SF3 – the SmartFone Flick Fest is Australia’s international smartphone film festival and one of the leading and most innovative film festivals in the world.
Open to filmmakers of all ages from every country; from first-time filmmakers to professionals and from kids, tweens and teens all the way to adults. As long as your film is shot entirely on a smartphone or tablet, your film is eligible for submission. Our 2023 Festival Ambassadors were Hollywood legend Phillip Noyce, Kerry Armstrong, Christopher Stollery, Kriv Stenders, Nicole da Silva, Jason van Genderen, Anthony Kierann, Pieter de Vries, disability advocate Emily Prior, and First Nations Director/Writer, Darlene Johnson. Our esteemed judging panel consists of the cream of the Australian and Hollywood film industries all here to celebrate mobile and tablet filmmaking.
We have 6 categories in 2024. They are:
1. The SF3 Best Film for short films 20 mins and under. The films must be entirely shot on smartphones or tablets, with the exception that a very minimal amount of Drone footage is allowed. The films can be edited on any device and with any program and external equipment like lenses and mics can be used. Within this category we will also award the #FILMBREAKER Award for first-time filmmakers and the Luma Touch Finished on Mobile Award for films both shot and edited on a mobile device as additional prizes. The Official Selection from this category will be screened in our 2024 Gala Finals and will vie for our top festival prizes.
2. The SF3 Best Feature Film. This is for feature films shot entirely on smartphones and tablets. A minimal amount of drone footage is allowed. Films must be a minimum of 30 mins and no maximum.
3. The SF3 Kids Award for filmmakers 18 and under at the time of filming. All films must be shot entirely on smartphones and tablets. A minimal amount of drone footage is allowed. The time limit is up to 10 mins. Longer kids film that are really fantastic and justify being longer will be accepted with permission from us at sf3@sf3.com.au
4. The SF3 AI Award for AI made films up to 20 mins. These films must be created on a mobile device using AI and can be any genre or topic.
5. The SF3 Mini Mobile Award is for films up to a maximum of 3 minutes in length, in any genre. The theme for our SF3 Mini 2024 is Forward. Use this as your starting point or your inspiration and interpret as you like, even as loose as you need, this is just a prompt for inspiration.
6. SF3 Social Media Video Award. This is for films, videos, skits filmed for social media and more. These videos can be public and we are looking for the best social media videos from 2024 across all apps and platforms.
Everyone has a great idea for a short film and a potential movie camera in their pocket, so no excuses. Here’s your chance to start filming and be in the running to share in over $50,000 worth of prizes awarded annually, and have your film screened on one of Australia’s premiere screens in front of a global audience at our 2024 Festival this November 16th and 17th happening in Sydney, Australia, plus at the SF3 Online Virtual Festival.
Our finalist films and winning feature films will be selected from all the entries to screen at SF3 2024. Our festival will include live screenings, red-carpet events, award ceremonies, VIP party, networking events, panel discussions and masterclasses.
Our 2023 Festival was held in full venue partnership with The Actors Centre Australia in their beautiful state of the art cinema in the cultural hub of Leichardt in the Inner West of Sydney. We are passionate advocates for the showcasing of the best smartphone films from all around the world, show up on Sydney’s top big screens.
Many of our past Gala and other finalist films have been invited to screen around the world at our partner film festivals including the International Mobil Film Festival in San Diego, MINA, the Dublin Smartphone Film Festival and more. The opportunities are endless for cellphone filmmakers and past entries have even been sold to streaming networks and in-flight entertainment channels.
All films MUST be shot entirely on a smartphone or tablet, meet our time requirements and you can use any editing software, apps and phone additions, and you can edit on a PC, laptop, tablet or your phone. To enter SF3 you can shoot on any mobile device: iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Oppo, Huawei or more.
So, pull your phone out of your pocket and start filming, it really is that easy!
For more information, visit SF3
