Award Categories

The St Kilda Film Festival awards recognise the best of Australia's Top Short Films. These awards are made possible through the support of our generous Awards Partners. See below the full list of 2026 awards and prizes.

The Best Short Film Award includes $10,000 cash and Oscar accreditation, provided by the City of Port Phillip.

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The Innovation Award is supported by VicScreen, with the winner receiving $2,000 cash.

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The Best Director award is supported by the Australian Directors' Guild and AFTRS, with the winner receiving a complimentary ADG Member Pack and a $1,500 cash prize from AFTRS. 

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The Best Achievement in Cinematography award is supported by the Australian Cinematographers Society and Panavision. The prize includes an ACS Member Pack (for Victorian branch only) and $10,000 worth of film equipment provided by Panavision for the production of one project.

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The Best Documentary award is supported by Shaun Miller Lawyers and includes a $1,500 cash prize and Oscar accreditation. 

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The Best Actor Award supported by Chameleon Casting includes a $1,000 cash prize. 

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The award for Best Original Score is supported by the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC). The prize pack includes a complimentary one-year membership to the AGSC.

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The Best Achievement in Screenplay award is supported by Australian Writers' Guild and Cinema Nova. The prize pack consists of a 12-month Gold Pass from Cinema Nova, plus one year of Associate Membership to the Australian Writers' Guild. 

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The Best Achievement in Sound Post-Production award is supported by JBL and the Australian Screen Sound Guild. It includes a prize of JBL BAR 800, a surround-sound Dolby Atmos soundbar with a subwoofer valued at $999, and an ASSG member pack.

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The Best Young Actor Award is supported by the City of Port Phillip, and includes a $500 cash prize.

The Under the Radar - Best Youth Short Film Award is supported by the City of Port Phillip and JMC Academy. It includes a $1,000 cash prize provided by the City of Port Phillip, and a colour-grading service valued at $2,000 provided by JMC Academy.

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The Best Achievement in Editing award is supported by Roar Digital and Adobe, and includes in-kind colour-grading services at ROAR Digital valued at $1,800 and two All Apps subscriptions from Adobe valued at over $1700.

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The Best Achievement in Indigenous Filmmaking award is supported by CitiPower and includes a $1,500 cash prize. 

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The Best Animation award is supported by Deakin University and includes a $1,500 cash prize.

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.

The Best Production Design award is supported by the City of Port Phillip and includes a $1,000 cash prize.

The winner will also receive a complimentary six-month membership with WIFT Australia.