Rock The Boat Film Festival

Rock The Boat Film Festival Supporting aspiring, emerging and independent filmmakers in Western Australia.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEER INTERNS!We are growing!If you would like hands-on experience working behind the scenes of a thriving ...
18/06/2026

CALL FOR VOLUNTEER INTERNS!
We are growing!
If you would like hands-on experience working behind the scenes of a thriving film festival, check out the link in the comments.

Each year, in addition to our Main Categories and Cash Prizes, we have Awards of Recognition. Below is the full list of ...
02/06/2026

Each year, in addition to our Main Categories and Cash Prizes, we have Awards of Recognition. Below is the full list of awards. All finalists and winners of main categories and Awards of Recognition will be presented at our red carpet, black-tie Awards Night in October, which is held a few weeks after all public cinema screenings, and which concludes the festival season.

In addition, we are thrilled to be collaborating with Yellowstone International Film Festival for an International Short Film Exchange. Three Western Australian projects will be selected to be screened in India in November, during Yellowstone International Film Festival festival season. The three short film projects that will be selected for this short film exchange will also be announced at our Awards Night, along with:

• Best Cinematography
• Best Comedy
• Best Editing
• Best Original Soundtrack
• Best Performance
• Best Production Design
• Best School Project
• Best Student Documentary (Primary or Secondary)
• Best Super Short Film (Under 60 seconds)
• Best Tertiary Student Short Film
• Best Tertiary Student Documentary
• Best Visual Effects
• Best Open Short Film – Under 13 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• Best Open Documentary – Under 7 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• Best Student Short Film – Under 7 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• Best First Nations Story – Under 7 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• People's Choice Award (one winner voted by the audience from each session)
• Rising Star Award

For more information: www.filmfreeway.com/rocktheboatfilmfestival or see comments for link to official website.

26/05/2026

4 Categories, Cash Prizes, 22 Awards, International Opportunities

In 2026, there are FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES and numerous Awards of Recognition.Each winner of a MAIN CATEGORY will receive t...
13/05/2026

In 2026, there are FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES and numerous Awards of Recognition.

Each winner of a MAIN CATEGORY will receive the title, a trophy and a prize of $1,000!

All finalists and winners of main categories and Awards of Recognition will be presented at our red carpet Gala Awards Night, which is held a few weeks after all public cinema screenings, and which concludes the festival season.

The MAIN CATEGORIES for 2026 are:

• OPEN Short Film – Under 13 minutes
• OPEN Documentary – Under 7 minutes
• STUDENT Short Film* – Under 7 minutes
• FIRST NATIONS STORIES** – Under 7 minutes

AWARDS:

• Best Cinematography
• Best Comedy
• Best Editing
• Best Original Soundtrack
• Best Performance
• Best Production Design
• Best School Project
• Best Student Documentary (Primary or Secondary)
• Best Super Short Film (Under 60 seconds)
• Best Tertiary Student Short Film
• Best Tertiary Student Documentary
• Best Visual Effects
• Best Open Short Film – Under 13 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• Best Open Documentary – Under 7 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• Best Student Short Film – Under 7 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• Best First Nations Story – Under 7 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• People’s Choice Award (one winner voted by the audience from each session)
• Rising Star Award

For more information: www.filmfreeway.com/rocktheboatfilmfestival or link in bio.

In 2026, there are FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES and numerous Awards of Recognition.Each winner of a MAIN CATEGORY will receive t...
08/05/2026

In 2026, there are FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES and numerous Awards of Recognition.

Each winner of a MAIN CATEGORY will receive the title, a trophy and a prize of $1,000!

All finalists and winners of main categories and Awards of Recognition will be presented at our red carpet Gala Awards Night, which is held a few weeks after all public cinema screenings, and which concludes the festival season.

The MAIN CATEGORIES for 2026 are:

• OPEN Short Film – Under 13 minutes
• OPEN Documentary – Under 7 minutes
• STUDENT Short Film* – Under 7 minutes
• FIRST NATIONS STORIES** – Under 7 minutes

AWARDS:

• Best Cinematography
• Best Comedy
• Best Editing
• Best Original Soundtrack
• Best Performance
• Best Production Design
• Best School Project
• Best Student Documentary (Primary or Secondary)
• Best Super Short Film (Under 60 seconds)
• Best Tertiary Student Short Film
• Best Tertiary Student Documentary
• Best Visual Effects
• Best Open Short Film – Under 13 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• Best Open Documentary – Under 7 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• Best Student Short Film – Under 7 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• Best First Nations Story – Under 7 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• People’s Choice Award (one winner voted by the audience from each session)
• Rising Star Award

*Only for primary or secondary students, or tertiary students under 18; students who submit documentaries are allowed to enter either this category or OPEN Documentary.

** To enter short films into the “FIRST NATIONS STORIES” category, all directors and writers attached to the project must be First Nations people from Australia or the Torres Strait Islands who have filmed this project exclusively in Western Australia.

Additionally, for 2026, Rock The Boat Film Festival is collaborating with Yellowstone International Film Festival to give filmmakers the chance to be part of an International Short Film Exchange.

For more information visit Rock The Boat Film Festival’s official website and find the International Short Film Exchange tab under 2026. Link in comments.

In 2026, there are FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES and numerous Awards of Recognition.Each winner of a MAIN CATEGORY will receive t...
30/04/2026

In 2026, there are FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES and numerous Awards of Recognition.

Each winner of a MAIN CATEGORY will receive the title, a trophy and a prize of $1,000!

All finalists and winners of main categories and Awards of Recognition will be presented at our red carpet Gala Awards Night, which is held a few weeks after all public cinema screenings, and which concludes the festival season.

The MAIN CATEGORIES for 2026 are:

• OPEN Short Film – Under 13 minutes
• OPEN Documentary – Under 7 minutes
• STUDENT Short Film* – Under 7 minutes
• FIRST NATIONS STORIES** – Under 7 minutes

AWARDS:

• Best Cinematography
• Best Comedy
• Best Editing
• Best Original Soundtrack
• Best Performance
• Best Production Design
• Best School Project
• Best Student Documentary (Primary or Secondary)
• Best Super Short Film (Under 60 seconds)
• Best Tertiary Student Short Film
• Best Tertiary Student Documentary
• Best Visual Effects
• Best Open Short Film – Under 13 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• Best Open Documentary – Under 7 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• Best Student Short Film – Under 7 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• Best First Nations Story – Under 7 minutes ($1,000 1st place prize)
• People’s Choice Award (one winner voted by the audience from each session)
• Rising Star Award

*Only for primary or secondary students, or tertiary students under 18; students who submit documentaries are allowed to enter either this category or OPEN Documentary.

** To enter short films into the “FIRST NATIONS STORIES” category, all directors and writers attached to the project must be First Nations people from Australia or the Torres Strait Islands who have filmed this project exclusively in Western Australia.

Additionally, for 2026, Rock The Boat Film Festival is collaborating with Yellowstone International Film Festival to give filmmakers the chance to be part of an International Short Film Exchange.

For more information visit Rock The Boat Film Festival’s official website and find the International Short Film Exchange tab under 2026. Link in bio.

23/04/2026

Cash Prizes, 4 Categories, 22 Awards, International Opportunities

Address

Rockingham
Waikiki, WA
6168

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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