Adelaide Film Festival
AFF Youth 2026 Filmmaking Competition
AFF Youth

AFF Youth 2026 Filmmaking Competition

Filmmaking Competition

The AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition is a rewarding opportunity for South Australian school students and young people to create, produce and share their films on the big screen as part of the internationally acclaimed Adelaide Film Festival, held 14 – 25 October 2026. It’s a chance for budding filmmakers to embrace their creativity, meet new people and make industry connections in the buzzing South Australian film industry.

The shortlisted films are judged by our AFF Youth Jury, made up of students from South Australia who nominate films from this list to be presented at the AFF Youth Gala. Young filmmakers will have the chance to walk the red carpet, get their photo snapped, and see their work on the big screen in front of a full cinema before the winners are presented.

Award Winners

Best South Australian Primary School Film

The Magical Wishing Stone - Michaela Edwards-O'Keeffe & Molly Stephen (Prospect North Primary School)

Best South Australian Middle School Film

Under the Maghrib Sky - Rayeed Alam (IQRA College)

Best South Australian Senior School Film

The Stalk - Sadie Kirkpatrick (Seaton High School)

People's Choice Award

The Magical Wishing Stone - Michaela Edwards-O'Keeffe & Molly Stephen (Prospect North Primary School)

AFF Youth Jury

The AFF Youth Jury comprises six young film fanatics selected by AFF staff. Jury members judge short films entered by students from across South Australia in the AFF Youth Filmmaking Competition under the guidance of Adelaide Film Festival’s programming staff.

2026 AFF Youth Jurors

Madeleine Howard-Smith

Nikita Nguyen

Chloe Brumfield

Lillian Hoare

Bethany Lines

Eve Raeburn

Primary School Nominees

The Magical Wishing Stone

Dir. Michaela Edwards-O’Keeffe, Molly Stephen (Prospect North Primary School)

Last to Leave

Dir. Shreya Rananavare (Prospect North Primary School)

Tiles and Soap

Dir. Chloe Xia, Kara Birch and Clara Tree (Kidman Park Primary School)

Get Me Out of Here!

Dir. Ellie Stokes (Kidman Park Primary School)

Middle School Nominees

Lipstick on a Pig

Dir. Isla Bentham (Glenunga International High School)

Under the Maghrib Sky

Dir. Rayeed Alam (IQRA College)

Senior School Nominees

The Stalk

Dir. Sadie Kirkpatrick (Seaton High School)

Spelunking

Dir. William Nguyen, Samar Sharma, Sam Signoriello, Hugo Ng (Glenunga International High School)

Denial

Dir. Növa Angelina Bransden (Seaton High School)

Bottle Syndrome

Dir. Joshua Pullino (Prince Alfred College)

Awards & Prizes

The competition cash prize categories are:

  • Best South Australian Primary School Film ($500) – presented by The Mercury

  • Best South Australian Middle School Film ($500) – presented by AFTRS

  • Best South Australian Senior School Film ($500) – presented by Adelaide University

  • People's Choice ($1000) – presented by Westpac

AFFY 2026 Competition Partners