FAQs

The filmmaker, director or submitting creative must own the rights to the submission in full (or have permission from the rightsholders) to submit. They must also be 18 years or older at the time of submission, and an Australian resident for tax purposes.

Yes, so long as all parties are 18 years or older at the time of submission, and Australian residents for tax purposes.

Yes, your film can be made anywhere in the world.

Yes, the only person who must be Australian is the filmmaker, director or submitting creative. If successful, they will receive the prize.

Yes, you may submit as many films as you like, providing each film meets all eligibility requirements and are submitted as separate submissions.

Your film must have been completed after 1 January 2025.

Films should be appropriate for a broad festival audience and align to a PG-13 / M rating. We can’t accept content that includes explicit sexual activity, strong nudity, extreme violence, or excessive coarse language.

Only to be funny and original!

Whilst there are no style or subject requirements or restrictions (noting the audience suitability outlined above) it is important to note that no-one participating in the Comedy Festival as audience member, staff member or fellow artist should ever feel victimised or threatened, or indeed get the impression that we think certain unacceptable behaviour is okay. So, any material that promotes or normalises: domestic violence, violence against women, assault or violence of any kind, racism, misogyny, ableism or homophobia, is not encouraged and will not be supported.

Yes, filmmakers must own the rights or have permission from the rightsholders to use all footage, sound, performances, music and images in the film. This permission must cover submission to and screening at the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, on the Festival’s YouTube channel, and on any Australian broadcast platforms (including but not limited to TV and online platforms) for a further period of 12 months following the close of the 2026 Festival (if your film is selected).

Yes, but you must ensure English subtitles are embedded on the film for dialogue in a language other than English.

The Festival requires all filmmakers to declare any significant use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the film’s submission form cover letter or description. This includes:

• Use of AI to generate imagery, dialogue, or sound design.
• Use of AI to simulate performances by real or fictional individuals.
• Use of AI tools in scripting, editing, or post-production.

We rely on the filmmaker’s honest self-reporting, aligning with current industry-wide norms regarding AI integration in creative practices.

We define a short film as between 5 minutes and 10 minutes in duration, inclusive of all opening titles and end credits.

Films that have premiered at a cinema, festival, on television, or other streaming service can still be submitted in Funny Shorts as long as, from the time of submission to the Festival’s final Funny Shorts screening (14 April 2026) the film is not publicly viewable (free or paid) by any method. The key condition is that the film must not be available for public viewing through any platform or method until the Festival closes.

All submissions need to be made via FilmFreeway. Submissions sent via any other means will not be considered.

Films must be submitted as a high-quality digital file in widescreen format. We recommend .MP4 at 1080p with 5.1 (preferred) or stereo (also accepted) audio and an aspect ratio of 16:9. We will accept .mp4 and .mov uploads with an initial upload size limited to 10GB.

Submission close on 20 February 2026. Your submission will only be complete once you complete the online submission form agreeing to the competition Conditions of Entry, paid your submission fee and upload your film.

$AUD15 fee (inc. GST), payable at the time of submission.

A jury of comedy and film industry representatives will select a list of finalists, with one film from the shortlisted finalists awarded the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Funny Shorts Award. The finalists will be announced on Friday 13 March 2026. The winner will be announced at the Funny Shorts Screening as part of the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

You must not publish your film in full until either; you are notified that your film has not been shortlisted; or if shortlisted, until the final Funny Shorts screening of the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival (14 April), after which time you can publish the piece as you like, so long as such broadcasts do not prevent the Festival from publishing the film as part of the Conditions of Entry. Segments of less than 60 seconds from the film can be published prior to this, so long as cumulatively no more than 50% in total of the film’s content is published.

Yes, so long as the film will not be broadcast publicly in any format prior to the final Funny Shorts screening of the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and such submission does not prevent the Festival from publishing the film as part of the Conditions of Entry.

We will email the main contact of the submission no later than Friday 13 March 2026.

We do not provide individualised feedback to unsuccessful applicants at the time of notification. Should you require feedback please contact us at funnyshorts@comedyfestival.com.au and we will endeavour to provide feedback.

If you are selected as a finalist your film will be screened in cinema at sessions, held during the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. At the close of the Festival your film will be uploaded to the Festival’s official YouTube channel and be available for streaming until 19 April 2027. For full usage rights see the Conditions of Entry.

If you are selected as a finalists, you grant non-exclusive rights to the Festival to publish the film on the Festival’s official YouTube channel and to sub-license the film in line with the competition Conditions of Entry for a period of 12 months from the close of the Festival. If your film is not selected as a finalist, the Festival has no further rights in it.