MIFF 2026 award winners announced as La Gradiva takes Bright Horizons Award – Melbourne International Film Festival has announced the 2026 MIFF Awards winners. La Gradiva, directed by Marine Atlan, won the $140,000 Bright Horizons Award supported by VicScreen.
The awards recognise a broad sweep of the festival program. They cover emerging world cinema, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen creativity, Australian directing and audience favourites. For Australian film watchers, this year’s winners also point to projects and filmmakers likely to build momentum beyond the festival.
MIFF announced the winners at Rydges Melbourne on Saturday, 22 August 2026. The announcement came as the in-cinema festival moved into its final weekend.
Major MIFF winners
La Gradiva won the Bright Horizons Award, one of the richest prizes in global cinema. The competition highlights bold new filmmaking voices from around the world.
Meanwhile, Dario Russo won the Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award for The Fox. The prize includes $50,000 and a fully kitted URSA Cine 12K camera.
The Bright Horizons and Best Australian Director jury was led by Sophie Hyde. The jury also included Joe Swanberg, Desiree Akhavan, Noora Niasari, Courtney Eaton and Tan Si En.
MIFF Artistic Director Al Cossar said the awards were transformative for recipients. He also said they recognised the artistry across this year’s festival program. VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher highlighted the role of the Bright Horizons Award in drawing international attention to MIFF and Victoria’s screen sector.
Full winner list
- Bright Horizons Award supported by VicScreen: La Gradiva, directed by Marine Atlan
- Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award: Dario Russo, The Fox
- Uncle Jack Charles Award: Talia Liddle, Protest on the Dance Floor – film direction
- Intrepid Audience Award: Hard as Puck, directed by Isaac Elliott
- MIFF Schools Youth Jury Award presented by Collarts: Sad Girlz, directed by Fernanda Tovar
The Uncle Jack Charles Award is supported by the MIFF Lumiere Patrons. It recognises an outstanding Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander screen creative featured in the festival program. Talia Liddle won the $20,000 award for Protest on the Dance Floor, which screened as part of the inaugural Sovereign Shorts program.
The MIFF Schools Youth Jury Award went to Fernanda Tovar’s Sad Girlz. The jury also gave a special mention to Josef Gatti’s Phenomena. In addition, the Intrepid Audience Award went to Isaac Elliott’s Hard as Puck, which follows the Garden Island Pirates.
MIFF continues online
MIFF 2026 runs in cinemas until 23 August. MIFF Online is also available nationally through 30 August via ACMI’s Cinema 3 platform. The online program includes festival highlights and short film collections, including free Footy Shorts and Sovereign Shorts programs.
For more film festival coverage, visit TV Central’s Cinema Releases section. Read more on TV Central about the MIFF 2026 Shorts Awards, the MIFF 2026 award nominees and the MIFF 2026 industry programs. Visit MIFF for festival program details.
