Understory Film Festival
Lights. Camera. Far North Queensland.
Applications for Understory Film Festival 2026 close Monday 12 October.
Tickets for Understory High and Understory Film Festival are on sale now.
As Far North Queensland’s premier short film festival, Understory celebrates the creativity, stories and screen talent of our region. Filmmakers from Townsville to Cairns, across Cape York, the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Torres Strait Islands are invited to share their vision and celebrate our local talent.
If you've got a story to tell, now is the time to bring it to life.
Whether you're submitting a film, attending a workshop, networking with industry professionals or settling in for a night at the movies, Understory Film Festival is your invitation to experience the power of storytelling on screen.
Create. Connect. Celebrate.
Enter Your Film
Think your story deserves the big screen?
Whether you're a student picking up a camera for the first time, an emerging filmmaker finding your voice, or an experienced screen professional, Understory provides a platform to showcase locally produced stories that capture the unique landscapes, cultures, communities and characters of Northern Queensland.
Entry is FREE. Films must be no longer than 8 minutes including credits, and there is no minimum length.
Film submissions for Understory Film Festival close on Mon 12 October 2026.
Submit your film on FilmFreeway
Entries for Understory High closed on Monday 31 August 2026. Entries for 2027 open in June.
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Understory High Film Festival
Young Visionaries, Big Screens
Exclusive to high school filmmakers
Celebrate the next generation of filmmaking talent.
- Screening & Awards Presentation: Friday 9 October 2026
- Venue: Tank 5, Tanks Arts Centre
- Time: 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Understory Film Festival
Unleash Your Creativity in Far North Queensland
Open to filmmakers from North and Far North Queensland.
- Submissions close: Monday 12 October 2026
- Screening & Awards Presentation: Saturday 21 November 2026
- Venue: Tank 5, Tanks Arts Centre
- Time: 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Understory High
A dedicated showcase for high school filmmakers and animators across Far North Queensland, now in its fourth year.
Entries are closed, and the shortlist is set. Films screen in Tank 5 on Friday 9 October, followed by a live awards presentation with categories judged by people working in the screen industry. Winning films go on to screen at the Understory Film Festival in November.
Key Dates
- Submissions closed Monday 31 August 2026
- Screening & Awards Presentation: Friday 9 October 2026
- Venue: Tank 5, Tanks Arts Centre
- Time: 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Understory Film Festival
Celebrate local filmmakers, discover remarkable new talent, and experience the power of storytelling on the big screen.
Held at the iconic Tanks Arts Centre, the evening showcases the 2026 Finalist Shortlist, featuring outstanding short films from across Far North Queensland, including Cairns, Townsville, Cape York, the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Torres Strait Islands.
Key Dates
- Submissions close: Monday 12 October 2026
- Screening & Awards Presentation: Saturday 21 November 2026
- Venue: Tank 5, Tanks Arts Centre
- Time: 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Develop Your Craft
Next Level Film Workshops: One Moment in Time
Ready to take your storytelling skills further?
Across two immersive weekends, filmmaker Alex Smee from Multi Story Media will guide participants through the art of creating authentic stories for screen. Explore visual language, sound design, narrative techniques and the creative choices that shape how audiences feel, think and connect with a story.
Workshop Dates
Opening Night: Taste of the Tropics
Screenworks Showcase
Fri 20 Nov 2026 | 6.30 - 9.30pm
Tank 5, Tanks Arts Centre
Kick off the festival with a special big-screen celebration of regional storytelling.
Opening Night features a premiere screening from the latest season of the SBS series Taste of the Tropics, followed by a moderated Q&A with filmmakers and industry guests. The evening concludes with networking opportunities for creatives, audiences and screen industry professionals.
Understory Industry Exchange
Sat 21 Nov 2026 | 2.00 - 4.00pm
Tank 5, Tanks Arts Centre
Connect directly with the people shaping Australia's screen industry.
The Industry Exchange brings together representatives from key organisations including Screen Australia, Screen Queensland, Screenworks and WIFT Queensland, creating valuable opportunities for regional filmmakers to build connections, gain insights and explore pathways for career development.
Whether you're an emerging creator or an established practitioner, this is your chance to engage with industry leaders and learn about funding, opportunities and the future of screen production in regional Australia.
Art vs. Artist Vodcast
Art vs. Artist is a no-BS vodcast that dives into the raw, technical guts of creative industries. We bring in the heavyweights – the pros, the visionaries, the ones shaping the scene – to break down what it really takes to make art that hits hard and holds up.
Across every medium, we dig deep to uncover the gems, the grit, and the game-changing insights that fuel the future of creativity.
Hosted by local filmmaker Jannah Dryden, winner of Best Film & People’s Choice at Understory 2024 (Chesters) – whose work shines a light on regional stories and the creative energy unique to North Queensland.
For any further enquiries, please contact Jan Aird on J.Aird@cairns.qld.gov.au or 07 4032 6656.
Understory Film Festival is proudly supported by Screen Queensland and Queensland Government, and the Regional Arts Development Fund, a partnership between the Queensland Government and Cairns Regional Council to support local arts and culture in Regional Queensland.
Last Updated: 28 September 2026
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