The Adelaide Film Festival (AFF) is proud to present a suite of esteemed awards, recognising excellence in screen storytelling. These awards celebrate the creativity, innovation, and impact of filmmakers from around the world.

An invited Jury selects the best film in the AFF Feature Fiction, Feature Documentary, Change Award and Shorts Award competition categories, and all audience members are encouraged to vote for their favourite films in the AFF Audience Awards.

Feature Fiction Award

In 2007, AFF became the first Australian film festival to recognise international accomplishment with the Best Feature Fiction award, which was complemented in 2013 with the addition of the juried Feature Documentary award. Our Competition Jury values idiosyncratic voices, bold storytelling, creative risk-taking and overall fabulous films. The Feature Fiction Award is supported by the Nunn Dimos Foundation.

Feature Documentary Award

The AFF Documentary Award celebrates distinctive factual filmmaking. Our jury members look for the most original and distinctive documentary voices.

Change Award

In 2020, AFF introduced the Change Award for positive social or environmental impact through cinema expressing a desire to live in new ways. The Change Award Jury celebrates the feature that best demonstrates these values.

Short Film Award

The Short Film Award, sponsored by Humanee and judged by a well-respected jury, celebrates original, innovative short filmmaking.

Audience Awards

The AFF Audience Awards are voted for by filmgoers, giving everyone who comes to the festival a chance to champion their favourite films. There are three Audience Awards, in categories for feature fiction, documentary and short film. All films in the festival are eligible.

The Don Dunstan Award

The Adelaide Film Festival Board proudly presents the Don Dunstan Award, recognising an exceptional individual who has made an outstanding contribution to Australian screen culture.

The Bettison & James Award

Administered by Adelaide Film Festival, this annual award provides $50,000 in recognition of an exemplary and inspiring lifelong contribution by an individual working in any field.