM)  
12 May     | Heat 2 (8:00 PM)  
13 May     | Youth & Student Films (6:30 PM)  
13 May     | Heat 3 (8:30 PM)
14 May     | FILM FESTIVAL GALA FINAL (7:00 PM)  

Films will be screened at TURNER HALL - Located at TAFE Ultimo - 18 Mary Street

Each screening showcases a vibrant mix of stories from local and international filmmakers. Our Open Heats feature standout films from Sydney, across Australia, and beyond—while our dedicated Youth & Student sessions spotlight the next generation of emerging talent.

Short+Sweet Founder and Director Mark Cleary has committed to delivering “a world class festival with an A-List Hollywood finale”

Enquiries to Festival Director Luke Berman at luke.berman@shortandsweet.org

Short + Sweet Yorkshire Film Festival

Short+Sweet Yorkshire Film Festival  2025! 

 

CATEGORY AWARDS WINNERS 2025 ARE:

Best Short Screenplay- Hot n Cold
Best Comedy Short-Big Deal
Best Drama Short- A Reciprocal Arrangement
Best Thriller/Horror Short - Exhibit B
Best Documentary Short Film- Discovering Davina
Best Mobile Short Film -We Used To Be Forbidden
Best First Time Filmmaker -Not in The Mood
Best Made in Yorkshire- The Westwood Cows

Submissions Now Closed.

Thanks to everyone who took part tihs year!
 

 

 

Short+Sweet Cebu Film Festival

MAKING THE WORLD A MORE CREATIVE PLACE - TEN MINUTES AT A TIME
The world's largest little festival has finally arrived in Cebu, the heart of the Visayas! Entries to our film festival are open to all Cebuano and Filipino filmmakers, with the best films selected to be screen in Cebu in our inaugural film festival October 2023.
In keeping with the Short+Sweet tradition, all films must be 10 minutes or less and can be shot and edited on any device. There are no more limits other than your imagination.

SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN - SUBMIT YOUR SHORT FILM HERE

The Short+Sweet Cebu Festival will be screened in three groupings - Cebuano Films, Filipino Films and International Films, with the winning films as voted by judges and audience to progress to the finals in Manila, and will also be screened in our Film Festivals in Illawarra, Essex and some may even be selected to be screened in Hollywood!

Background to Short+Sweet Founded in 2002 by Mark Cleary, Short+Sweet began as a small festival of 10-minute plays in Sydney, Australia. Since this time, this unique brand has extended to multiple performance mediums; from theatre to dance, cabaret to Bollywood, musicals to stand-up comedy; all maintaining the single rule, being 10 minutes or less. Short+Sweet has made a huge impact on the Australian theatre scene through developing new, original work with emerging artists and providing a platform for established artists to showcase their talents. The expansion of Short+Sweet within Australia has also taken short-form theatre internationally, with ever increasing popularity and ever increasing festivals. Short+Sweet is currently active across the USA, Australia, India, Philippines, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates, with growth planned for additional cities in these countries, as well as across the UK and Europe.

Enquiries, contact Festival Director Luke Berman (Australia) - luke.berman@shortandsweet.org

SHORT+SWEET ILLAWARRA FILM FESTIVAL

SHORT+SWEET ILLAWARRA
FILM FESTIVAL 2025

WILDCARD FINALS:
2:30 PM Sunday 16th November
BUY WILDCARD TICKETS

GALA FINAL:
2:30 PM Sunday 30th November
BUY GALA TICKETS

at The Phoenix Theatre
Bridge Street Coniston

The Short+Sweet Illawarra Film Festival celebrates the art of short filmmaking — championing both local and international filmmakers who push the boundaries of storytelling and imagination. From heartfelt dramas to bold experimental visions, each film offers a unique cinematic experience in 10 minutes or less.

Join us on Saturday, 16 November for our Wildcard Screening, where audience and judges will vote for their favourite films — with the top-scoring entry earning a coveted place in our Gala Final on Sunday, 30 November.

There are no limits to the imagination of our filmmakers — the only limit is time.

Short+Sweet Film Festival Sydney 2019

Calling all film festival lovers!

The Short+Sweet Film Festival Sydney is BACK - bringing local filmmakers and audiences together. Attendees will have the opportunity to see a curated selection of films from different genres, styles, and ideas from local and international filmmakers.

This opportunity is unique in the ever expanding world of Short+Sweet, and culminates in our Grand Finals Event to be held in Hollywood in late 2019. Short+Sweet Founder Mark Cleary and Festival Director Greg Dolgopolov have committed to delivering “a world class festival with an A-List Hollywood finale”. Dolgopolov directed Melbourne’s first Short+Sweet Film festival in 2017 and noted “the shaping of networks for future projects… That connection is what Short+Sweet is so good at fostering.”

Festival Dates and Times:

  • August 27, 7:00pm (doors open at 6:00pm)
  • September 3, 8:30pm (doors open at 8:00pm)
  • September 4, 7:00pm (doors open at 6:00pm)
  • September 5, 7:00pm (doors open at 6:00pm)

Festival Location:

Tom Mann Theatre
136 Chalmers St,
Surry Hills NSW 2010

Tickets:

Tickets are cash only and will be sold at the door for $15 and $10 for students with a valid student ID. 

Hope to see you there!

 

Short+Sweet Film Sydney 2018

The Short+Sweet Film Festival in Sydney is back for its second season bigger than ever! After screenings all over the world culminating in a triumphant Hollywood Gala Finals in 2017, the international competition is heating up again.  

Short films are hot right now and there is a fantastic selection of different genres, different styles and different ideas from local and international filmmakers. In keeping with the Short+Sweet tradition, all films must be 10 minutes or less and can be shot and edited on any device. There are no more limits other than your imagination. The winning film will be screened in Los Angeles at the Short+Sweet Hollywood Film Festival in September 2018.

According to Short+Sweet Sydney-based film festival director Greg Dolgopolov, the most important aspect of Short+Sweet is to bring local filmmakers together and in direct contact with their audiences. “Having just travelled to a series of film festivals in Europe and Australia where the genre is burgeoning, I was knocked out by new forms and remarkable originality that really engaged audiences,” Dolgopolov said. “There is a real appetite for short films at the moment and, with the calibre of new short films submitted to our festival, it will be an exciting four weeks of heats leading up to the finals”.  Dolgopolov directed Melbourne’s first Short+Sweet Film festival last year and noted the passionate discussions that continued between filmmakers, judges and audience members after each screening. “The shaping of networks for future projects…” he added. “That connection is what Short+Sweet is so good at fostering.” And there’s more on offer for ambitious film-makers: last year some of the films that premiered in Sydney went on to great success in the Hollywood finals.

Heats start from Tuesday 6 March at 7:30 and go on every Tuesday. Culminating in the Gala Sydney Finals over the Easter weekend. To purchase tickets and for more info see here: http://buytickets.at/shortsweet/141026

Whether you have a play that you want to adapt into a screenplay or an original idea for a film, Short+Sweet Film Festival remains open for entries. Find out how to enter here: https://filmfreeway.com/ShortSweetFilmFestival

Background to Short+Sweet Founded in 2002 by Mark Cleary, Short+Sweet began as a small festival of 10-minute plays in Sydney, Australia. Since this time, this unique brand has extended to multiple performance mediums; from theatre to dance, cabaret to Bollywood, musicals to stand-up comedy; all maintaining the single rule, being 10 minutes or less. Short+Sweet has made a huge impact on the Australian theatre scene through developing new, original work with emerging artists and providing a platform for established artists to showcase their talents. The expansion of Short+Sweet within Australia has also taken short-form theatre internationally, with ever increasing popularity and ever increasing festivals. Short+Sweet is currently active across the USA, Australia, India, Philippines, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates, with growth planned for additional cities in these countries, as well as across the UK and Europe. 

Stella Adler Academy Hollywood Short + Sweet Film Festival

We invite you to submit your short film (5-10 minutes) and be part of an amazing new festival based in the heart of Hollywood. The Stella Adler Academy Hollywood Short+Sweet Film Festival is open to all comers but most welcome are local film makers.

Let’s face it - attention spans are not getting any longer and this celebration of cinema, creativity and storytelling is a professional pathway for talented film makers, writers, actors, cinematographers and directors.

We know something about how it's done… The Stella Adler Academy of Acting & Theatre – Los Angeles is a world renowned acting school located in the heart of Hollywood, CA offering extensive training for the serious actor in theatre, film, and television. The Technique grew out of Stella Adler’s work with Stanislavski, the father of modern acting and has been studied by many of the world's most notable actors, directors, and writers including: Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro, Salma Hayek, Benicio Del Toro, Holland Taylor, Gary Ross, Eric Stoltz and Mark Ruffalo, and many more.

If your film is chosen to be part of the first festival you’ll join a program that features local and international films that will be presented at the Stella Adler Theatre on Hollywood Blvd in July/August 2017. You’ll have the chance to win Awards and Prizes. Of course we'll make sure that the 'right' people are invited along and your work is seen to it's best advantage.

The Best Film (chosen by respected industry judges) and the People’s Choice Winner (chosen by the audience) will be selected to take part in the International Short+Sweet Film Festival Gala Final on August 24 at the beautiful and historic Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. That’s where the winning films from S+S Film Festivals in Sydney, Melbourne, Manila, Dubai and Chennai will compete to take out the International Best Film Awards.

The festival is a proud member of the Short+Sweet family - the biggest 10 minute performing arts festival in the world - with events in 30+ cities across 12 countries. It’s been around for 20 years with the first S+S Theatre Festival in Sydney Australia in 2002 and to date have presented over 5,500 original new works in Theatre, Music and Dance. It might have started on the other side of the world in far off Australia but the global home of the S+S Film is now right here in Hollywood where it belongs.

KEY DATES

Earlybird Deadline (June 15th)

Regular Deadline (July 11th)

Late Deadline (July 21st)

Notification Date (July 24th)

Festival Dates (July 31st - August 21th)

Gala Final (Sunday, August 24th)

 

 

 

Short + Sweet Film Festival Chennai

Welcome to Short+Sweet - the biggest and best short format festival in the World.

If your film is a winner at the Gala Final in Chennai on June 25th you can go on to have your work shown on August 24 @ the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood at an A List Red Carpet Finale along with other top films from all over the world and win professional development and other prizes valued at over US$50,000.

Short+Sweet is the biggest 10 minute performing arts festival in the world with events in 30+ cities across 12 countries. We have presented over 5,000 original new works in Theatre, Music and Dance since 2002. 

Additionally - if your film is short-listed for the festival here it will also be eligible for express entry (until 2018) into other Short+Sweet Film Festivals including Sydney, Melbourne, Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kuala Lumpur, Auckland, Dubai, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and beyond...

Our international presenting partners are Stella Adler LA (http://www.stellaadler.la/) and Short+Sweet International (http://www.shortandsweet.org/)

AWARD and PRIZES

We'll be holding heats at Wandering Artist in Chennai from June 22nd to June 24th. Then the Gala Final on June 25th.

That's of course the main prize - the chance to get your work in front on an A List Hollywood audience and win professional development from Stella Adler (board members of include the like Mark Rufalo and Brad Fisher). In addition your next project could be fully funded by our partner Ryde Studios in LA to the value of US$50,000.

And of course there will be local prizes for the winners including 
Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, 
Best Play to Film Adaptation, People's Choice, Best Actor and Best Actress. 

RULES AND TERMS

No limits, other than your imagination.

In keeping with the Short+Sweet tradition, all films must be 5-10 mins in length (plus credits) and can be shot and edited on any device. There is no restriction on the genre, style or how the film is created. You must however have permission to use any images, storylines, music etc. in your film.

The film can be in any language or dialect. However if you want the film to be eligible for other Short+Sweet Film Festivals there must be English subtitles.

Submissions to be made here:

Chennai Film-makers are eligible for Submission Fee Waivers - Mail us on stray@strayfactory.com for a waiver code

https://filmfreeway.com/festival/ShortSweetFilmFestivalChennai

 

 

Short+Sweet Bollywood Sydney 2015

BOOK ONLINE NOW FOR SHORT+SWEET BOLLYWOOD, FAST+FRESH BOLLYWOOD AND THE GALA FINAL!

Short+Sweet Bollywood is the newest medium to join the Short+Sweet family. Gracing the stage of The Factory's Fusebox in Marrickville, Bollywood will be the first integration of an traditional artform into the Australian festival. Short+Sweet Bollywood will stage around 20 newly devised Bollywood performances, with 10 performances each night, over a single week. A special event of Fast+Fresh Bollywood will also be included on the weekend to showcase kid's performances, eligible for anyone under 18 years. 

For further information or late registrations, email aish@shortandsweet.org

REQUIREMENTS

  • ALL performances must be under 10 minutes. 
  • It can be any dance form but the only condition is that the music has to be from a Bollywood film. 
  • The stage space available is angled with 7.8m x 7m downstage and 7m x 4m upstage, this would fit a group up to around 10 people. Please choreograph accordingly.
  • Dance troupes of all nationalities are invited to perform and join in the creative and colourful event that is Bollywood!

S+S BOLLYWOOD BUY TICKETS
Season: 20-22 March 2015 at the Fusebox, The Factory, Marrickville

Variety Performance: Friday 20th March 7:30pm
Programme 1: Saturday 21st March 7:30pm
Programme 2: Saturday 21st March 2:30pm

FAST+FRESH BOLLYWOOD BUY TICKETS
Performance: Sunday 22 March 1pm

GALA FINALS BUY TICKETS
Sunday 22 March 5:30pm