2025 Submissions NOW OPEN

Early Bird deadline 7 April

Final deadline 30 June

Festival dates: 10 to 12 October 2025

Every year we play over 100+ films at the Heart of Gold flagship festival, and a selection will go on tour playing at other events across Queensland. To have your film considered for selection, enter it via FilmFreeway using the button below.

Films selected for the 2025 program will be eligible for a number of awards. Selected shorts compete for a range of jury awards, which this year includes:

• Best Short Film $2,000

• Best Australian Film $1,000

• Best Documentary Film $1,000

• Best Female Director $1,000

• Best First Nations Director $1,000

• Emerging Director Award (not having been a finalist or winner in any other film competition) $1,000

• Audience Choice Award $500

Films must be under 28 minutes and appropriate to the Heart of Gold ethos.

Questions? Contact our Program Manager at program@heartofgold.com.au

Young Filmmakers Competition

In addition, we also award prizes to the best young filmmakers from Secondary Schools, with the following categories on offer with no entry fee:

• Best National Student Film $500

• Best Local Student Film (Gympie Regional Council local government area) $500

Under 17s or school students living in Australia can submit to the Young Filmmakers Competition.

Inspire your film students to enter for a chance to have their film screened at our festival. All entries must be 3 - 15 minutes long and are to be submitted into the ‘Short Films - Australian Filmmakers Under 18’ category on Film Freeway.